Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz led the Hawkeyes to a 9-4 overall record during a season where he became the Big Ten’s overall leader in wins after defeating the UMass Minutemen on Sept. 13, 2025. Despite the optimism around the program, the outspoken Ferentz has had an NCAA investigation over recruitment violations that occurred in 2022 hanging over him
On Tuesday, the NCAA handed down a verdict on the case involving Ferentz and his assistant, Jon Budmayr, who have already served a self-imposed, one-game suspension.
NCAA Vacates Iowa Wins Following Investigation Into Kirk Ferentz
Ferentz and Budmayr were under investigation for contacting former Michigan Wolverines quarterback Cade McNamara, who later joined Iowa via the transfer portal for the 2023 season. On Tuesday, the NCAA revealed that the Hawkeyes would have to vacate all four wins that McNamara participated in during the 2023 season.
“Tampering violations occurred in the Iowa football program when current football head coach Kirk Ferentz and assistant coach Jon Budmayr had impermissible contacts with a student-athlete who was enrolled at another NCAA school at the time and who had not yet entered the NCAA Transfer Portal,” the NCAA’s statement read.
McNamara did not play in the Hawkeyes’ final five games of the 2024 season due to a concussion, and he later transferred to East Tennessee State for his seventh season of college football
According to the NCAA’s statement, the Hawkeyes would not have to vacate the five wins that McNamara was part of in 2024, since the quarterback would only have been ineligible for the 2023 season. In addition, the Hawkeyes received a $25,000 fine and a one-year probation.
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Ferentz Disputes Severity of NCAA Sanctions
After the NCAA revealed its ruling, Ferentz released a statement disagreeing with the harsh penalty imposed by the body while further detailing the steps that he had taken to address the issue on his side.
“I am disappointed by the NCAA’s decision today. Throughout the process, our program has been open and honest about my mistake – contacting a potential player in the hours before it was permissible by NCAA rules,” Ferentz’s statement read.
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“I felt it was important to make amends for the issue, which is why I voluntarily served a one-game suspension to start the 2023 season. I believe today’s decision by the NCAA vacating four wins in our 2023 season is overly harsh and inconsistent with the violation.”
Despite assistant head coach Seth Wallace overseeing Iowa’s season-opening 40-0 win over the Illinois State Redbirds in 2024, which Ferentz and Budmayr sat out, the win was officially credited to the Hawkeyes’ head coach. With the four vacated victories, Ferentz’s 209 wins are still the most in Big Ten history.
