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What does NCAA penalty mean for Kirk Ferentz's Big Ten wins record?
TL;DR
The NCAA has vacated four wins from Iowa football's 2023 season due to a recruiting violation involving quarterback Cade McNamara. Head coach Kirk Ferentz's record will adjust to 209-127, but he remains the Big Ten's all-time winningest coach.
On Monday, April 14 the NCAA announced its final decision regarding a reported Iowa football recruiting violation from 2022, which involved impermissible contact with quarterback Cade McNamara.
Head coach Kirk Ferentz and Hawkeyes assistant coach Jon Budmayr were previously suspended for one game that season, but now, wins are being vacated for the 2023 games in which McNamara participated. (Iowa went 4-1 in those games).
Ferentz is the Big Ten Conference's all-time leader in coaching victories.
According to Hawk Central columnist Chad Leistikow, "It was not immediately clear exactly how Ferentz's record in Big Ten history would be adjusted. He surpassed Woody Hayes' 205 wins for No. 1 on the all-time list last season. Assuming he has to subtract four wins and one loss, Ferentz would be back to a 209-127 record at Iowa entering the Hawkeyes' Sept. 5 season opener against Northern Illinois. But in that case he would still be the Big Ten's all-time winningest coach.
"Iowa argued that the vacation of wins was over the top in its appeal to the Division I Committee on Infractions hearing panel. Prior to the ruling, Ferentz officially owned a 213-128 coaching record in 27 years at Iowa, including a mark of 18-9 during McNamaraâs two seasons â though Deacon Hill was the primary Iowa QB in 2023 after McNamara tore his ACL in Week 5. McNamara did not play in any of Iowaâs final five games of 2024, which were started by Brendan Sullivan (three times) and Jackson Stratton (twice) after the quarterback reported concussion symptoms. He wound up transferring to East Tennessee State for a seventh year of college."
More: NCAA vacates Iowa football wins over Kirk Ferentz's 2022 recruiting violation
Big Ten football coaching wins leaders (updated)
*Note: This is total wins while coaching a Big Ten team, not wins against Big Ten opponents
- Kirk Ferentz, Iowa, 1999-present (209)
- Woody Hayes, Ohio State, 1951-78 (205 wins)
- Amos Alonzo Stagg, Chicago, 1896-1932 (199)
- Bo Schembechler, Michigan, 1969-89 (194)
- Joe Paterno, Penn State, 1993-2011 (162)
- Hayden Fry, Iowa, 1979-98 (143)
- Henry Williams, Minnesota, 1900-21 (136)
- Robert Zuppke, Illinois, 1913-41 (131)
- Lloyd Carr, Michigan, 1995-2007 (122)
- Barry Alvarez, Wisconsin, 1990-2014 (118)
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: What does NCAA penalty mean for Kirk Ferentz's Big Ten wins record?
Q&A
What recruiting violation led to the NCAA vacating Iowa football's wins?
The NCAA vacated Iowa football's wins due to impermissible contact with quarterback Cade McNamara during the 2022 recruiting period.
How will the NCAA penalty affect Kirk Ferentz's coaching record?
Kirk Ferentz's record will adjust to 209-127 after the vacated wins, but he will still hold the title of the Big Ten's all-time winningest coach.
What was Iowa's record during the games that had wins vacated by the NCAA?
Iowa had a record of 4-1 in the games that the NCAA vacated due to the recruiting violation.