What tier do you rank the Iowa & Iowa State Football HC jobs?

MugNight

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Inspired by a thread on Reddit about Michigan State in light of Mel Tucker’s situation.

What Tier do you put the Iowa Football HC job? What about ISU?

We often talk about the natural disadvantages that make ISU a challenging spot. In a post-Ferentz world, is Iowa susceptible to the same issues?
 
How many tiers we talking?

If there are 5, Iowa is a 3 at worst. Any job in the B1G or SEC has a 70M advantage over the field.

Tier 1 is the 5-10 blue bloods. Tiers 2 and 3 are the rest of the B1G and SEC. Clemson and FSU are among the few that can and should argue their inclusion even being outside those conferences (for now).

ISU is a 4. It's in a conference outside the P2 but has great facilities, a loyal fanbase, and until the AQ spots in the playoff get nuked has a path to the playoff.
 
Thinking about this for like 2 minutes so subject to change. Looking at next year's P4 (Big12, Big10, SEC, ACC) that will be 68 teams (16, 18, 16, 18 w/Notre Dame). I would put Iowa in the top 30 of all those jobs due to history and Big 10 money. ISU probably in the top like 45 maybe? That's without going through each job so I might be missing something.

Honestly there are probably like 10 or so elite programs, 20-30 really good programs, 20-30 pretty good programs, and 10-15 **** programs but anything outside the top 10 can really slide around depending on the coach. Some just might have a little easier time sustaining success or transitioning between coaches than others.
 
How many tiers we talking?

If there are 5, Iowa is a 3 at worst. Any job in the B1G or SEC has a 70M advantage over the field.

Tier 1 is the 5-10 blue bloods. Tiers 2 and 3 are the rest of the B1G and SEC. Clemson and FSU are among the few that can and should argue their inclusion even being outside those conferences (for now).

ISU is a 4. It's in a conference outside the P2 but has great facilities, a loyal fanbase, and until the AQ spots in the playoff get nuked has a path to the playoff.
Idk if I would include everyone in the Big 10 or SEC as a tier 3 or higher in your setup.
 
Idk if I would include everyone in the Big 10 or SEC as a tier 3 or higher in your setup.
NW and Vandy are at the bottom because of their entry requirements and its affect on recruiting. The jobs at Minnesota, Rutgers, Illinois, Miss St, and Mizzou all have a massive advantage because of the media rights deals. I think some Big 12 and ACC schools right now can make themselves look better but they're at a serious disadvantage.
 
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NW and Vandy are at the bottom because of their entry requirements and its affect on recruiting. The jobs at Minnesota, Rutgers, Illinois, Miss St, and Mizzou all have a massive advantage because of the media rights deals. I think some Big 12 and ACC schools right now can make themselves look better but they're at a massive disadvantage.
Its also a little weird because those schools will always have more advantages and resources so they can probably get better teams together more consistently but we don't have to compete with Georgia, Bama, Ohio State, Michigan etc going forward so we have potentially an easier path to the playoffs
 
Tier 1 - Blue Bloods
Tier 2 - SEC and B1G Top 1/2 or 2/3rds
Tier 3 - Big 12, Top half of ACC, Bottom 1/2 or 1/3rd of SEC/B1G
Tier 4 - Others

Iowa is Tier 2, Iowa State Tier 3. You could argue a more granular 5 Tier system. Iowa is a better job than many want to admit just because of their conference, fan support, TV audience, and resources. They're not a "destination" job, but certainly Top 1/2 of B1G which puts them in Tier 2.

You can't just say B1G AND SEC are all in Tier 1 or 2 because Vandy, NW, Indiana, etc are not above a lot of Big 12 teams. Likewise, you could probably push some Big 12 teams down a tier if there were 5 - maybe us, Kansas, UCF.
 
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The Iowa job just got harder with no more divisions and USC/Oregon/UCLA/Washington joining the conference. They won't be able to dodge those 4 as well as Ohio St, Mich and Penn St. They are bound to play at least two of those per year. Iowa gets 3 'rival' games per year in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Nebraska. At some point those three have to become competent right?
 
Here is a ranking done by others albeit before this summer's latest conference changes.

Power Five Football Coach Rank

It has Iowa is 23rd just behind Kentucky and Wisconsin and just above UCLA and Mississippi State. Personally, I would rank them closer to 30.

It has Iowa State 54th just behind Vandy, Virginia, and Pitt and just above West Virginia and Syracuse. I would move them up about five spots.
 
we are at a tier that would have to hire up and coming coaches from g5 schools or up and comers who are possibly p5 offensive/defensive coordinators.
 
