Looking at the remaining schedule I only see one definite loss on the schedule. Honestly at Minnesota, Michigan State and Nebraska isn't intimidating. Playing Wisconsin, Washington UCLA and Purdue doesn't instill any fear. So realistically Kirk will get close to ten wins with a putrid offense. The defense will come together playing offenses like Illinois or Minnesota and Kirk will get lauded as doing more with less.
Only difference is he won't get to the CCG to get an extra blowout. The narrative more with less is a bit deceiving. If Iowa had to play Oregon, USC, Penn State, Michigan and Ohio State yearly plus a tough OOC game like Wisconsin, Ohio State and Michigan do every year and win even half of those I would agree. But Iowa plays teams like Northwestern. Kirk purposely makes younger more talented guys sit behind older players that have earned his respect.
Meanwhile Nebraska is starting a true freshman that has put life into that program. Ohio State has their 100th freshman WR phenom making plays and Florida learned their lesson by putting in their highly touted QB freshman because if they didn't that coach would be gone. Florida also has a meat grinder of a schedule so it likely won't matter, but it's the expectations.
Iowa under a coach with a fire under his butt would've kicked the tires on Kyle McCord, Cam Ward or Will Howard. But the program under Kirk is stable and while everyone is upset now, things will go back to normal after Iowa beats all the teams they should. Kirk will get his ten wins and ride into next year. His backers will point to his tenure as the most impressive thing ever.
Wash, Rinse and Repeat. The beat goes on.
Only difference is he won't get to the CCG to get an extra blowout. The narrative more with less is a bit deceiving. If Iowa had to play Oregon, USC, Penn State, Michigan and Ohio State yearly plus a tough OOC game like Wisconsin, Ohio State and Michigan do every year and win even half of those I would agree. But Iowa plays teams like Northwestern. Kirk purposely makes younger more talented guys sit behind older players that have earned his respect.
Meanwhile Nebraska is starting a true freshman that has put life into that program. Ohio State has their 100th freshman WR phenom making plays and Florida learned their lesson by putting in their highly touted QB freshman because if they didn't that coach would be gone. Florida also has a meat grinder of a schedule so it likely won't matter, but it's the expectations.
Iowa under a coach with a fire under his butt would've kicked the tires on Kyle McCord, Cam Ward or Will Howard. But the program under Kirk is stable and while everyone is upset now, things will go back to normal after Iowa beats all the teams they should. Kirk will get his ten wins and ride into next year. His backers will point to his tenure as the most impressive thing ever.
Wash, Rinse and Repeat. The beat goes on.