Iowa Football Racially Biased Against Blacks
False Assumption: University of Iowa football program exhibits serious racial bias causing black athletes to transfer at higher rates than whites.
Written by FARAgent on February 10, 2026
In 2018, University of Iowa's athletic department conducted a study revealing alleged racial inequities in football. The report highlighted higher black transfer rates, low black graduation rates, and claims from black athletes feeling unable to be their authentic selves. Media amplified these findings amid 2020 racial justice protests following George Floyd's death.
Athletic director Gary Barta and coach Kirk Ferentz acknowledged issues and implemented changes like allowing hats, earrings, and hoodies. A Kansas City law firm investigated further allegations from over 50 black players. Ferentz claimed prior unawareness of major problems despite reading the 2019 report.
By mid-2020s, Iowa produced standout white athletes like Caitlin Clark in basketball, Riley Moss and Cooper DeJean as NFL starting cornerbacks, and Kalen Walker with a white American record 9.94 in the 100m dash. These successes suggest merit-based selection over bias, with all four from Iowa high schools.
People Involved
- In the late 2010s, Gary Barta served as Iowa's athletics director. He acknowledged findings from a 2018 report that pointed to racial inequities in the football program. He also noted an investigation by a Kansas City law firm into allegations from black players. [1]
- Around the same time, Kirk Ferentz, the football coach, read a 2019 report on these issues. He made changes, such as allowing hats and earrings. He said he had no prior knowledge of major racism in the program. [1]
▶ Supporting Quotes (2)
“Barta acknowledged on June 15 that “while no teams or individuals were singled out, it was reported verbally that many of these comments were coming from football.””— U. of Iowa's White Athletes Roll On
“Ferentz read the full report detailing racial inequities in 2019. Based on that, he initiated some changes before last season. “We allowed (student-athletes) to wear hats, earrings, [and hoodies] but what I learned here is there’s a lot more to it,” Ferentz said.”— U. of Iowa's White Athletes Roll On
Organizations Involved
The University of Iowa athletic department ran a study in 2018. It alleged racial bias in the football program, which it tied to higher transfer rates among black athletes, the highest in the Big Ten. [1] By 2020, Hawkeye Nation picked up the thread. The site promoted the narrative of bias, drawing on the athletic department's study and tweets from players during national protests. [1]
▶ Supporting Quotes (2)
“’18 Athletic Department Study Showed Serious Racial Bias in Iowa Football ... The report indicated that these issues combined to create an environment that caused Blacks to transfer from Iowa at a higher rate than whites—in fact, at Iowa, the rate differential in the football program was the highest in the entire Big Ten Conference.”— U. of Iowa's White Athletes Roll On
“The charges against Iowa come at a time when the country faces new resurgences of protests against racism in the wake of George Floyd’s death last May while in Minneapolis police custody.”— U. of Iowa's White Athletes Roll On
The Foundation
The assumption took root in 2018 with an athletic department study. It relied on anonymous claims from black athletes about having to mask their identities and face policing over hairstyles. This fed beliefs in systemic discrimination and cultural mismatch. [1] Observers linked higher transfer and lower graduation rates among black players to bias, rather than to performance or fit. This created a sub-belief that Iowa's culture was unwelcoming to blacks. [1] Growing evidence now suggests this foundation was flawed, though the debate continues.
▶ Supporting Quotes (2)
“Barta said there were concerning statements like: “I felt I had to put a mask on and check my identity at the door.” “I was told by my coach to change my hairstyle because it didn’t fit the Iowa culture.””— U. of Iowa's White Athletes Roll On
“it also suggested a lack of knowledge or understanding among coaches and staff about the reasons for transfers and the resulting low graduation rate among black student-athletes.”— U. of Iowa's White Athletes Roll On
How It Spread
The idea gained traction in 2020 through a Hawkeye Nation article. It amplified the 2018 study against the backdrop of George Floyd protests. The piece framed Iowa football as racially biased, based on social media claims from former players. [1] Media coverage and online allegations spread the narrative further, pressuring the program amid national unrest. Increasingly, this propagation is seen as overhasty, but recognition of its flaws remains emerging.
▶ Supporting Quotes (1)
“As University of Iowa football responds to public allegations of racial bias within the program—widespread on social media after a June 3 Tweet by Chicago Bears offensive lineman and former Hawkeye player James Daniels—a document obtained by Hawkeye Nation suggests the athletic department knew over a year ago about the significant problems”— U. of Iowa's White Athletes Roll On
Resulting Policies
After the 2019 report, Iowa football introduced changes. The program allowed hats, earrings, and hoodies. These moves aimed to address alleged racial inequities and help black athletes feel more authentic. [1] Such policies reflected the assumption's influence at the time, though growing evidence questions their necessity.
▶ Supporting Quotes (1)
““We allowed (student-athletes) to wear hats, earrings, [and hoodies] but what I learned here is there’s a lot more to it,” Ferentz said. “We’ve got to dig deeper, listen better, and act on things that count.””— U. of Iowa's White Athletes Roll On
Harm Caused
The allegations triggered investigations, including one by a Kansas City law firm. They also cast a public stigma on the Iowa program as racially biased. [1] More than 50 former and current black players claimed inequality, leading to intense scrutiny and program adjustments. This occurred even as later developments showed Iowa producing top white athletes in positions often dominated by blacks. [1] The harm included reputational damage and unnecessary changes, with emerging recognition that the bias narrative may have overstated the issues.
▶ Supporting Quotes (2)
“a Kansas City law firm, hired by Iowa, is currently investigating the allegations and is expected to complete and submit its report by the end of this month.”— U. of Iowa's White Athletes Roll On
“that can’t happen soon enough for the more than 50 former and current Black football players who have alleged inequality.”— U. of Iowa's White Athletes Roll On
Downfall
By the mid-2020s, the assumption began to weaken. White Iowa stars emerged in various sports: Caitlin Clark in basketball, Cooper DeJean and Riley Moss as cornerbacks, and Kalen Walker in sprinting. [1] Their success highlighted merit-based achievements, challenging the bias narrative. Growing evidence suggests the original claims were overstated, though the matter is not yet fully settled.
▶ Supporting Quotes (1)
“In the 2020s, the University of Iowa is on a hot streak at proving Steve Sailer wrong ... Iowa’s football team has also provided the NFL in the second half of the 2024 season with its first white two white starting cornerbacks since Jason Sehorn ... Iowa sprinter Kalen Walker set a new record for white Americans by running a 9.94 100 meter dash.”— U. of Iowa's White Athletes Roll On
Sources
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[1]
U. of Iowa's White Athletes Roll Onreputable_journalism