The NCAA decided that Iowa football must vacate four wins from the 2023 season due to tampering violations during the recruitment of quarterback Cade McNamara from the transfer portal, per an infractions decision posted by the NCAA on Tuesday, April 14.

Assistant coach Jon Budmayr reportedly called McNamara 13 times and texted him twice before he entered the transfer portal, ensuring the Michigan quarterback would have a home with the Hawkeyes when he eventually did. Head coach Kirk Ferentz openly took responsibility for his awareness and involvement in the violations.

Both Ferentz and Budmayr served a one-game suspension for the 2024 season opener against Illinois State, where Iowa won, 40-0, under assistant head coach Seth Wallace.

McNamara played in five games for Iowa in 2023 before suffering a knee injury against Michigan State. The Hawkeyes went 4-1 in those games, and the four wins with McNamara under center will be vacated. Those victories came against Utah State, Iowa State, Western Michigan, and Michigan State.

Here is the full list of penalties given to Iowa:

• One year of probation.
• A fine of $25,000 (self-imposed by the school).
• A two-week ban on all football recruiting communication during the 2026 calendar year (self-imposed by the school).
• A 24-day reduction in recruiting person days, including two weeks during which Ferentz was prohibited from off-campus recruiting activity in 2025, as well as four days during which Budmayr was prohibited from recruiting during the 2025 spring evaluation period (self-imposed by the school).
• A vacation of all records in which the student-athlete competed while ineligible.
• A one-game suspension for Ferentz and Budmayr during the 2024 football season (self-imposed by the school).