Iowa football’s Kirk Ferentz, Vanderbilt’s Clark Lea give first look at a potential ‘classic’ bowl game

IOWA CITY — They’re calling it a “classic matchup.”

No. 23 Iowa football’s head coach Kirk Ferentz and athletics director Beth Goetz made the brief trip to Tampa, Fla., this week to officially confirm the Hawkeyes’ participation in the 2025 ReliaQuest Bowl.

It was also the first time Ferentz and No. 14 Vanderbilt’s head coach Clark Lea addressed the New Year’s Eve game together.

“It's fantastic,” Ferentz said. “I can't believe it's been so long since it was 2018 season when we came here playing an outstanding Mississippi State team.”

The focus — and one that’ll be dissected over the next three weeks — is that “classic” matchup. A matchup between an offense spearheaded by a Heisman Trophy finalist in Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia, and a Hawkeye defense that has allowed less than 271 yards per game (a top 10 total defense in the country).

“I think that makes for a really, an even matchup, a tough matchup,” Lea said. “I think what the signature of Iowa football is, tough and physical. They play hard, play together. They have a lot of pride. We like to think that we're the same. And so I think you're going to see two teams that are going to leave it all on the field, and for the 13th game of the year in a bowl game, I think as a fan, it's everything you're going to want to see.”

Pavia’s senior season has captured the nation’s attention, earning a Heisman finalist nod along with Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love and Ohio State’s Julian Sayin. Along with Pavia, tight end Eli Stowers won the William V. Campbell trophy earlier this week, an award Iowa’s defensive lineman Aaron Graves was a finalist for.

Both head coaches said following the official bowl announcement that they’re anticipating their full rosters available for the New Year’s Eve clash.

“Every indication I have right now is our entire roster is ready to roll,” Ferentz said in a press conference Sunday. “I think our team is really eager to accept this opportunity and looking forward to the challenge.”

That challenge will be stopping Pavia’s offense. How do you slow down a Heisman candidate? Iowa has three weeks to figure it out.

“We're working on that,” Ferentz said, chuckling. “He's just a great challenge, he's a winner. I have a friend that lives down in this area who says (Pavia) reminds him of Baker Mayfield.”

Ironic, to compare the Hawkeyes’ bowl opponent to the host city’s NFL quarterback.

Iowa will make its seventh appearance in the ReliaQuest Bowl, formerly known as the Outback Bowl. The Hawkeyes are 3-3 in the bowl game, after defeating Mississippi State at the end of the 2018 season.

A classic matchup is how the bowl game is advertised, and it’s one Ferentz won’t take for granted in sunny Florida.

“The bottom line is we’ve got a group of guys just like Vanderbilt,” Ferentz said. “They've really done a great job all year, and this is a just reward and a chance to compete one more time, doing so in a great venue in a great city.”

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