Following a disappointing 8-4 regular season, the Iowa football team will have one final opportunity to end its 2024 campaign with a victory, as they will travel to Nashville, Tennessee, for the Music City Bowl on Dec. 30. It will be Iowa’s second appearance in the bowl, as they defeated Kentucky, 21-0, in the 2022 edition.
The Hawkeyes will take on the University of Missouri Tigers, who enter the contest with a 9-3 record under fifth-year head coach Eliah Drinkwitz. The two programs were supposed to face off in the 2020 Music City Bowl, but the Tigers were forced to back out due to a COVID-19 outbreak. It will be the first meeting between the two teams since the 2010 Insight Bowl, a 27-24 Iowa victory.
Iowa will be without the services of star running back Kaleb Johnson, as he declared for the 2025 NFL Draft last week. Missouri has also dealt with some key opt-outs but will still present a challenge for the Hawkeyes.
To fully digest this matchup, let’s take a deeper look at the Tigers.
Offense
The Tigers have posted respectable numbers on offense this season, ranking 62nd in the Football Bowl Subdivision with 390 yards per game. Kirby Moore is in his second season as the offensive coordinator, and he has helped Missouri to 20 victories in his tenure, the best stretch for the program since the Gary Pinkel era 10 seasons ago.
The Tigers’ offense is spearheaded by senior quarterback Brady Cook, who has tossed 2,248 passing yards, nine touchdowns, and two interceptions on the season. While not a trademark of his game, Cook has also shown his rushing prowess, collecting 63 yards on 11 carries against rival Arkansas in the regular season finale on Nov. 30.
Junior wide receiver Luther Burden III has been Missouri’s most explosive player this season, accounting for 676 receiving yards and a team-high six touchdowns. Burden’s performance this season has raised his draft stock, and he declared for the 2025 NFL Draft last week and will miss this game.
The Tigers will also be without star right tackle Armand Membou, who is also projected as a top prospect in the NFL Draft.
Despite Burden’s lofty status, he isn’t the leading receiver on this squad. Theo Wease Jr. has led Missouri with 809 receiving yards in 2024, and he will play against the Hawkeyes.
The rushing attack has been balanced, with backs Nate Noel and Marcus Carroll tallying over 500 yards on the ground. Carroll leads the squad with 12 touchdowns.
Defense
Missouri has posted a stout defense this season, ranking 22nd in the Football Bowl Subdivision, allowing 319 yards per contest. Linebacker Corey Flagg Jr. leads the team with 76 tackles, while Dreyden Norwood has paced the secondary with a team-high two interceptions. Fellow linebacker Triston Newson has also produced a strong season, collecting 64 tackles.
Defensive coordinator Corey Batoon is in his first season with the program, and he operates a basic 4-2-5 system. Batoon has previously served as the defensive coordinator of Florida Atlantic, Hawaii, and South Alabama before joining Missouri.
Special teams
Missouri has struggled in the kicking department this season. Placekicker Blake Craig has only made 22 of his 32 field goal attempts, good for a measly 68 percent accuracy. He’s also just 1-for-7 from 40 plus yards.
On the flip side, third-year punter Luke Bauer has recorded an average of 41.5 yards per punt on 44 attempts. Bauer’s season-long was a 60-yarder against Oklahoma on Nov. 9.
Final analysis
The changing landscape of college football has made bowl games like this one almost like a scrimmage, but head coach Kirk Ferentz and his Hawkeyes will be more than motivated to finish their season strong.
Who knows what to expect in Nashville, but it should be a competitive game to close out 2024.