Vanderbilt’s phenomenal regular season ended with a 10-2 record. The No. 12 Commodores are now headed to a bowl game for the second straight year, for just the second time in school history, after accepting a ReliaQuest Bowl game with Iowa.
The game is expected to be a classic clash of strengths. Vanderbilt boasts one of the top offenses in the country, ranking No. 1 in the PFSN College Football Offense Metric with a 93.6 rating. Iowa can counter with a stout defense, ranking No. 14 nationally in the PFSN College Football Defense Metric with a score of 86.8.
Iowa Hawkeyes Opt-Outs and Injury Report
Iowa will enter the game with an 8-4 overall record and a 6-3 mark in Big Ten play. The Hawkeyes return to action after a dominant 40-16 win over Nebraska on Nov. 28. This game will mark the first meeting between the two programs, and on paper, the matchup looks evenly balanced. Both teams have been competitive against top opponents, but neither has secured a signature win this season.
Iowa cornerback TJ Hall is listed as questionable for the Vanderbilt matchup after not appearing on the initial depth chart. He suffered an injury in the Hawkeyes’ 26-21 loss to USC on Nov. 15 and subsequently missed Iowa’s 20-17 win over Michigan State on Nov. 22, as well as the 24-point win over Nebraska the following week.
Hall has spent four seasons with Iowa, appearing in 41 games with 17 career starts. During his Hawkeyes career, he has totaled 67 tackles, 10 pass breakups, and two interceptions.
In addition, none of Iowa’s 27 seniors have chosen to opt out of the ReliaQuest Bowl.
Vanderbilt Commodores Opt-Outs and Injury Report
Vanderbilt will be without one of its most essential contributors against Iowa, as All-American tight end Eli Stowers has chosen to opt out of the game. Stowers won the William V. Campbell Trophy this season, totalling 62 catches for 769 yards and four touchdowns.
However, head coach Clark Lea voiced full support for Stowers’ decision.
“He remains an important part of this team, but obviously, for where he’s projected in the (NFL) Draft and what that could mean for him and all of us at this program, I support him all the way,” Lea said. “His health is our health, and his success is our success. We support him and his decision not to play.”
The positive news for Vanderbilt is that quarterback Diego Pavia will suit up, even as he prepares to declare for the NFL Draft. The excitement of the move is palpable in the words of offensive lineman Cade McConnell.
“He means a lot to this program,” McConnell said. “So for him to come back and play and give us one last ride with his boys, I think that’s really special. And if anyone knows Diego, he’s the ultimate competitor. So I think he would have had to cut his legs off for him to not play in this game, to be honest. I’m really excited to get one last thing with him.”
Pavia wrapped up the season as the Heisman Trophy runner-up, a finalist for both the Walter Camp Player of the Year and Manning Awards, and the SEC Offensive Player of the Year. He completed 242 of 340 passes for 3,192 yards, 27 touchdowns, and eight interceptions, while adding 826 rushing yards and nine scores on 152 carries across 12 games.
How to Watch the ReliaQuest Bowl
The ReliaQuest Bowl will be shown on ESPN.
Date: Wednesday, Dec. 31
Time: 11 a.m. CT
Place: Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida
TV: ESPN
The ReliaQuest Bowl broadcast team will consist of Roy Philpott handling play-by-play duties, Sam Acho providing analysis, and Taylor Davis reporting from the sidelines. The ESPN radio broadcast team for the game will feature Troy Clardy on play-by-play, with Je’Rod Cherry as the analyst and Marilyn Payne serving as sideline reporter.
Fans can also stream the game through the ESPN app, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, and Sling.