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  • No. 14 Vanderbilt Can't Step Up As The Iowa Hawkeyes Win The ReliaQuest Bowl, 34-27

No. 14 Vanderbilt Can't Step Up As The Iowa Hawkeyes Win The ReliaQuest Bowl, 34-27

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Football

The 23rd-ranked University of Iowa football team defeated No. 14 Vanderbilt, 34-27, in the 2025 ReliaQuest Bowl on Wednesday afternoon at Raymond James Stadium.

Mark Gronowski completed 16 of 22 passes for 212 yards and two touchdowns.

DJ Vonnahme led all Hawkeye receivers with seven receptions for 146 yards and a score, while Reece Vander Zee also hauled in a touchdown.

On the ground, Kamari Moulton rushed for 95 yards and a touchdown, and Gronowski added 54 yards and a score.

Defensively, TJ Hall and Jayden Montgomery paced Iowa with eight tackles apiece. The Hawkeyes recorded four sacks, led by Karson Sharar with two and Max Llewellyn with 1.5.

Drew Stevens was 2-for-2 on field goals, connecting from 44 and 47 yards.

QUOTING KIRK FERENTZ
"I'll start out by saying this is exactly why bowl games are significant and important. Today was a really special day for our team and what a great environment, what a great place to host a game. Outstanding opponent to compete against.

Today we saw out there two very resilient, very competitive football teams. A ton of respect for Vanderbilt coming in. Even more so now. So just can't say enough about them.

Really proud of our guys and the effort that they exerted out there and the way they competed and played it right until the end. Obviously it was a hard-fought game, both teams really going in. It's a great feeling. Great way to end the season.

We have 27 outstanding seniors on this football team. Those guys really took it over starting in January. We've had some tough losses this year, but one thing they've done is shown up and competed each and every time.

Just really gratifying to see them walk out with a win. And Mark, and representative of all the guys that we have, Mark has only been with us a little bit shorter than the other guys, but just fit right in.

And just really happy for all the guys. Happy for our entire team and our staff, our fans, right down the line there, especially these seniors."

HOW IT HAPPENED 

  • On its first possession, Iowa needed only five plays to drive 72 yards after a 44-yard rush from Gronowski set up Moulton for a four-yard touchdown.
  • Iowa threatened on its second possession, but a pinball interception in the end zone ended the drive.
  • Vanderbilt got on the board with a 41-yard field goal with 7:53 left in the first half.
  • After an illegal kick on a punt attempt, Iowa took over at the Vanderbilt 10-yard line and scored on the next play with a Gronowski-to-Vander Zee touchdown pass with 41 seconds left in the half.
  • Iowa extended its lead to 21-3 on a 21-yard flea-flicker touchdown pass from Gronowski to Vonnahme with 8:50 left in the third quarter.
  • Vanderbilt answered on its next play from scrimmage with a 75-yard touchdown pass.
  • After Iowa forced a turnover on downs, Stevens hit a 47-yard field goal to cap a four-play, 9-yard drive with 3:54 left in the third.
  • Vanderbilt responded with an eight-play, 70-yard drive, scoring on a 16-yard pass.
  • With 13:35 remaining, Gronowski scored on a 1-yard quarterback sneak to finish a six-play, 70-yard drive.
  • The Commodores answered again with a five-play, 72-yard drive, scoring on an 11-yard pass with 11:19 left.
  • Stevens’ 44-yard field goal made it a two-score game with 4:13 remaining, capping a 13-play, 49-yard drive that lasted 7:06.
  • Vanderbilt added a field goal after a seven-play, 60-yard drive with 2:58 left.
  • Iowa recovered the short kickoff, gained a first down, and ran out the clock.

POSTGAME NOTES

  • The victory is the 11th bowl win of head coach Kirk Ferentz’s career, moving him past Penn State’s Joe Paterno for the most bowl victories in Big Ten Conference history.
  • It is Iowa’s fourth ReliaQuest Bowl victory in program history – 2004 vs. Florida, 2009 vs. South Carolina, 2019 vs. Mississippi State, 2025 vs. Vanderbilt.
    • The four ReliaQuest wins are tied for the most in bowl history with Michigan and South Carolina.
  • The win is Ferentz’s 32nd victory over a ranked opponent and Iowa’s first since the 2021 season (23-20 vs. No. 4 Penn State).
  • It is the 11th time Iowa has won nine or more games under Ferentz.