Iowa's Kirk Ferentz Suspended for Violation of Cade McNamara's Transfer

Iowa will be without head coach Kirk Ferentz for the first game of the 2024 season due to a suspension for a recruiting violation, the school announced on Thursday.

The Athletic's Scott Dochterman first reported Ferentz's suspension stems from pursuing quarterback Cade McNamara before the transfer portal opened in 2022.

McNamara played at Michigan for three seasons from 2020 to 2022, including starting all 14 games in 2021. He competed with J.J. McCarthy for the starting job in 2022, but an injury to his right knee that required surgery ended his season after three games.

After McCarthy established himself as the Wolverines' No. 1 quarterback, McNamara entered the transfer portal on Nov. 28, 2022—the day it opened.

Per Dochterman, there was "mutual interest" between McNamara and the Hawkeyes as soon as Nov. 29. He committed to Iowa on Dec. 1.

McNamara entered last season as Iowa's starter, but he suffered a torn ACL in his left knee during a win over Michigan State that ended his 2023 campaign after five games.

The 24-year-old announced in October that he would be returning to the Hawkeyes for his final season of eligibility in 2024. He is projected to be the starter again, with redshirt freshman Marco Lainez and junior Brendan Sullivan likely to be the backups.

Wide receivers coach Jon Budmayr also received a one-game suspension as part of the investigation.

According to Dochterman, Budmayr previously recruited McNamara when he was an assistant coach at Wisconsin and that relationship contributed to the quarterback committing to Iowa.

Iowa will open the 2024 season against Illinois State at Kinnick Stadium on Aug. 31. Ferentz is entering his 26th season as the Hawkeyes head coach. He owns a 196-119 record with 20 bowl game appearances and two Big Ten titles.