As the sun rose over Tampa on December 31, 2025, anticipation reached a fever pitch at Raymond James Stadium. The ReliaQuest Bowl was set to deliver a compelling Big Ten-SEC clash between the No. 23 Iowa Hawkeyes and the No. 14 Vanderbilt Commodores—a matchup brimming with storylines, history, and high stakes.
For Iowa, this bowl game represented more than just another postseason appearance. After an 8-4 regular season (6-3 in the Big Ten), the Hawkeyes were hungry to cap off their campaign with a signature win, potentially notching their ninth victory under the steady leadership of head coach Kirk Ferentz. Their opponent, the surging Vanderbilt Commodores (10-2, 6-2 SEC), entered the contest on the heels of a historic season—achieving their first-ever 10-win campaign and boasting an explosive offense led by Heisman runner-up Diego Pavia.
Kickoff was scheduled for 11:00 a.m. Central Time, with ESPN providing national coverage. Play-by-play duties fell to Roy Philpott, with Sam Acho offering color analysis and Taylor Davis reporting from the sidelines. For Hawkeye faithful unable to tune in on television, the Hawkeye Radio Network, featuring Gary Dolphin and Pat Angerer, promised every detail from the gridiron.
The stage was set: a high-octane Vanderbilt offense squaring off against Iowa’s vaunted defense. Vanderbilt, under head coach Clark Lea, had rewritten the program’s record books this year, notching ten wins for the first time and finishing eighth nationally in scoring offense—averaging a staggering 39.4 points per game. The Commodores had eclipsed the 40-point mark seven times, including multiple SEC contests, and were led by the dynamic Diego Pavia. The Heisman finalist had thrown for 3,192 yards, 27 touchdowns, and just eight interceptions, making him a nightmare for opposing coordinators.
Yet, Iowa’s defense, orchestrated by the ever-resourceful Phil Parker, thrived in these moments. Ranked sixth nationally in scoring defense, the Hawkeyes surrendered a mere 14.7 points per game. Their formula was simple but effective: grind the clock, pound the rock, and force mistakes. Defensive back TJ Hall’s return to full health meant Iowa would have all hands on deck to try and contain Pavia and a Commodore attack missing its top target, All-American tight end Eli Stowers. That absence, as analysts noted, would allow Iowa to be "a bit more aggressive in coverage and with blitzes."
On the offensive side, the Hawkeyes looked to quarterback Mark Gronowski, who was set to play his final collegiate game. Gronowski, once a star at South Dakota State, had the chance to go out in style, with no restrictions on carries or pass attempts. The game plan called for a blend of classic Iowa football—leaning on the offensive line and establishing the run—while exploiting Vanderbilt’s glaring weakness: a pass defense ranked 119th nationally. As one pregame prediction highlighted, "Gronowski has to put the ball in the air early and often and sustain drives to keep the high-powered Vanderbilt offense off the field."
Vanderbilt, for its part, was determined to shake off the sting of narrowly missing the College Football Playoff. The Commodores’ only two losses came against perennial powers Alabama and Texas, but their 10-2 mark and No. 14 ranking underscored the program’s dramatic improvement under Lea, who now boasted a 26-35 record but had engineered a remarkable turnaround. The school, located in Nashville, Tennessee, is affectionately known as the "Harvard of the South," and its athletic teams have carried the "Commodores" nickname since 1892, a nod to founder Cornelius Vanderbilt’s seafaring exploits.
As the teams warmed up under sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-50s, the Vegas oddsmakers had their say. FanDuel Sportsbook set the line with Vanderbilt favored by 3.5 to 4.5 points, depending on the hour, and the over/under hovering around 45.5 to 46.5 points. The consensus? Expect a defensive slugfest—a classic "rock fight" in the words of one preview, with Iowa seeking to drag Vanderbilt "into the mud and see what you’re made of."
Predictions from analysts and fans alike leaned toward a close contest. One forecast had the Hawkeyes squeaking out a 27-24 victory, another pegged the final at 24-21 in Iowa’s favor. The keys, everyone agreed, were simple: Iowa’s defense needed to pressure Pavia, force turnovers, and prevent big plays, while the offense had to capitalize on Vanderbilt’s secondary and control the tempo. As one report succinctly put it, "Iowa is going to have to play a near-flawless game on defense to slow down the Commodores, and they will be up for the challenge."
Vanderbilt, meanwhile, looked to their quarterback to carry the load. Despite some off-the-field issues, Diego Pavia had been the engine of the Commodores’ resurgence. His dual-threat ability—equally dangerous with his arm and legs—meant that Iowa could ill afford to let him get comfortable early. The absence of Eli Stowers, though, was a significant blow, giving Iowa’s secondary a chance to be more aggressive and perhaps tilt the field in their favor.
The Hawkeyes, who had gone 0-4 against ranked opponents during the regular season, relished the opportunity for redemption. For the seniors and for special teams coordinator LeVar Woods, the ReliaQuest Bowl was a chance to go out on a high note. "With time and preparation, the Hawkeyes have shown they can have a solid game plan in place, and the defensive unit will win this game," one preview predicted confidently.
Beyond the X’s and O’s, the ReliaQuest Bowl offered a fitting finale to the college football year. It was a showcase of contrasting styles—Vanderbilt’s flash and firepower against Iowa’s grit and grind. It was a meeting of programs on divergent paths: Vanderbilt, ascending rapidly under Clark Lea, and Iowa, a model of consistency under Kirk Ferentz. The contest also underscored the enduring appeal of bowl season, where conference pride, player legacies, and the thrill of the unknown all collide.
As kickoff approached, fans from both sides buzzed with nervous excitement. Would Iowa’s defense rise to the occasion and finally notch a win over a ranked foe? Could Gronowski deliver a storybook ending to his college career? Or would Pavia and the Commodores cap their record-breaking season with one more explosive performance?
With the action underway, all eyes turned to the field. The ReliaQuest Bowl was more than just a game—it was a battle of wills, a clash of traditions, and a celebration of college football at its finest. However the scoreboard ultimately reads, both teams have already given their fans a season to remember.