Iowa Hawkeyes Face No. 14 Vanderbilt in ReliaQuest Bowl Clash

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Iowa Hawkeyes Face No. 14 Vanderbilt in ReliaQuest Bowl Clash

The Iowa Hawkeyes are set to compete against the No. 14 Vanderbilt Commodores in the upcoming ReliaQuest Bowl. This matchup highlights the impressive season the Hawkeyes have had, combined with individual player accolades that underscore their strength on both offense and defense.

Iowa Hawkeyes’ Dominance on Offense

Iowa’s offensive line was honored with the prestigious Joe Moore Award, recognizing them as the top offensive line in the nation. This marks the second time the Hawkeyes have achieved this accolade, previously winning it in 2016, and making them one of only three schools to earn the award more than once, alongside Alabama and Michigan.

The same five players started every game this season, a first for Iowa since 2013.
The offensive line allowed only 16 sacks over 12 games.
All five starters received All-Big Ten honors, with three also securing All-America recognition.

Center Logan Jones, who recently won the Rimington Trophy as the top center in college football, has been instrumental in Iowa’s success. He leads the nation among centers and has not committed any offensive holding penalties this season.

Exceptional Player Statistics

Logan Jones has 50 career starts and has anchored the offensive line throughout the season.
Guard Beau Stephens is recognized for his outstanding performance with an 88.3 PFF grade, the highest among Power Four guards.
Kade Pieper, another standout, ranked first among FBS right guards with an 82.7 grade.

Mark Gronowski’s Explosive Season

Quarterback Mark Gronowski has emerged as a pivotal player for the Hawkeyes this season. He has completed 150 of 240 passes for 1,529 yards and a total of 16 touchdowns. This includes a record-setting 15 rushing touchdowns, marking the most by an Iowa quarterback in a single season.

Gronowski currently ranks first in the Big Ten for rushing touchdowns.
He set a record for quarterback rushing yards at Iowa, surpassing the previous mark of 487 set in 1956.
Gronowski has also led the team to multiple fourth-quarter comebacks, showcasing his leadership skills on the field.

Record-Breaking Performances

Throughout the season, Gronowski has consistently delivered standout performances, including:

130 rushing yards against Penn State, the most ever by an Iowa quarterback in a game.
A remarkable season finale against Nebraska, where he rushed for two touchdowns.
Six games in which he achieved both a passing and rushing touchdown.

The Iowa Hawkeyes’ strong offensive line and the dynamic play of quarterback Mark Gronowski will be crucial as they head into their showdown against Vanderbilt in the ReliaQuest Bowl. With several accolades to their name, the Hawkeyes aim to finish the season on a high note.