Iowa's Ferentz suspended 1 game for recruiting violation
Iowa is self-imposing a one-game ban on head coach Kirk Ferentz and wide receivers coach Jon Budmayr for a recruiting violation in late 2022, per a school statement.
Assistant head coach Seth Wallace will serve as the acting head coach in Ferentz's absence.
The suspensions are related to Ferentz and Budmayr's recruitment of quarterback Cade McNamara before the transfer portal opened in 2022, a source told The Athletic's Scott Dochterman.
"Bottom line is, as I tell our players, we abide by the rules, and in this specific case, I did not do that," Ferentz said, according to Keith Murphy of SoundOFF. "I made a mistake during the recruiting process."
He added: "Twenty-six years as a head coach. This is the first potential Level II violation that I've had, and it won't happen again."
McNamara entered the transfer portal Nov. 28, 2022, after playing his first three seasons at Michigan. The next day, there was reportedly mutual interest between the passer and Iowa. McNamara then committed to the program Dec. 1.
Budmayr had previously recruited McNamara as a former Wisconsin assistant. He was a special assistant to the head coach for the Hawkeyes in 2022. Budmayr and McNamara's past relationship was a factor in the quarterback joining Iowa, per Dochterman.
McNamara threw for 505 yards, four touchdowns, and three interceptions in five games last season. The 6-foot-1, 212-pounder is competing with Northwestern transfer Brendan Sullivan for the starting job this year.
Iowa opens its season at home against Illinois State on Aug. 31.