Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz suspended for season-opening game over violations related to Cade McNamara recruitment

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz will be suspended for the Hawkeyes’ season opener on Saturday, Aug. 31 vs. Illinois State for NCAA violations related to the recruitment of starting quarterback Cade McNamara, according to 247Sports. The program is under NCAA investigation, 247Sports confirmed, but it’s unclear whether the punishment has been handed down by the governing body or is self-imposed by the school. Wide receivers coach Jon Budmayr has also been suspended. 

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. 

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. 

While it has yet to be made official, the expectation is that McNamara will be named the starter for the 2024 season. 

Ferentz is scheduled to meet with the media on Thursday afternoon.