On Dec. 31, 2025, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, No. 23 Iowa upset No. 14 Vanderbilt, 34-27, in the ReliaQuest Bowl. Quarterback Mark Gronowski, in the final game of his college career, was named game MVP after a 16-for-22, 212-yard passing night with three total touchdowns and a rushing score. The Hawkeyes scored 27 points in the last 31 minutes to erase a long losing streak versus ranked opponents and finish the season 9-4 under coach Kirk Ferentz, who set a new mark with 11 all-time bowl wins. The victory punctuated a season in which close losses to top teams left Iowa’s margin of defeat narrow but its resilience evident.
Key Takeaways
- Final score: Iowa 34, Vanderbilt 27; Iowa finished 9-4 for the 2025 season, matching two previous 9-4 seasons under Ferentz (2008, 2018).
- Mark Gronowski was MVP, completing 16 of 22 passes for a season-high 212 yards, rushing 10 times for 54 yards and one score, and accounting for three touchdowns.
- Freshman TE DJ Vonnahme caught seven passes for 146 yards and a 21-yard touchdown — the most receiving yards by an Iowa player since 2011 and the second-most ever by a Hawkeye tight end.
- Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia finished with 25 of 38 passing for 347 yards and three touchdowns and added an 11-yard rushing TD, sparking a late rally that fell short.
- Kirk Ferentz became the Big Ten’s career leader in bowl wins with 11 following the victory.
- Iowa scored 27 points in the game’s final 31 minutes and snapped an 0-for-13 skid against ranked opponents.
- A rare illegal-punt infraction by Vanderbilt late in the second quarter (ball contacted at roughly the 18-yard line) set up a first-and-goal and swung momentum into Iowa’s favor.
Background
Iowa entered the ReliaQuest Bowl having endured several tight losses to highly ranked teams during the 2025 season, but also having produced a sturdy defense and an opportunistic offense. Kirk Ferentz, in his 27th season, has repeatedly guided teams with conservative game plans that prize execution, time of possession and red-zone efficiency; this year’s squad ranked seventh in the country in red-zone offense. Mark Gronowski transferred to Iowa after five seasons at South Dakota State, arriving with national titles and a reputation for toughness and leadership that the Hawkeyes leaned on in close games.
Vanderbilt, with a 10-win regular season and a dynamic dual-threat quarterback in Diego Pavia, presented a matchup that tested Iowa’s discipline in pass rush lanes and coverage decisions. The Commodores’ offense can produce explosive plays, as Pavia’s 75-yard touchdown in the third quarter demonstrated, and their special-teams strategy largely avoided returns during the season. The bowl setting in Tampa — neutral site, big stage — magnified small swings of fortune, from a fumbled recovery to a dropped red-zone pass, any of which could decide a one-score game.
Main Event
The game opened with Iowa establishing an early advantage, and by halftime the Hawkeyes led 14-3 after taking advantage of field-position swings. A sequence late in the second quarter changed the tone: Vanderbilt’s punter rolled to his right and kicked under awkward circumstances, contacting the ball around his own 18-yard line and drawing a five-yard penalty and loss of down. Iowa turned the ensuing first-and-goal at the 10 into a touchdown to push the lead to 14-3 at the break.
Gronowski’s playmaking kept Iowa ahead in the second half. He completed a critical 19-yard pass to DJ Vonnahme on third-and-7 late in the fourth quarter, setting up Drew Stevens’ 44-yard field goal to extend the margin. Gronowski also converted a first down with a 9-yard run in the closing minutes, allowing Iowa to run out the clock with consecutive kneel-downs.
Vanderbilt rallied behind Pavia, who was limited early by sacks and heavy pressure but exploded in the third quarter with a 75-yard touchdown to Tre Richardson that cut the deficit and shifted momentum. Pavia finished with 347 passing yards and three touchdowns, though the Commodores could not overcome Iowa’s late scoring run. A separate dramatic moment saw Gronowski recover his own fumble after a pileup, wrestling the ball back and preserving possession — a sequence that prevented a potentially season-altering turnover.
