The NCAA has ordered the University of Iowa to vacate four victories from its 2023 football season. This decision stems from findings of tampering violations concerning quarterback Cade McNamara. The ruling impacts wins against Utah State, Iowa State, Western Michigan, and Michigan State. Alongside the vacated wins, the Hawkeyes program will undergo one year of probation.
The NCAA determined that unauthorized contact occurred between Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz, receiver coach Jon Budmayr, and Cade McNamara before the quarterback officially entered the transfer portal. This constitutes a Level II NCAA violation. Ferentz himself has acknowledged a phone call with McNamara prior to his portal entry, admitting he did not verify if McNamara was in the portal at the time.
Iowa's administration, including President Barb Wilson and Athletic Director Beth Goetz, have publicly stated their disappointment with the NCAA's decision. Coach Ferentz has echoed similar sentiments. The university had previously engaged in an appeal, arguing that vacating wins was an excessive penalty.
Read More: NFL Teams Like Ravens and Raiders Have Many Picks for 2026 Draft
In response to the violations, Iowa implemented a self-imposed penalty, prohibiting recruiting communication within the football program for a two-week period this year. The university's pushback against the vacation of wins suggests a divergence in how they perceive the severity of the infractions.
Kirk Ferentz, already a prominent figure in college football with a career record impacted by this decision, had recently surpassed Woody Hayes for all-time wins. This ruling casts a shadow over that achievement. The sequence of events involved communications between Budmayr and McNamara's father, followed by the phone call between McNamara and Ferentz, after which McNamara entered the portal and subsequently transferred to Iowa.
Read More: Penn State Roster Changes in April 2026 Affect Player Outlook
