Key Highlights
- CT, ESPN) at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. Iowa is the Big Ten's representative.
- USC and Washington were not able to play in this bowl due to contracts with legacy Pac-12 bowls. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementVanderbilt did not make the College Football Playoff and are motivated to play in the game, with star quarterback Diego Pavia and tight end Eli Stowers expected to play, according to coach Clark Lea. Here's how we grade out the matchup:A first-ever matchupVanderbilt has never faced Iowa. This is a departure from last year, where the Commodores were matched up against an old rival in Georgia Tech. Vanderbilt's offense vs Iowa's defenseIowa and Vanderbilt both excel on one side of the ball.
- For the Commodores, that side of the ball is their offense, which ranks fourth in the country per ESPN's SP+ metric, but with a defense that is just 33rd. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Hawkeyes, meanwhile, are the opposite.
- Iowa is seventh in defense but just 48th on offense.
- Iowa played several low-scoring games, allowing 20 points to Indiana and 18 to Oregon, though it did not win either game. Vanderbilt has faced only one defense ranked as highly as Iowa's this season: Alabama, which has the No.