NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Iowa Hawkeyes (7-5) face the Kentucky Wildcats (7-5) in the 2022 TransPerfect Music City Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 31 — New Year's Eve — in Nashville.
The Hawkeyes were scheduled to play in the Music City Bowl in 2020, but the game was canceled due to COVID-19.
Following a 1-3 start to Big Ten play, Iowa rallied off four straight wins before losing their regular season finale to Nebraska 24-17.
Kentucky started the season 4-0 and climbed to No. 7 in the AP poll before falling to Ole Miss 24-19 on Oct. 1.
Kentucky beat Iowa 24-17 in last year's Citrus Bowl.
The Wildcats are coached by Mark Stoops, a University of Iowa alum who played under Hayden Fry and was later a graduate assistant for the Hawkeyes.
What channel is the game on?
You can watch the 2022 Music City Bowl at 11 a.m. Saturday on Local 5 (ABC).
You can also listen to the game on the Hawkeye Radio Network.
As of 10 a.m. Friday, the consensus point spread is Iowa -2.5
- FanDuel: Iowa -2.5
- DraftKings: Iowa -2.5
- Bet365: Iowa -2.5
- BetMGM: Iowa -2.5
- Caesars Sportsbook: Iowa -2.5
Who is actually going to play?
Well, not the quarterbacks, for starters.
Spencer Petras (Iowa) and Will Levis (Kentucky) are both out. For Levis, it's about preparing for the 2023 NFL Draft, where he is widely believed to be a first-round pick.
Petras, on the other hand, is sidelined due to a shoulder injury.
The Wildcats have three options at QB: Destin Wade, Kaiya Sheron and Deuce Hogan.
And if the name "Deuce Hogan" sounds familiar, that's because he was an Iowa Hawkeye for two years before transferring to Kentucky.
The bowl game will be led by many newcomers to the big stage, including Iowa redshirt freshman Joe Labas, making his first career start at quarterback.
"These young guys are stepping up in big roles," said Hawkeye linebacker Jack Campbell on Tuesday. "I'm just excited to see what's gonna happen."
Other Hawkeyes — such as QB Alex Padilla, wide receivers Keegan Johnson and Arland Bruce IV, defensive back Terry Roberts, linebacker Jestin Jacobs and running back Gavin Williams — have all entered the transfer portal.
Jacobs has since committed to the University of Oregon.
"Quarterbacks certainly is going to be one. We're going to see whoever throws the first pass and maybe both these quarterback backs throw their first-ever collegiate passes," said "Locked On Hawkeyes" podcast host Trent Condon.
What's at stake
Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz is one bowl win away from tying the late Joe Paterno for most bowl wins by a Big Ten coach (10). Better yet, the Hawkeyes can get some payback for losing the Citrus Bowl to Kentucky 20-17 to wrap up last season. This is Iowa's first trip to the Music City Bowl. The Kentucky Wildcats can add to their school record streak with a fifth straight bowl victory. The Wildcats also are looking for their eighth victory for the fourth time in five seasons. A victory would be the 16th season all-time that Kentucky has finished with at least eight wins.
Facts & Figures
- This is Iowa's 35th bowl game appearance and first time at the Music City Bowl. Iowa accepted a bid to play in this bowl in 2020 against Missouri before the bowl was canceled because of the pandemic.
- Iowa is 6-6 all-time in bowl games against current Southeastern Conference teams.
- Iowa is bowl eligible for the 21st time in 22 seasons under Ferentz.
- Kentucky leads the nation winning 20 straight nonconference games.
- Kentucky can post its 13th bowl victory all-time and third at the Music City Bowl.
- A win would extend coach Mark Stoops' program record to 67 career victories.
- Iowa All-American DB Kaevon Merriweather opted out of this bowl to prepare for the NFL draft. So did Kentucky QB Will Levis and RB Chris Rodriguez.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
► Download the We Are Iowa app
► Sign up for Local 5's "5 Things to Know" email newsletter
► Subscribe to Local 5 News on YouTube