Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz says he feels good about the future of the program. The Hawkeyes concluded the season with a record of 8-5 after a 21-14 loss to LSU in Wednesday’s Outback Bowl. “We got a lot of good work this past three weeks, four weeks with our younger players,” Ferentz says. He says the seniors did a great job of showing the younger players what they need to do and the work will start again when they get back to campus.

Ferentz says the success enjoyed this season can be traced back to the end of a disappointing 4-8 campaign in 2012. He says the seniors showed the younger guys how to act and turn things around. “It just been a really good group of guys to be around and work with,”Ferentz says.

The Hawkeyes open next season at home against UNI, there is a non conference trip to Pitt and a visit to Big Ten newcomer Maryland.