How bowl organizers evaluate Michigan after its win over Ohio State could be determining factor for Hawkeyes’ postseason destination
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IOWA CITY — When Iowa football learns its postseason bowl destination on Sunday, it will be in relatively rare company.
It will be the Hawkeyes’ 12th consecutive bowl invitation — tied for the fifth-longest streak in college football. The only teams with longer active streaks are Georgia, Oklahoma, Alabama and Clemson. (Wisconsin had a longer streak, but the Badgers finished this season with a 5-7 record.)
As for which bowl selects the Hawkeyes, the ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa, Fla., and the Music City Bowl in Nashville, Tenn., appear to be the two most likely options.
What are the Hawkeyes’ projected bowl matchups?
Here is where many of the prominent bowl projections have the Hawkeyes going (and who they would be facing), as of Friday morning:
CBS: ReliaQuest Bowl vs. South Carolina
The Athletic: Music City Bowl vs. Missouri
ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura: ReliaQuest Bowl vs. Ole Miss
ESPN’s Mark Schlabach: ReliaQuest Bowl vs. Missouri
Action Network: Music City Bowl vs. Missouri
What has to happen for Iowa to go back to Tampa?
A College Football Playoff appearance obviously has been long off the table, and Iowa cannot go back to the Citrus Bowl this year. That leaves the ReliaQuest Bowl, formerly known as the Outback Bowl, as the Hawkeyes’ best-case scenario on Selection Sunday.
Whether Iowa returns to Tampa appears to be a question of how appealing will Michigan be to ReliaQuest Bowl organizers.
Iowa, 8-4, has a better record than 7-5 Michigan. Both fan bases have a reputation for traveling well. Michigan has more momentum after its upset over then-No. 2 Ohio State, and the Wolverines have often been a magnet for TV ratings.
While Iowa has not necessarily lived up to some fans’ expectations, Michigan has been especially underwhelming this year. The Wolverines were No. 9 in the preseason AP Poll, yet lost more regular-season games in 2024 than in any of the previous nine seasons.
Can Iowa fall below the Music City Bowl?
Yes, but it appears to be unlikely.
The Music City Bowl is next in the bowl pecking order after ReliaQuest makes its choice. The Big Ten alternatives at this point are not necessarily the most lucrative.
Seven-win Minnesota likely will not have as much appeal as eight-win Iowa (and the Hawkeyes’ well-traveling fan base). Nebraska has the obvious appeal of a fan base that has been waiting since 2016 for another bowl trip, but the Huskers only have six wins and already lost several key players via the transfer portal.
The next Big Ten bowls to choose after Music City are the Pinstripe Bowl in New York and the Duke’s Mayo Bowl in Charlotte.
When were Iowa’s last trips to Nashville and Tampa?
Iowa’s most recent trip to the Music City Bowl was in 2022, when the Hawkeyes delivered a 21-0 shutout win over Kentucky.
Iowa’s most recent trip to ReliaQuest Bowl was after the 2018 season — back when it was still called the Outback Bowl. The Hawkeyes pulled off a 27-22 win over Mississippi State. Kirk Ferentz’s program also has gone to Tampa following the 2016, 2013, 2008, 2005 and 2003 seasons.
Who will be playing in Iowa’s bowl game?
Iowa most notably is expected to be without star running back Kaleb Johnson.
Johnson declared for the NFL Draft on Sunday evening. While his statement on social media did not specifically indicate any opt-out plans, he told Big Ten Network on Tuesday the “main two things” he’s focusing on now are recovery/combine preparations and finishing school.
On the other hand, Iowa linebackers Jay Higgins and Nick Jackson confirmed after the win over Nebraska they are planning to participate in the Hawkeyes’ postseason bowl game.
Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com
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