The National Football Foundation announced an adjustment to its NFF College Football Hall of Fame criteria on Thursday.
The NFF College Football Hall of Fame lowered its minimum career winning percentage threshold for coaching eligibility from .600 to .595. This change will go into effect beginning with the 2027 NFF College Football Hall of Fame ballot.
It’s a notable development in Iowa City, too. Longtime Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz has sat just below the .600 minimum career winning percentage threshold for some time.
After last season’s 8-5 (6-3 Big Ten) finish, Ferentz’s coaching mark at Iowa across 26 seasons sits at 204-124 (128-88 Big Ten). That’s a .622 winning percentage with the Hawkeyes.
There’s just one problem.
Ferentz’s three-year mark in his first head coaching stint at Maine was 12-21 from 1990-92. Those three seasons bring Ferentz’s overall collegiate head coaching record to 216-145. Or, a .598 winning percentage.
With this adjustment, Ferentz would now be eligible for the NFF College Football Hall of Fame upon retirement.
It’s exciting news for the all-time winningest Hawkeye that his runway to the NFF College Football Hall of Fame has been cleared for takeoff. The adjustment also presents some interesting questions for Iowa, too.
Does this alter Ferentz’s retirement timeline in any way, shape or form?
With the NFF College Football Hall of Fame roadblock now cleared, could Ferentz retire after the 2025 season? An Iowa finish of 7-6 or better in the 2025 season would keep Ferentz above the new minimum career winning percentage threshold of .595 for coaching eligibility.
If Iowa rips off a particularly successful 2025 season or pair of seasons in 2025 and 2026, does that free Ferentz up to coach out the remainder of his contract through the 2029 season without the looming fear of dipping below that Hall of Fame threshold?
It’s interesting to consider.
All of the other eligibility requirements remain unchanged.
To be considered for the NFF College Football Hall of Fame, coaches must have served as a head coach for a minimum of 10 seasons and must have coached at least 100 games. Coaches become eligible for consideration three full seasons after retirement or immediately following retirement if they are at least 70 years of age. Active coaches become eligible upon reaching the age of 75.
Beyond Ferentz, late Texas Tech, Washington State and Mississippi State head coach Mike Leach is now eligible for the Hall of Fame. Former Oklahoma State, LSU and Kansas head coach Les Miles and former Pitt, Texas A&M and Mississippi State head coach Jackie Sherrill are now eligible as well.
“It’s the only sane thing to do,” Leach’s mentor, Hal Mumme, told ESPN. “Why is 60% the magic number? I mean, not everybody gets to coach at Notre Dame or Texas or something. Throw the rule out and vote people in on merit.”
Among other active head coaches, West Virginia’s Rich Rodriguez owns a .596 winning percentage.
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