The two teams’ helmet are seen during a press conference at Hyatt House Tampa Airport Hotel Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. The press conference hosted Iowa football head coach Kirk Ferentz and Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea to address the media ahead of the matchup on Wednesday, Dec. 31. (Samantha DeFily/The Daily Iowan)
Football Notebook: Despite a changing narrative, Ferentz and Lea find purpose in bowl season TAMPA, Florida Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz and Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea aren’t buying into the noise in a time when the worth of bowl games is being questioned more and more. Rather, they are embracing what bowl season has always meant to them: a chance to celebrate the journey that led their teams to this point, a final week together, and a final chance to compete.
Prior to Wednesday’s ReliaQuest Bowl matchup between Iowa and Vanderbilt, which is scheduled for an 11 a.m. CST kickoff on December 31, both coaches met with the media Tuesday morning at Raymond James Stadium. Ferentz and Lea made it apparent that the bowl experience still has significant value within their programs, even though national discussions have shifted toward opt-outs, playoff expansion, and transfer portal movement.
”These games have always had a lot of value,” Ferentz remarked. “It’s about the chance to compete once more, to work as a team, and to complete what you started.”
Even though the environment has changed, Ferentz, who has led Iowa to bowl appearances in almost every season of his lengthy career, believes that the significance has remained constant. In recent years, college football has changed drastically. The roster is always changing. The postseason is now longer. Additionally, bowl games once the undeniable prize for a successful season are now frequently presented as optional displays rather than significant outcomes. Although Ferentz accepted the changes, he refuted the notion that bowl games are no longer important.
“You get another week of practice. You get more time with your players. You get to compete one more time,” Ferentz said. “Those things still matter. They matter a lot.”
Ferentz pointed out that the extra week is particularly crucial for younger players, which is a recurrent theme as Iowa strikes a balance between future development and Vanderbilt preparation. Veterans get one final chance to suit up together, while freshmen and backups get valuable reps during practices.
“There’s something special about that,” Ferentz added. “You don’t get those moments back.”
Across the field, Clark Lea echoed that sentiment.
Lea has worked to change Vanderbilt’s culture in his fourth season as head coach, placing a strong emphasis on long-term development, responsibility, and faith. Lea stated that the opportunity to prolong the season, even for an additional week, is significant and that earning a bowl trip signifies real progress.
“This is time you don’t take for granted,” Lea said. “You get to be together. You get to compete. You get to represent your school and your teammates one more time.”
Lea acknowledged that conversations around bowl games have changed nationally, but he said those outside narratives don’t reflect how his players view the opportunity.
“For our guys, this matters,” Lea said. “They’ve earned this. They’ve invested a lot, and this is a chance to cap the season the right way.”
The importance of deviating from the routine was also emphasized by both coaches. A team’s relationships can be strengthened by the new energy that comes from traveling to Tampa, staying together, and getting ready in a new setting.
“It’s not just the game,” Ferentz said. “It’s the meetings, the meals, the conversations. That’s all part of it.”
Additionally, the ReliaQuest Bowl presents an intriguing contest between two disciplined, defense-focused teams. Iowa comes with a well-known identity based on situational football, physicality, and fundamentals. Under Lea, Vanderbilt, on the other hand, has embraced toughness and resiliency, forging an identity based on work and conviction.
Ferentz praised Lea’s approach and the job he’s done in the SEC.
“They’re well-coached,” Ferentz said. “You can see it on tape. They play hard, they’re sound, and they compete.
Lea returned the respect, calling Iowa “a model of consistency” and pointing to Ferentz’s longevity as a testament to building a program the right way.
As kickoff approaches, neither coach seems distracted by debates about bowl relevance. For them, Wednesday is about football and about people.
It is about seniors participating in their last game. about younger athletes taking on more significant roles. About one final opportunity to wear the uniform together, one final bus ride, and one final huddle.
“No matter what’s happening around college football,” Lea said, “this still means something to the guys in that locker room.”
Ferentz agreed.
“And that’s really all that matters.”
