Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz will serve a university-imposed, one-game suspension for the Hawkeyes' season opener on Saturday, Aug. 31 vs. Illinois State for breaking NCAA rules by contacting a player before he was in the transfer portal, the school announced Thursday. The suspension is related to the recruitment of quarterback Cade McNamara, according to 247Sports.
Wide receivers coach Jon Budmayr is also suspended for the opener for the same reason. Assistant head coach and longtime Iowa staff member Seth Wallace will serve as the Hawkeyes' acting head coach against Illinois State.
"I frequently tell our players to abide by the rules, and in this instance, I did not," Ferentz said. "In 26 years as a head coach at Iowa — and more than four decades as a coach — this is my first potential Level II NCAA infraction. I made a mistake and would like to apologize to our players, university leadership, and our Hawkeye football fans. I know Coach Budmayr echoes those sentiments."
Ferentz, 69, is entering his 26th season leading the Iowa football program as the longest-tenured coach in college football. He's compiled a 196-119 record, and the Hawkeyes are coming off a 2023 season in which they won the Big Ten West before losing to Michigan in the Big Ten Championship Game.
"Coach Ferentz and I made the decision to self-impose the penalties, allowing the program to move forward without distraction," Iowa athletic director Beth Goetz said. "I appreciate the accountability demonstrated and we will continue to fully cooperate with the NCAA through this process. I have confidence in Coach Ferentz and his leadership, and we look forward to turning our focus to the opening game and exciting season that lies ahead."
During the same press conference on Thursday, Ferentz said that McNamara is currently the frontrunner to win the starting QB job entering the 2024 season. McNamara has been competing against Northwestern transfer Brendan Sullivan for the job during preseason practice.
McNamara joined Iowa in December 2022 out of the transfer portal after spending four seasons at Michigan. As the starting QB in 2021, McNamara led the Wolverines to a 12-2 record and College Football Playoff berth. Despite the success, he entered the 2022 season in a competition with J.J. McCarthy. Eventually losing out on that battle, McNamara opted to enter the portal and landed at Iowa. He started five games last season for the Hawkeyes before going down for the season with a knee injury suffered against Michigan State.
