Marco Lainez shows athleticism in Hawkeye debut
Teammates believe Marco Lainez, Iowa’s true freshman quarterback, is a “special player.” When Iowa made a quarterback change in the Citrus Bowl, fans started to see why.
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Again, when the foe was ranked, the Hawkeyes were shut out and shut down
Iowa’s next offensive coordinator is facing a fixer-upper of a unit. Kirk Ferentz needs to let whomever he hires get to fixing.
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Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz: "The biggest thing I will take away with Tory (Taylor) is his work ethic, his attention to detail, the pride that he has, pride in his performance. ... He set a great example for younger guys — not just punters, but anybody that's paying attention."
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Taking a closer look at some numbers and notes from Iowa's 35-0 loss to Tennessee.
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Iowa LB Jay Higgins: "You lose a Jack Campbell. You lose a Lukas Van Ness. You lose a Riley Moss. You lose a Kaevon. I don't think there were too many people that really thought we were going to be a 10-win team."
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Iowa LB Nick Jackson said he hasn't decided on turning pro or not.
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Iowa shut out by another ranked foe
After an early glimmer of hope, 17th-ranked Iowa fell into a two-touchdown deficit in the second quarter and could not catch up, suffering a 35-0 loss to No. 21 Tennessee at Camping World Stadium.
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Final: Tennessee 35, Iowa 0
The Hawkeyes finish 10-4, shut out by all three ranked teams they faced.
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Touchdown Vols | Tennessee 35, Iowa 0 (4:48 4th)
Nico Iamaleava's first passing TD is an 18-yarder to McCallan Castles. It was an eight-play, 78-yard drive.
Iamaleava: 12-for-19 passing for 151 yards and a TD, 27 yards rushing and three touchdowns.
Now a TD pass to go with 3 rushing scores for Nico
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) January 1, 2024
📺 ABC
📲 https://t.co/4jF6avyAgv pic.twitter.com/1dh9Q0oseF -
Tennessee 28, Iowa 0 (8:04 4th)
Marco Lainez showed his wheels with 48 yards rushing on his first possession, but was 1-for-5 passing for minus-1 yard. Iowa turned it over on downs after a fourth-and-6 incompletion at the Tennessee 22.
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Marco Lainez has 48 rushing yards on five attempts.
Rest of the Hawkeyes: 57 yards on 27 attempts.
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Iowa's two longest plays today are 16-yard runs by Marco Lainez.
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The first play by new Iowa QB Marco Lainez is a 10-yard scramble for a first down.
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Deacon Hill: 7-for-18, 56 yards, 2 interceptions, 1 fumble lost
Big applause from the Iowa fans as backup QB Marco Lainez enters the game.
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QB change
Marco Lainez is warming up. Deacon Hill has the headset on. Looks like we'll see Lainez after all.
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Touchdown Vols | Tennessee 28, Iowa 0 (14:15 4th)
This is getting ugly. Another Deacon Hill turnover... this time, a pick-6.
James Pearce Jr. returns the interception 52 yards for a touchdown.
A MENACE WE SAY.
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) January 1, 2024
James Pearce Jr. pick six!
📺 ABC
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End 3rd: Tennessee 21, Iowa 0
Iowa has not scored in its last 13 quarters against ranked opponents, dating back to the 2022 game against Ohio State.
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Touchdown Vols | Tennessee 21, Iowa 0 (1:43 3rd)
Third rushing TD for Nico Iamaleava this afternoon, this one from 2 yards out.
The Deacon Hill fumble set up the quick scoring drive.
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Turnover | Tennessee 14, Iowa 0 (2:25 3rd)
Deacon Hill fumble, recovered by Tennessee on the Iowa 2-yard line.
Brutal.
Two-Seven's a menace 😤
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) January 1, 2024
📺 ABC
📲 https://t.co/4jF6avyAgv pic.twitter.com/DqHWe9oZ30 -
Not a lot going right for the Hawkeyes right now, but Joe Evans is having a heck of a day. Five tackles, four sacks.
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Tennessee 14, Iowa 0 (3:50 3rd)
Joe Evans stopped Nico Iamaleava for no gain on second down, then Iamaleava dropped the third-down snap and could only get back to the line of scrimmage.
But Jackson Ross' punt was downed at the Iowa 4, so a beyond-struggling Iowa offense has even more work to do.
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Citrus Bowl attendance: 43,861
For perspective, the attendance two years ago for Iowa-Kentucky was 50,769.
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Tennessee 14, Iowa 0 (12:30 3rd)
Joe Evans with his third sack of the day to force a Tennessee punt. Iowa starts at its 6.
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Halftime: Tennessee 14, Iowa 0
Iowa's offense is again struggling against a ranked opponent while Tennessee is having its way on the ground.
Vols got 220 total yards in the first half, including 126 on the ground.
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That 27-yard pass from Nico Iamaleava to Ramel Keyton was Tennessee's 10th play of at least 12 yards.
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Iowa's Koen Entringer is in the medical tent after making the tackle on the punt coverage unit.