The Iowa job just got harder with no more divisions and USC/Oregon/UCLA/Washington joining the conference. They won't be able to dodge those 4 as well as Ohio St, Mich and Penn St. They are bound to play at least two of those per year. Iowa gets 3 'rival' games per year in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Nebraska. At some point those three have to become competent right?

I was going to say something similar. Iowa has had a solid program most of my life but man they have caught a ton of scheduling breaks. There path gets significantly harder net year. Teams like Oregon and USC have offenses that will be able to expose Iowa's defense and their offense isn't getting better anytime soon. I would also expect to see Iowa lose one of their 3 protected rivalries once the B1G reworks the schedule.
 
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Here is a ranking done by others albeit before this summer's latest conference changes.

Power Five Football Coach Rank

It has Iowa is 23rd just behind Kentucky and Wisconsin and just above UCLA and Mississippi State. Personally, I would rank them closer to 30.

It has Iowa State 54th just behind Vandy, Virginia, and Pitt and just above West Virginia and Syracuse. I would move them up about five spots.
That list isn't bad, but it has a bunch of big head scratchers. Washington, especially now in B1G should be much higher, KState is too low, Vandy is too high, Okie State is too low, Indiana, Rutgers, and NW way too high, etc.

Just because a school is in the SEC or B1G doesn't make them absolutely better than an ACC or Big 12 school. I'd probably put Iowa State on the same level as Indiana, Pitt, West Virginia, etc and those would be a tier ahead of Vandy, Rutgers, NW, etc. Even with all the money in the world, those schools just don't have the fanbases, viewers, or facilities of those in our low-mid tier.
 
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That list isn't bad, but it has a bunch of big head scratchers. Washington, especially now in B1G should be much higher, KState is too low, Vandy is too high, Okie State is too low, Indiana, Rutgers, and NW way too high, etc.

Just because a school is in the SEC or B1G doesn't make them absolutely better than an ACC or Big 12 school. I'd probably put Iowa State on the same level as Indiana, Pitt, West Virginia, etc and those would be a tier ahead of Vandy, Rutgers, NW, etc. Even with all the money in the world, those schools just don't have the fanbases, viewers, or facilities of those in our low-mid tier.
I think in the coming years if Iowa State or West Virginia and Indiana are open at the same time the Hoosiers will have a pretty big advantage
 
I think in the coming years if Iowa State or West Virginia and Indiana are open at the same time the Hoosiers will have a pretty big advantage
Possibly. I think WVU is underestimated in NIL and what they'd be willing to spend on a good coach... but that doesn't mean they're going to be as attractive as Indiana.
 
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Tier 1 - Blue Bloods
Tier 2 - SEC and B1G Top 1/2 or 2/3rds
Tier 3 - Big 12, Top half of ACC, Bottom 1/2 or 1/3rd of SEC/B1G
Tier 4 - Others

Iowa is Tier 2, Iowa State Tier 3. You could argue a more granular 5 Tier system. Iowa is a better job than many want to admit just because of their conference, fan support, TV audience, and resources. They're not a "destination" job, but certainly Top 1/2 of B1G which puts them in Tier 2.

You can't just say B1G AND SEC are all in Tier 1 or 2 because Vandy, NW, Indiana, etc are not above a lot of Big 12 teams. Likewise, you could probably push some Big 12 teams down a tier if there were 5 - maybe us, Kansas, UCF.

I wonder if Iowa isn't a destination job.

Two coaches since color TV (it seems), big money conference, fan support, miss playing the blue bloods all of the goddam time for some reason.

You can even dodge real scandals, not have to worry where your kid is living, and nepotism is supported.

Could be a destination
 
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I wonder if Iowa isn't a destination job.

Two coaches since color TV (it seems), big money conference, fan support, miss playing the blue bloods all of the goddam time for some reason.

You can even dodge real scandals, not have to worry where your kid is living, and nepotism is supported.

Could be a destination
They are certainly higher than 99% of ISU fans would like to admit. They have the B1G exposure and money, a pretty good history, job security, rabid fans, etc.

The thing that will hurt a bit is the new scheduling format for the B1G, but I think people forget that coaches have huge egos and think they can compete with anybody... so I think that has less impact than many would assume.
 
They are certainly higher than 99% of ISU fans would like to admit. They have the B1G exposure and money, a pretty good history, job security, rabid fans, etc.

The thing that will hurt a bit is the new scheduling format for the B1G, but I think people forget that coaches have huge egos and think they can compete with anybody... so I think that has less impact than many would assume.
Also one thing to point out is that unless you follow the school as closely as some do on here you wouldn’t be aware of the schedule and even if you were most people forget it after a year. Most college football fans have zero idea how easy their schedule has been or care. Also as another poster mentioned coaches have egos and wouldn’t care.
 
