{
  "id": 18047078,
  "title": "Big Ten Coach Bashes ESPN, CFP Committee Before Rankings Release",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/04/big-ten-coach-bashes-espn-cfp-committee-before-rankings-release",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-11-04T00:59:48.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Newsweek",
    "slug": "newsweek",
    "url": "https://www.newsweek.com/sports/ncaa/big-ten-coach-bashes-espn-cfp-committee-before-rankings-release-12659020"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz believes the committee will not give his No. 21 Hawkeyes favorable rankings when they release their first rankings on Tuesday. Iowa started the season 4-0 but lost to Ohio State and Minnesota later in the season. Ferentz was asked if he would pay attention to the CFP rankings, stating he is more concerned with preparing for their upcoming game against Northwestern. He suggested that the committee may rank ESPN's conference partners higher than Iowa, a Big Ten program. Ferentz also commented on ESPN's promotion of the sports they carry, implying that they favor their own conference. Given Iowa's current ranking in the AP poll, it seems unlikely they will be one of the 12 teams in the initial bracket, though they could earn an at-large bid at the committee's discretion.",
  "summary": "Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz unloaded on the CFP committee and ESPN during his news conference on Tuesday.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}