NO.21 Tennessee spanks No.17 Iowa

by | Jan 2, 2024 | Uncategorized | 0 comments

#17 Iowa vs. #21 Tennessee

Jan. 1, 2024 | Orlando, Fla. | Camping World Stadium | 2024 Cheez-It Citrus Bowl

 

POSTGAME NOTES

No. 21 Tennessee (9-4) defeated No. 17 Iowa (10-4), 35-0, in the 2024 Cheez-It Citrus Bowl on Monday afternoon at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla.

 

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

  • P Tory Taylor had seven punts for 360 yards, averaging 51.4 yards per attempt. Four punts went 50+ yards and two were downed inside the 20.
    • With his 62-yard punt in the first quarter, Taylor broke Michigan State’s Johnny Pingel’s 85-year single-season yardage record that was set in 1938. The Australian finished his career with 93 punts for 4,479 yards.
    • Taylor’s 48.2 punting average on 93 punts in 2023 is an NCAA record (minimum 75 punts), breaking Idaho’s Austin Rehkow’s 47.8 average that was set in 2018.
    • Taylor also finishes his Hawkeye career with a 46.3 career average on 295 career punts (13,657 yards), breaking Baylor’s Daniel Sepulveda’s record of 42.5 yards.
    • For his career, Taylor averaged 40 or more yards per punt in 43 career games – an NCAA record.
  • DE Joe Evans had an Iowa bowl record and a career-high four sacks in the game, moving into fourth place in program history with 28 career sacks.
  • LB Jay Higgins had 16 tackles – his 10th game this season with 10 or more tackles (11th of his career).
    • Higgins has led or tied for the team lead in tackles in 12 of Iowa’s 14 games.
    • Higgins finished with 171 tackles this season – tying Andre Jackson for the most in a single season in program history.
  • LB Nick Jackson had 11 tackles – his third game with 10 or more tackles this season and the 23rd such game in his career.
  • QB Marco Lainez made his Hawkeye debut, rushing for a team-high 51 yards on six attempts.
  • WR Kaleb Brown had a team-high three receptions for 39 yards. It was his fourth straight game with at least three receptions.

 

MISCELLANEOUS

  • Iowa’s defense tied a bowl game record with six sacks. The Hawkeyes also had six sacks during the 2022 Citrus Bowl against Kentucky.
  • It is the 28th consecutive game Iowa’s defense has allowed fewer than 400 yards — the longest active streak nationally.
  • Tennessee won the toss and elected to defer to the second half. Iowa received. The Hawkeyes have played 315 games under head coach Kirk Ferentz. Iowa has opened the game on offense 232 times (149-83). The Hawkeyes have opened the game on defense 83 times (47-36).

 

INSTANT REPLAY

  • Dee Williams punt return – not ruled down (overturned)
  • Nico Iamaleava rush for first down – ruled a first down (overturned)
  • Ramel Keyton reception – ruled catch (confirmed)
  • Nico Iamaleava touchdown – ruled TD (confirmed)

 

UP NEXT

The Hawkeyes will open the 2024 season on Aug. 31, hosting Illinois State inside Kinnick Stadium.