Kirk Ferentz doesn't dwell on things, but the NCAA's recent decision on the program's 2022 tampering violations is really getting to him.
After the NCAA ruled that Kirk Ferentz and Jon Budmayr illegally contacted Cade McNamara, the program self-imposed suspensions, recruiting restrictions, and a $25,000 fine.
It was a hefty price to pay for an oft-injured, ineffective transfer quarterback, but the program thought it had done its due diligence by self-reporting the incident and self-imposing penalties. The NCAA said think again, which hasn't sat right with Ferentz.
Ferentz still thinks the punishment doesn't fit the crime
The NCAA not only agreed with the self-imposed sanctions but also forced the program to vacate four wins from the 2023 season, which Ferentz called "overly harsh."
The final ruling was handed down on April 14, and even though some time has passed, Ferentz is still less than happy with the ruling.
KF on the four wins vacated: I wasn’t optimistic that any other ruling would happen.
— David Eickholt (@DavidEickholt) April 27, 2026
“We violated a rule and I acknowledge that, but it was far from tampering.”
Ferentz recent statement on the violation proves that he has not completely gotten over it, even while acknowledging he made a mistake.
He called what the program did "far from tampering," but that is not going to change the minds of the NCAA rules committee anytime soon.
The NCAA still does not have a full grasp on how to litigate certain punishments, and that is very evident in this case.
There is no framework for which violations draw which penalties, because Iowa self-reported and got a heavy penalty, while other programs (like Michigan) do much worse and get a slap on the wrist.
It would go a long way if the NCAA had a set list of punishments for certain violations, with room for leeway worked in.
There is no going back, and Ferentz and the program will have to live with the NCAA's ruling, but that doesn't mean anyone has to like it.
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