Back in 2020 Iowa and Missouri were set to meet in the Music City Bowl. However, like many bowl games that year, it was canceled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Fast forward four years later and the two teams finally met in Nashville. On paper, this looked like one of the best bowl games. It certainly didn’t disappoint as it went down to the wire. Let’s break down the action as Missouri wins a Music City thriller 27-24.
Tigers Get Delayed Win In Nashville
Off To A Fast Start
After holding the Tigers on their first drive, Iowa hit paydirt on theirs. Led by quarterback Brendan Sullivan, who was back from injury, the Hawkeyes took it 75 yards in eight plays. The final six came on a pass to Terrell Washington Jr. and it was 7-0. The Tigers answered right back going 85 yards in a little under six minutes. A Brady Cook to Theo Wease Jr. eight-yard pass tied the game.
However, on the ensuing kick, Kaden Wetjen showed why he’s a First Team Big Ten Return Specialist. Wetjen took it 100 yards to the house putting Iowa up 14-7.
Boot Scootin’ Scorin’ @WetjenKaden x #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/c34aiKdFDk
— Hawkeye Football (@HawkeyeFootball) December 30, 2024
Cook led the Tigers right back down the field. His second touchdown pass, this time to Marquis Johnson on a seven-yard strike tied the game at 14. From there the defenses took over until Iowa got on the board before the half. Going 90 yards in 11 plays Kamari Moulton went in from a yard out and it was 21-14 Iowa at the intermission.
The freshman was one of the players pressed into action when Hawkeyes’ star running back and the Big Ten’s leading rusher Kaleb Johnson opted out of the game.
Back Come The Tigers
A little past the halfway point of the third quarter Drew Stevens made a 38-yard field goal putting the Hawkeyes up by ten. However, it would be the final ones they’d get on the day as Cook and Tigers staged a comeback.
Going 75 yards in seven plays Joshua Manning’s four-yard run cut the lead to three. In our game preview, we said the game could come down to Missouri’s defense making plays. As it turned out that’s exactly what happened.
Coming Through In The Clutch
On Iowa’s next drive Toriano Pride Jr. picked off Sullivan near midfield and the Tigers were in business. The drive stalled but a 51-yard field goal from Blake Craig tied the game at 24. Missouri forced a three-and-out getting the ball back on their own 22-yard line. Cook got them to the Iowa 39-yard line before stalling again. This time Craig was true from 54 giving the Tigers their first lead with 4:36 to go.
Both teams traded punts and with 1:44 to go Iowa got one last shot. The Hawkeyes moved to the Missouri before facing a fourth and one. Eli Drinkwitz’s defense rose to the occasion stopping Sullivan on a quarterback sneak. That was all she wrote as Missouri wins a Music City thriller 27-24.
Coming home with some hardware
@MusicCityBowl #MIZ
pic.twitter.com/YQ9Q7cKcKW
— Mizzou Football (@MizzouFootball) December 31, 2024
Statistically Speaking
Playing in his final game Cook threw for 287 yards and two touchdowns. In addition, he led the Tigers with 54 yards on the ground. In the process he became the first Missouri quarterback to start four straight bowl games.
With star receiver Luther Burden sitting this one out to concentrate on the NFL Draft Johnson and Wease stepped up. Johnson led the receivers with seven catches for 122 yards and a touchdown. Wease added five receptions for 75 yards and a score. This despite missing the second half after suffering an upper-body injury.
On the other sideline, Sullivan threw for 131 yards with one touchdown and interception. With Johnson out Moulton ran for 96 yards and a score while Jaziun Patterson added 74.
Final Thoughts
Missouri finishes the year with a 10-3 record. That’s the eighth time in school history they’ve won 10 or more. It’s a strong finish for a team that started the year with playoff aspirations but fell short. With the win the SEC now trails the Big Ten 2-1 in head-to-head bowl matchups in 2024. They have two more meetings to come.
As for Iowa, they end the season at 8-5. It’s the second straight bowl loss for Ferentz, both to SEC schools. Furthermore, he remains tied with Joe Paterno for most bowl wins by a Big Ten coach with ten.
Thanks for checking out our recap as Missouri wins a Music City Bowl thriller 35-31.
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