TAMPA – The 23rd-ranked University of Iowa football team defeated No. 14 Vanderbilt, 34-27, in the 2025 ReliaQuest Bowl on Wednesday afternoon at Raymond James Stadium.
Iowa quarterback Mark Gronowski completed 16 of 22 passes for 212 yards and two touchdowns.
Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia finished with 300-plus yards of total offense for the fifth straight game, accounting for 383 total yards and three scores, to lead the Commodores’ second-half comeback attempt
DJ Vonnahme led all Hawkeye receivers with seven receptions for 146 yards and a score, while Reece Vander Zee also hauled in a touchdown.
On the ground, Kamari Moulton rushed for 95 yards and a touchdown, and Gronowski added 54 yards and a score.
Defensively, TJ Hall and Jayden Montgomery paced Iowa with eight tackles apiece. The Hawkeyes recorded four sacks, led by Karson Sharar with two and Max Llewellyn with 1.5.
Drew Stevens was 2-for-2 on field goals, connecting from 44 and 47 yards.
Pavia set the school record for career bowl game passing yards with 507 and tied the school record with 38 career completions in a bowl game.
Junior Sherrill led Vanderbilt receivers with eight catches for 123 yards. Tre Richardson was the Commodores’ second 100-plus yard receiver, accounting for six catches and 127 yards.
The Vanderbilt defense finished with two sacks, the 11th time this season with multiple sacks. Langston Patterson led the Dores’ defensive efforts, recording eight tackles including one for loss.
