Remember when Iowa played Kentucky in a bowl game around New Year's? You probably do because that was just on January 1 of this year, when Iowa lost to the Wildcats 20-17 in the Citrus Bowl. Well, if you've been craving a rematch to that game... good news!
hey @TransPerfect, can you translate hawkeyes and wildcats in different languages for us?
— TransPerfect Music City Bowl (@MusicCityBowl) December 4, 2022
Or to be less cutesy about it:
breaking
— TransPerfect Music City Bowl (@MusicCityBowl) December 4, 2022
see you new year's eve at @NissanStadium!
: https://t.co/8nilK5SkxV pic.twitter.com/oGn2zoYz7s
Iowa! Kentucky! Let's run this game back, 364 days after they last played! The venue is switching from Orlando to Nashville and the cast of characters is a little bit different, but otherwise it's a repeat of last year's bowl game. The 2022 Music City Bowl is scheduled to be played on New Year's Eve (December 31), with kickoff scheduled for 11 AM CT on ABC.
Not only was this game fresher last year, it had more juice because both teams were better -- Iowa was 10-3 and ranked #15, while Kentucky was 9-3 and ranked #22 entering the game. Neither team has enjoyed as much success this year; we're well aware of Iowa's shortcomings this season, but Kentucky also went 7-5. The Wildcats had narrow losses to good teams (22-19 to Ole Miss) and not-so-good teams (24-21 to Vanderbilt), as well as an absolute mollywhopping at the hands of Tennessee (44-6). They also lost just 16-6 against Georgia, the Bulldogs' second-closest win of the season.
Kentucky does not have a high-powered offense -- they averaged 22.1 ppg, 106th in the nation; 336.3 ypg, 107th in the nation. But they did once again have a stout defense -- they gave up 19.1 ppg, 12th in the nation, and 320.2 ypg, 18th in the nation. Those are ominous numbers for an Iowa offense that's struggled to move the ball against all but the softest defenses this season, to say nothing of the fact that it will also be an Iowa offense without several contributors as a result of transfer portal departures. In other words, this looks like another potential rock fight in the making and potentially a great opportunity to smash the under one more time for an Iowa team that treats points like molten lava.
One potentially interesting wrinkle: Kentucky is where former Iowa reserve quarterback Deuce Hogan transferred to after leaving Iowa last season. He hasn't played this year, but if Kentucky's starting quarterback, Will Levis, opts to skip the bowl game to get a head start on NFL Draft preparation, Hogan might be in line to see some action in this game. That would certainly be an interesting subplot for this game, especially if Iowa is also forced to play a backup quarterback (likely Joey Labas) in this game. That will depend on the health of Spencer Petras; Petras left Iowa's last game (against Nebraska) with a shoulder injury but updates on his health have been few and far between since then.
EDIT: Petras is OUT for the Music City Bowl.
Iowa QB Spencer Petras has been ruled out of the Music City Bowl.
— David Eickholt (@DavidEickholt) December 4, 2022
Anyway: Iowa. Kentucky. New Year's Eve. Let's do it all over again, this time for all the TransPerfects.
