Vanderbilt to face Big Ten opponent in ReliaQuest Bowl, per report
By Ethan Stone
Published:
Vanderbilt football will face off against Iowa in the ReliaQuest Bowl, according to a report from On3Sports’ Brett McMurphy. This will be the first time Vanderbilt has played in back-to-back bowl games since the 2011 and 2012 seasons.
Vanderbilt was aiming higher this season, but the 10-2 Commodores will be facing off against a really good Iowa football team on December 31 from Tampa, Florida. The Hawkeyes came in at No. 23 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings, meaning this will be another opportunity for the Commodores to score a ranked win this season.
Don’t let Iowa’s 8-4 record fool you, either. All but one of Iowa’s losses came to top 25 teams, including losses to Indiana, USC and Oregon — all by less than a touchdown. Like Vanderbilt, Iowa does not possess a win over a team currently ranked in the top 25.
As always, beating Iowa demands that you come in with a solid game plan on offense, with special attention to discipline. The Hawkeyes thrive on controlling the pace of football games, which has already frustrated some of the top offenses in college football. Indiana and Oregon both failed to score 21+ against the Hawkeyes earlier this season. At the same time, Vanderbilt has not faced a defense that allows less total yardage per game than Iowa.
The ReliaQuest Bowl will be played at 11 am CT from Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on December 31.
Ethan Stone is a Tennessee graduate and loves all things college football and college basketball. Firm believer in fouling while up 3.
