Iowa City, IA- Yesterday the University of Iowa was gearing up for their 2024 season opener at Kinnick Stadium set for next Saturday, August 31st, at 11 am against the Red Birds of Illinois State with head coach Kirk Ferentz, similar to the past 25 seasons for Ferentz.
Today, the Hawkeyes will have to prep for the game without Ferentz for the first time in his Hawkeye coaching career after receiving a one-game suspension for recruiting violations in 2022. Jon Budmayr, assistant coach, also received a one-game suspension for the same violation.
The violation stems from the recruitment of starting quarterback Cade McNamara from the transfer portal. McNamara joined the Hawkeyes three days after entering the transfer portal.
It was reported by The Athletic’s Scott Dochterman that Budmayr had recruited McNamara when he was an assistant coach at Wisconsin and that relationship aided the Hawkeyes’ odds in the portal.
This will be the first time in Ferentz’s Iowa coaching career that he will miss a game. He currently has a career record of 196-119 with two Big Ten titles.