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Inspired by a thread on Reddit about Michigan State in light of Mel Tucker’s situation.

What Tier do you put the Iowa Football HC job? What about ISU?

We often talk about the natural disadvantages that make ISU a challenging spot. In a post-Ferentz world, is Iowa susceptible to the same issues?
Top 50. MAYBE top 40.

This is based on a combination of recruiting, resources, winning, size, etc.

Top 5 - Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, Michigan, USC,

Top 10 - Clemson, LSU, Oregon, Notre Dame, Texas.

Top 15: Oklahoma, Tennessee, Penn State, Florida State, Florida.

Top 20: Miami, Texas A&M, Washington, Utah, Auburn

Top 25: Wisconsin, North Carolina, Michigan State, Pittsburg, UCLA

Top 30: Iowa, Virginia Tech, South Carolina, Ole Miss, Kansas State

Top 35: Arkansas, Kentucky, Oklahoma State, UCF, BYU

Top 40: Cincinnati, NC State, Baylor, Arizona State, (Iowa State or Maryland)

Top 45: Illinois, Purdue, (Iowa State of Maryland), Wake Forest, Minnesota

Top 50: Washington State, Oregon State, Colorado, West Virginia, Texas Tech

Top 55: Indiana, Northwestern, Rutgers, Kansas, Duke

Top 60: Vanderbilt, Houston , Stanford, California , SMU
 
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Top 50. MAYBE top 40.

This is based on a combination of recruiting, resources, winning, size, etc.

Top 5 - Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, Michigan, USC,

Top 10 - Clemson, LSU, Oregon, Notre Dame, Texas.

Top 15: Oklahoma, Tennessee, Penn State, Florida State, Florida.

Top 20: Miami, Texas A&M, Washington, Utah, Auburn

Top 25: Wisconsin, North Carolina, Michigan State, Pittsburg, UCLA

Top 30: Iowa, Virginia Tech, South Carolina, Ole Miss, Kansas State

Top 35: Arkansas, Kentucky, Oklahoma State, UCF, BYU

Top 40: Cincinnati, NC State, Baylor, Arizona State, (Iowa State or Maryland)

Top 45: Illinois, Purdue, (Iowa State of Maryland), Wake Forest, Minnesota

Top 50: Washington State, Oregon State, Colorado, West Virginia, Texas Tech

Top 55: Indiana, Northwestern, Rutgers, Kansas, Duke

Top 60: Vanderbilt, Houston , Stanford, California , SMU
That's a pretty good list. I'd probably swap North Carolina and Pitt with Iowa and Oklahoma State. OSU has the money and fans, they just haven't had a great QB in a long time so it's kept their ceiling pretty low. I'd probably switch Houston with Rutgers.

Texas Tech is an odd one because they have some natural advantages and some disadvantages. I'd still put them above Wake Forest.
 
Tier 1 - Blue Bloods
Tier 2 - SEC and B1G Top 1/2 or 2/3rds
Tier 3 - Big 12, Top half of ACC, Bottom 1/2 or 1/3rd of SEC/B1G
Tier 4 - Others

Iowa is Tier 2, Iowa State Tier 3. You could argue a more granular 5 Tier system. Iowa is a better job than many want to admit just because of their conference, fan support, TV audience, and resources. They're not a "destination" job, but certainly Top 1/2 of B1G which puts them in Tier 2.

You can't just say B1G AND SEC are all in Tier 1 or 2 because Vandy, NW, Indiana, etc are not above a lot of Big 12 teams. Likewise, you could probably push some Big 12 teams down a tier if there were 5 - maybe us, Kansas, UCF.
I agree and would split the tiers into sub-tiers.

Tier 1a = In my opinion: Alabama, Ohio State, Georgia and LSU (LSU gets a bump because of what it COULD be with the amount of NFL talent that comes from Louisiana.
Tier 1b = Michigan, Texas, Penn State, A&M, Tenn, Florida
Tier 1c = Oklahoma, Auburn, USC

Iowa would be in Tier 2a in my model somewhere between Arkansas and Missouri. (25th or so). Michigan State falls into this tier.
Tier 2b would have schools like Purdue and UCLA (access to the big bucks but second tier in their region and second tier in the conference).

The only non-SEC/Big 10 schools I would have in the second tier would be Clemson and FSU.

Iowa State is in the Third Tier somewhere between BYU (which I think might be the best job in the Big 12 when the dust settles)/Okie State and Pitt. I do think Maryland, Northwestern, Vandy and potentially Rutgers fall into the third tier.

I would say we are about the 45th - 50th best job. Decent conference, Great fan support but shadowed by our neighbors with better revenue or access to NFL talent.

Fourth Tier would be the bottom of the ACC and top of Group of 5

Final Tier is whatever is left.
 

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