Analysis & Implications
Iowa’s win underlined the value of situational offense and experienced leadership. Gronowski’s efficiency — 16-for-22 passing and decisive runs — allowed Iowa to convert critical downs in the fourth quarter; his willingness to fight for a fumble recovery exemplified the team’s physical identity. For a program that often plays close games against Power Five opponents, ending a 13-game losing streak to ranked teams carries tangible recruiting and narrative benefits heading into the offseason.
Defensively, Iowa’s early plan to limit Pavia’s rushing lanes and use disciplined pass rush succeeded for much of the first half, producing sacks that pushed Vanderbilt well behind the chains. The Commodores’ third-quarter burst highlighted coverage breakdowns in space that Iowa will need to address, but the defense’s ability to name a response and force punts when necessary proved decisive. The D-line’s pressure that contributed to the illegal-punt sequence was a pivotal hidden factor in the halftime scoreboard.
On special teams and coaching decisions, small margins mattered. Ferentz’s conservative tendencies — a decision to punt late in the first quarter rather than attempt a fourth-down conversion, for example — invite scrutiny, but the outcome validates situational restraint when balanced by late-game offensive execution. For Vanderbilt, the miscue on the punt and a few missed tackles in coverage will be the film-coach focal points as they evaluate adjustments for next season.
Comparison & Data
| Season | Final Record | Points Differential | Bowl Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 9-4 | +225 (394-225) | Beat South Carolina, 31-10 |
| 2018 | 9-4 | +174 (405-231) | Beat Mississippi State, 27-22 |
| 2025 | 9-4 | +169 (378-209) | Beat Vanderbilt, 34-27 |
These three 9-4 seasons under Ferentz rank among his best in points differential, with only the 2002 team posting a larger margin (+228). The 2025 Hawkeyes accumulated a strong defensive ledger (209 points allowed) against a schedule that included several top opponents, underscoring this group’s competitiveness despite four close losses to high-caliber teams.
Reactions & Quotes
Coach Kirk Ferentz highlighted Gronowski’s intangible leadership and day-of performance when asked about what swung the game to Iowa.
“When we get to the game field, he’s just a guy everybody believes in — coaches, player. Just competes out there, tooth and nail.”
Kirk Ferentz, Iowa head coach (postgame)
Cornerback TJ Hall framed the victory as a season-capping statement about finishing strong, reflecting the team’s theme all year.
“We emphasize finish strong. Not only this game but every single day. Start fast, finish strong.”
TJ Hall, Iowa cornerback
Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea acknowledged the matchup difficulties and the specific matchup that allowed Vonnahme to exploit zone coverage in key moments.
“There’s one in my mind that he just was wide open in one of those critical drives at the end that we needed to stop.”
Clark Lea, Vanderbilt head coach
Unconfirmed
- Long-term NFL prospects for Mark Gronowski after his career finale remain speculative; no official draft declarations or evaluations were released immediately after the bowl game.
- Formal postseason award consideration (All-Big Ten, Freshman of the Year) for DJ Vonnahme has not been announced and remains pending committee votes and official lists.
Bottom Line
Iowa’s 34-27 ReliaQuest Bowl win over Vanderbilt was a composite of situational poise, opportunistic special-teams fortune and veteran leadership from its quarterback. Mark Gronowski’s final-game performance — a season-high 212 passing yards, three TDs and a gritty fumble recovery — encapsulated a season defined by close contests against high-level opponents.
The victory secures a 9-4 finish, ties this team to two well-regarded Hawkeye squads in program history, and gives Ferentz a program milestone with his 11th bowl win. For fans and evaluators, the takeaway is clear: Iowa can compete with top teams when execution and discipline align; offseason priorities will focus on tightening late-game coverage and converting a handful of near-misses into wins next year.