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Iowa punts so far: 5
Iowa completions so far: 4
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Tennessee 14, Iowa 0 (3:53 2nd)
Jay Higgins comes up with a third-down sack. Hawkeyes take over at their 21.
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Yards per carry so far:
Tennessee: 6.2
Iowa: 1.9
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Touchdown Vols | Tennessee 14, Iowa 0 (8:12 2nd)
Another Nico Iamaleava rushing TD; 3 yards this time. It was an 11-play, 68-yard drive.
Already the most points Iowa has given up in the first half this season.
Another one.
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) January 1, 2024
📺 ABC
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Iowa's Deshaun Lee called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after Tennessee's fourth-down conversion. Vols now at the Iowa 16.
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Touchdown Vols | Tennessee 7, Iowa 0 (14:54 2nd)
Quarterback Nico Iamaleava carries it 19 yards to the end zone on the first play of the second quarter.
Dylan Sampson also accounted for 34 yards rushing on that seven-play, 73-yard scoring drive.
NICO. SIX.
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) January 1, 2024
📺 ABC
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End 1st: Iowa 0, Tennessee 0
Why does this feel familiar?
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Iowa 0, Tennessee 0 (2:07 1st)
After a dropped Kaleb Brown pass on third-and-3, Iowa's John Nestor appeared to tackle Tennessee punt returner Dee Williams immediately, but Williams bounced up and went 40 yards to the Iowa 30 without a whistle.
That was overturned after review and Tory Taylor's 55-yard punt now comes with the field-position flip to the Tennessee 27.
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I don't know what you say about that pick. Bad pass. Bad decision.
OK, maybe I do know.
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Iowa 0, Tennessee 0 (4:55 1st)
Deacon Hill throws a pick on third-and-goal from the Tennessee 4. Andre Turrentine makes the play for the Vols in the end zone.
A 10-play, 43-yard Iowa drive ends without points.
We'll take that!
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) January 1, 2024
📺 ABC
📲 https://t.co/4jF6avyAgv pic.twitter.com/moe48nXeUM -
Iowa freshman running back Terrell Washington Jr. gets an early opportunity and picks up 14 yards to the Tennessee 4.
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Iowa 0, Tennessee 0 (10:11 1st)
The Vols go three-and-out as well, with Joe Evans picking up a sack on third-and-10.
Punting is winning? Tennessee's Jackson Ross shanked his first boot and the Hawkeyes take over at the Tennessee 47.
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Iowa 0, Tennessee 0 (12:55 1st)
Deacon Hill is sacked, and the Hawkeyes go three-and-out on their first drive.
Tory Taylor's first punt bounces its way 62 (!) yards to the Tennessee 16-yard line.
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Tennessee wins the toss and defers. Hawkeyes will receive.
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Kirk Ferentz is going for his 11th career bowl win.
Currently tied with Joe Paterno for most bowl wins as a Big Ten head coach.
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Iowa DE Ethan Hurkett (was questionable) is not in uniform for today’s game.
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Iowa availability report
Iowa defensive end Ethan Hurkett is listed as questionable and defensive back T.J. Hall is listed as out for the Hawkeyes’ Citrus Bowl appearance against Tennessee.
Hurkett, a Cedar Rapids native, has appeared in all 13 of Iowa’s games this season as a reserve. Hall has missed Iowa’s last six games because of an injury.
Here is Iowa’s full Big Ten-mandated pregame availability report.
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How to watch Iowa vs. Tennessee in the Citrus Bowl
Kickoff time: 12:06 p.m. (CT)
TV channel: ABC
Live stream: ESPN3
TV announcers: Dave Fleming (play-by-play), Brock Osweiler (analyst), Kayla Burton (sideline)
Radio: Hawkeye Radio Network | The Varsity Network app | SiriusXM channel 137 or 195
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Iowa vs. Tennessee predictions
Line: Tennessee -5.5 | Over/under: 35.5
Mike Hlas: Iowa 7, Tennessee 6
John Steppe: Iowa 16, Tennessee 14
Jeff Johnson: Tennessee 21, Iowa 13
Rob Gray: Tennessee 17, Iowa 10
Beth Malicki: Tennessee 24, Iowa 13
Todd Brommelkamp: Tennessee 14, Iowa 10
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Iowa vs. Tennessee storylines
3 keys for Iowa: Handle new Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava, produce the more effective ground attack and look for young players to emerge as future playmakers. Here’s the analysis from John Steppe.
Must-read feature: Iowa football proved it was “not a fluke” with its 1982 bowl win over Tennessee.
Hlas column: The Hawkeyes apparently didn’t know playing in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl is optional.
Fun Facts: Iowa is 0-2 and has lost by an average margin of 28.5 points against ranked teams. Tennessee is 0-3 and has lost by an average of 23.7 points against ranked teams. Here are 20 things to know about Iowa-Tennessee.
Notes: Deacon Hill is expected to “go the distance” at QB for Iowa on Monday.
Big picture: Kirk Ferentz believes college football is in “worse shape” than it was two years ago.
Farewell: Brian Ferentz wants the focus to be on the team in his last game on the Iowa staff.
