Iowa Hawkeyes Forced to Vacate Four Wins from 2023 Football Season

Ahead of the 2023 football season, there was palpable excitement in Iowa City when the Iowa Hawkeyes were able to nab quarterback Cade McNamara. McNamara was transferring from Michigan after serving as the backup quarterback for the season. McNamara was ready for a new beginning, and Iowa was hoping to put an end to their perennial woes at signal caller.

It turns out, Iowa's pursuit of McNamara involved tampering, which is illegal in college football. Following an investigation, the NCAA announced this week that Iowa will be forced to vacate four victories from the 2023 season. Iowa had a 4-1 record with McNamara at the helm during that season prior to him suffering a knee injury.

READ MORE: Iowa Hawkeyes Insider Drops Bombshell About QB Cade McNamara

About Iowa Being Forced to Vacate Four Wins:

Per ESPN, the NCAA said that Iowa Hawkeyes coach Kirk Ferentz and assistant Jon Budmayr engaged in "13 phone calls and two text messages" with Cade McNamara in November 2022. This was prior to him entering the transfer portal, meaning recruiting efforts were made while McNamara was still a member of the Michigan Wolverines.

This isn't new information, mind you. Ferentz and Budmayr were suspended for the 2024 season opener due to the violations. Now, the NCAA has moved to vacate wins from Iowa's 10-4 season in 2023, bumping them down to 6-4 in the history books. Iowa Athletic Director Beth Goetz issued a statement on the NCAA's move:

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We are very disappointed in today's ruling by the Committee on Infractions. Throughout this nearly two-and-a-half-year process, the University has fully cooperated with the NCAA enforcement staff. More importantly, when the facts revealed that violations had taken place, the institution and the head coach publicly accepted full responsibility and self-imposed several significant sanctions, something few others have done. We believe the decision of adding the penalty of the forfeiture of wins is unwarranted. The matter is now closed, and we have moved forward - Beth Goetz, per ESPN

Ferentz also expressed disappointment in the decision. He added that Iowa football has been "open and honest" about his mistake.

READ MORE: Former Iowa Hawkeyes Linebacker Dies at 59

After a tumultuous and a bad injury in 2023, McNamara suited up again for the Iowa Hawkeyes only to underwhelm in 2024. He was statistically unimpressive and just never felt connected to the team. He went on to transfer yet again to East Tennessee State for the 2025 season, which might as well be college football anonymity unless you live in that respective region.

To me, I get the violation, but the idea of vacating wins has never made any sense to me. We saw those games be played. There is record of them. Vacating a program's wins doesn't erase the games from collective memory, and the team's record therein carries an asterisk because, well, wins were removed. Fining programs a substantial amount of money sends a greater message.

Read more about the Iowa Hawkeye football team vacating four wins from the 2023 season on ESPN's website.