Iowa football vs. Vanderbilt: Who wins? Final score predictions

One final ride.

That's what the Iowa football team has on New Year's Eve in the ReliaQuest Bowl. This will be the last time that Logan Jones, Gennings Dunker, Aaron Graves, Xavier Nwankpa, and a hoard of other incredible Hawkeyes ever wear the black and gold on the gridiron. It's also a chance for Iowa to break a losing streak against ranked opponents that dates back over four years.

It won't be easy, though. Vanderbilt enters this game coming off one of the best seasons in school history. The Commodores have won ten games, riding Heisman Trophy runner-up quarterback Diego Pavia to an explosive offense. The defense is also nothing to scoff at, being one of the best run defenses in the country. The Hawkeyes will need to play their best game of the season to walk away with a win.

Hawkeyes Wire dove deep into the game, giving our official score predictions for the ReliaQuest Bowl. Will the Hawkeyes ring in the New Year with a big win? Or will Vanderbilt spoil the party? Here's our official predictions for Iowa vs Vanderbilt.

Iowa vs Vanderbilt official score predictions

Scout Springgate: Diego Pavia will be a unique challenge for the Hawkeyes' defense, given his elusiveness and making ability. However, Iowa will be ready for the challenge and will get critical stops by playing a bend-but-don’t-break style of defense.  Also, look for Iowa to use a variety of different pressures to speed up the Heisman Trophy finalist in the pocket.

Offensively, the Hawkeyes will need to stay in front of the sticks consistently to stay level with the Commodores. If they can maintain offensive rhythm, they have a chance at securing victory.

In my opinion, after coming so close against both Indiana and Oregon, Iowa finally breaks through with a Top 25 victory over No. 14 Vanderbilt.

Iowa 27, Vanderbilt 20

Riley Donald: Iowa has been banging on the door of a ranked win all season. They had Indiana and Oregon dread to rights. They handed USC that game on a platter. Eventually, things have to break Iowa’s way. I am not one to bet against Phil Parker with a month to prepare.

I am also extremely excited to see what wrinkles Tim Lester dials up for Mark Gronowski in his final collegiate game. I have a hard time seeing this game being a blowout. Iowa finds a late score, either a Drew Stevens field goal or a Mark Gronowski rushing touchdown, as they have done all season, to take the lead and let the defense finally slam shut the door.

Iowa 24, Vanderbilt 21

Josh Helmer: At long last, the Hawkeyes beat a ranked opponent. This season has felt like it’s been building in that direction in many ways. Close calls in one-score losses against each of the ranked teams it's faced so far in Iowa State, Indiana, Oregon, and USC.Outside of Mackey Award winner Eli Stowers, Diego Pavia, and Vanderbilt do seem like they’re taking the ReliaQuest Bowl seriously as well. But, with a number of key figures playing their final games in the black and gold, Iowa heads into 2026 with momentum after knocking off its first-ranked foe in a long time. 

Iowa 27, Vanderbilt 24

Zach Hiney: This has all the makings of a really fun game down in Tampa. Outside of Vanderbilt Mackey Award winner Eli Stowers, basically everyone will take the field for both teams. You have a couple of experienced, senior quarterbacks who are gonna leave it all on the field in their final collegiate game. You have the Joe Moore award-winning offensive line vs a talented defensive line that's great at stuffing the run. And there's a pair of head coaches who do it the right way.

The marquee matchup on paper is Phil Parker's defense vs Pavia and the Commodore offense. But this game could very well be decided by Mark Gronowski's ability to attack the field through the air. Vanderbilt allows over 250 passing yards per game, and Gronowski has yet to exceed 200 passing yards in a single game this year. Something will have to give in this one.

I think Gronowski will rise to the occasion. He's a gamer who's not afraid of the moment. This will be his best passing game of the season, as he distributes the ball to DJ Vonnahme, Reece Vander Zee, and Jacob Gill to great success. Iowa's defense gives up some yards and points to a talented offense, but eventually gets the big stop in the fourth quarter. Iowa breaks the ranked-opponent losing streak in a really exciting affair.

Iowa 30, Vanderbilt 27

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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Iowa football vs. Vanderbilt: Who wins? Final score predictions