Iowa Football Penalized by NCAA for Tampering with Quarterback Cade McNamara
Iowa has been penalized by the NCAA for tampering with quarterback Cade McNamara before he officially entered the transfer portal. The NCAA found that Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz and assistant Jon Budmayr had multiple communications with McNamara before he made his transfer decision. As a result, Iowa will have to vacate four victories from the 2023 season.
Following the investigation, it was revealed that Ferentz and Budmayr had engaged in 13 phone calls and sent two text messages to McNamara before he entered the transfer portal in November 2022. Despite the penalties imposed by the NCAA, both Ferentz and Budmayr were also suspended for the 2024 season opener as part of a school-imposed punishment for their actions.
Cade McNamara, who transferred from Michigan to Iowa, had a successful start with the Hawkeyes in the 2023 season, going 4-1 before sustaining a knee injury. However, the NCAA has ruled that McNamara was ineligible for the wins against Utah State, Iowa State, Western Michigan, and Michigan State. Therefore, those victories will now be vacated by Iowa.
In conclusion, Iowa's football program has faced consequences for violating NCAA rules by tampering with Cade McNamara's transfer process. The vacated victories from the 2023 season serve as a reminder of the importance of following regulations and maintaining integrity in college athletics.