2008 marked Ferentz' tenth season as the head coach at Iowa. The 2008 Hawkeyes started the season 3–3, with the three losses coming by a combined nine points. But Iowa ended the season very strong, defeating third-ranked Penn State, 24–23, on a last second field goal, and handing Minnesota a 55–0 defeat, their worst conference loss in over a century of Big Ten play. In all, the Hawks won five of their last six conference games to finish the regular season with an 8–4 record and earn a trip to the Outback Bowl, where Iowa defeated South Carolina, 31–10.