Iowa City is abuzz as Iowa football's postseason journey takes a significant turn. The Hawkeyes have been firmly set on their path to the TransPerfect Music City Bowl, where they will face off against Missouri. This much-anticipated game is set to take place on December 30 at the iconic Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. It marks the second time in just three seasons that Iowa will grace the stage of the Music City Bowl. Two seasons ago, the Hawkeyes emerged victorious with a resounding 21-0 win over Kentucky. Now, they are ready to take on a new challenge against Missouri.

Iowa's Football Journey Continues in the Music City Bowl

History and Background

The last time these two football powerhouses met was in the 2010 Insight Bowl. The Hawkeyes showcased their dominance by prevailing with a narrow 27-24 win over the Tigers. However, their scheduled 2020 Music City Bowl encounter was unfortunately canceled due to the challenges posed by COVID-19 within Missouri's program. Missouri started the 2024 season on a high note, winning six out of their first seven games. But they faced a setback as they went 1-2 during a crucial three-game stretch in the SEC. Thankfully, they rebounded with two consecutive wins to close out the regular season on a positive note. Their three losses all came on the road against tough SEC opponents like Texas A&M, Alabama, and South Carolina. Missouri finished the regular season with an overall record of 9-3, including 5-3 in the SEC gauntlet. They currently stand at No. 19 in the most recent College Football Playoff rankings.Iowa's 2024 regular season was a roller-coaster ride. The Hawkeyes had some remarkable highs, with blowout wins over teams like Washington, Northwestern, and Wisconsin. They also achieved a thrilling victory over Nebraska. But there were also some gut-wrenching lows, with frustrating losses to Iowa State, Michigan State, and UCLA. Despite the ups and downs, Iowa ended the regular season with an 8-4 overall record and a 6-3 standing in the Big Ten.Kaleb Johnson, who had an exceptional regular season, will not be participating in the bowl game as he has declared for the NFL Draft. This presents a new challenge for the Hawkeyes as they look to make their mark in the Music City Bowl.

Coaching and Records

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz expressed his excitement about the opportunity for the fans to see the Hawkeye team play one more time at a venue not too far from Iowa. As a staff, they are looking forward to three more weeks together with this group of players. The Music City Bowl offers a great platform for the team to compete one more time and cap off the 2024 season. Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz is in his fifth season leading the program and has amassed a 37-24 overall record. Under his leadership, Missouri has a 1-2 record in bowl games, with their lone win coming in a 14-3 Cotton Bowl victory over Ohio State last season. Iowa, on the other hand, is 1-2 in its last three bowl games, including a 35-0 loss to Tennessee last season.

Opportunity and Expectations

The bowl game gives Iowa a chance to achieve at least nine wins in three of the last four seasons. They have already won 10 games in 2023 and 2021 and had an 8-win campaign in 2022. Missouri now stands between Iowa and a ninth win this season. It will be a battle of wills as both teams look to leave their mark on the football field. Fans can expect an intense and exciting matchup as Iowa and Missouri go head-to-head in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl.Follow Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15 or contact via email at ttachman@gannett.com.