Iowa State offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz, the son of Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz, has faced considerable criticism this season. In October, Iowa State confirmed that its offensive play-caller would not return for the 2024 season.
The Hawkeyes struggled to put points on the scoreboard throughout the 2023 season, and their offensive struggles continued into New Year's Day. Iowa State faced Tennessee in the Citrus Bowl on Monday and entered the fourth quarter trailing by 21 points.
Iowa's offense had just 106 total yards of offense through the first three quarters of the game. Volante ended up shutting out the Hawkeyes, winning 35-0.
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Brock Osweiler #17 of the Denver Broncos looks on before a game against the Dallas Cowboys at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on September 17, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
The Hawkeyes suffered a shutout loss in their last game, losing 26-0 to Michigan in the Big Ten Championship Game. Things were so bad for Iowa State that ESPN analyst Brock Osweiler begged for mercy after the game.
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Even when it seemed almost certain that Tennessee would win the game, Volante didn't take his foot off the pedal. Tennessee was in the red zone with less than a minute left, but decided to get a fourth down and score.
The Hawkeyes were flagged for a jump offside, and Volante tried to get into the end zone again. Tennessee then gained enough yards for a first down, but seemed satisfied with the score at that point and allowed time to expire.
Brock Osweiler, a member of the Denver Broncos team that won Super Bowl 50, expressed his displeasure with Tennessee's late-game decision.
Tennessee quarterback Niko Iamareaba, 8, runs into the end zone for a touchdown during the Citrus Bowl NCAA college football game between Tennessee and Iowa on Monday, January 1, 2024 in Orlando, Florida. It broke in. (Saul Young/News Sentinel/USA TODAY NETWORK)
“I don't like this move by the Vols right now,” Osweiler, one of the game broadcasters, said. “They had a chance to run out the clock, okay, they had the backups there. They worked hard and got the reps. But the sportsmanship element was also very much within reach in this game. Yes, 35-0.”
January 1, 2024. Orlando, Florida, USA. Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback Deacon Hill (10) throws the ball during the third quarter of a game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Camping World Stadium. (Jeremy Lepper-USA TODAY Sports)
Dave Fleming, who was broadcasting the game with Osweiler, also suggested that Tennessee should have taken a knee earlier to stop the clock.
Fans also took to Company X, formerly known as Twitter, to share their thoughts on Iowa's lackluster offensive performance.
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“I think I understand why Brian Ferentz didn't stay at Iowa,” one fan wrote along with a photo showing the results of six of Iowa's offensive possessions. Five of those possessions resulted in punts, and Tennessee intercepted passes on the remaining possessions.
Another fan wrote, “Losing to this Iowa team should have counted as 2 losses. I don't know how they won 10 games.”
Iowa State punter Torrie Taylor was perhaps the only bright spot for the Hawkeyes, as he set the NCAA single-season yardage record during the Citrus Bowl.
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