Iowa's Kirk Ferentz Suspended for Season Opener Due to Recruiting Violation -

Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz Suspended for Season Opener Due to Recruiting Violation

Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz will be suspended for the team’s season opener against Illinois State on August 31. The suspension stemming from a recruiting violation also applies to wide receiver coach Jon Budmayr. The violation involves their pursuit of quarterback Cade McNamara before the NCAA transfer portal opened in 2022.

According to sources, the violation is linked to an ongoing NCAA investigation, although it remains unclear whether the suspension was imposed by the University of Iowa or by the NCAA itself. Iowa’s athletic director, Beth Goetz, has declined to comment on the matter, leaving further clarification to Ferentz, who is expected to address the media at a scheduled press conference on Thursday afternoon.

McNamara, who began his college career at Michigan, where he led the Wolverines to a Big Ten Championship in 2021, entered the transfer portal on November 28, 2022. The next day, mutual interest between McNamara and the Iowa Hawkeyes was reported, with McNamara committing to Iowa by December 1. Budmayr’s past relationship with McNamara, from his time as a Wisconsin assistant, played a significant role in bringing the quarterback to Iowa.

This suspension adds to a challenging start to the season for the Hawkeyes, as two players, offensive lineman Cade Borud and wide receiver Kaleb Brown, were also suspended for the first game due to unrelated off-field incidents involving OWI arrests.

As Ferentz serves his suspension, assistant head coach Seth Wallace, who also serves as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, is expected to step in on game day. Ferentz, 69, has been the head coach at Iowa since 1999 and is currently the longest-tenured coach in college football. His absence in the season opener is rare in his storied career.

McNamara, now entering his second season with Iowa and his sixth in college football overall, is currently competing for the starting quarterback position against former Northwestern quarterback Brendan Sullivan. The outcome of this battle will be a focal point for the Hawkeyes as they prepare to kick off their 2024 season without their veteran head coach on the sidelines.

Kirk Ferentz’s suspension and Cade Borud and Kaleb Brown’s earlier suspensions present early challenges for a team looking to make a strong statement in the 2024 season. The press conference tomorrow is likely to shed more light on the situation and how Iowa plans to navigate these disruptions as it prepares for its first game.