following three mediocre seasons in which iowa went just a combined 19-19 and a humbling defeat in the taxslayer bowl, the 2015 season proved to be one of the best in university history. the program had become stagnant and predictable. ferentz implemented new, spontaneous play calls and techniques that were dubbed "new kirk" by fans and media alike. iowa went undefeated in the regular season and recorded 12 wins, the most in school history. additionally, a team that went 0-4 in trophy games the year before, went 4-0 and won the big ten conference west championship, the first in school history. ferentz was also named big ten coach of the year for the fourth time while at iowa. the hawkeyes fell 16-13 in the 2015 big ten football championship game against michigan state. despite the loss, the hawkeyes accepted an invitation to the 2016 rose bowl, ferentz's third rose bowl with iowa, first as head coach, and it marks the first trip to pasadena for the hawkeyes in 25 years. in the rose bowl, the hawkeyes were throttled, 45-16, by a christian mccaffrey led stanford team.