Iowa Football: Preview Hawkeyes vs Missouri Tigers in Music City Bowl

The Iowa Hawkeyes have just one game remaining in the 2024 season and it comes in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl on Monday, December 30th. There, the Hawkeyes will meet our friends to the south in Missouri Tigers.

In the words of the wise and sage Big Tom Callahan, you can get a good look at a t-bone by poking your head up a bull’s rear end, but wouldn’t you rather take the butcher’s word for it?

So instead of poking our heads up someone’s rear end, we ask our friends over Rock M Nation for their words about the Mizzou Tigers. We were joined by Sammy Stava on RMN to talk all things Missouri this week. Here’s a look at our conversation.

BHGP: Let’s start at a high level. Iowa and Missouri don’t face off a whole lot (the last meeting comes back in 2010 after a 100-year hiatus), and while not much changes in Iowa City, the rest of the world certainly does. What should Hawkeye fans know about head coach Eli Drinkwitz, his philosophy and what he’s been able to do with the Mizzou program in his five years in Columbia?

RMN: There is a lot to like about head coach Eli Drinkwitz. He is a program builder and currently recruits at a high level by Mizzou standards. His philosophy is that of an offensive-minded head coach, and while his play-calling is questionable at times, you can’t argue with the results on the field. Yes, missing the College Football Playoff was a disappointment for this team, but if Mizzou wins this Music City Bowl, the program will have achieved back-to-back 10-win seasons for just the third time in program history and the second time since 2013 -2014. He’s building something special here, and even though it’s taken him a while to do, he’s definitely the right guy for this Mizzou job right now.

BHGP: The Tigers under Drinkwitz have typically been a place Iowa fans could only dream of. This year, Mizzou finished 60th in total offense with ~391 yards per carry. game (220 passing and 171 rushing yards per game), while scoring 29.1 points per game. match. While QB Brady Cook has led the way in terms of yardage production, most of the scoring has come on the ground, led by 12 TDs from RB Marcus Carroll. How do you expect the Tigers to attack the Iowa defense on Monday, and who are the names Iowa fans should be familiar with on the offensive side of the ball?

RMN: Missouri’s identity on offense rules the football. In two of five seasons under Eli Drinkwitz, they have had the SEC’s leading rusher. They didn’t have that this year, but they have a lot of depth at the running back position with Marcus Carroll as you mentioned, plus Nate Noel and Jamal Roberts are other key contributors. With Luther Burden III opting out of NFL Draftwatch out for Theo Wease Jr. at the WR position – who has been Mizzou’s most consistent receiver this season. He wants to win in his final collegiate game with Cook.

BHGP: On the defensive end, the Tigers were strong this year, finishing 20th in total defense with 319 yards per carry. game given up (186 passing and 134 rushing yards per game allowed), while allowing just 20.1 points per game. match. It’s no secret that Iowa will look to pound the rock and build the rushing attack with the passing game. What should we expect to see from Missouri in terms of a base defense, how do you expect them to approach this game and who are the names to know at all three levels on Monday?

RMN: With Brendan Sullivan returning from injury, I think the defensive scheme will make him uncomfortable with a ton of blitzes. On the defensive end, watch out for Zion Young on the line — who Iowa fans may remember from his time at Michigan State. At the linebacker position, Miami transfer Corey Flagg Jr. had a productive season. While the secondary has struggled at times, Clemson — safety Joseph Charleston and cornerback Toriano Pride Jr. can have big days.

BHGP: OK, yes, there’s a game on Monday, but it’s safe to say that a lot of fans’ attention (and maybe the coaching staff?) has turned to Portal. The Tigers have grabbed a pair of top portal targets with Iowa reportedly finishing second, including Penn State QB Beau Pribula with a $1.5M NIL package. First of all, what the hell man? And as a follow up, what is the attitude of the Missouri fan base towards the new college football landscape and how do you expect the Tigers to perform regularly in this world?

RMN: There is no offseason in college football. After the regular season ends, it’s basically about the NIL and the transfer portal for the teams not in the College Football Playoff. Missouri desperately needed a transfer QB out of the gate and ended up with Beau Pribula. While I haven’t seen much of Pribula in the backup spot to Drew Allar, Penn State coaches have raved about him — and he seems like a “locker room” guy. $1.5 million NIL deal is quite the dedication, so let’s see how it plays out. I am fascinated.

I also think the Missouri fan base is buying into the NIL. There is a lot of momentum around this program right now, and Drinkwitz is taking advantage of Missouri’s NIL law with in-state recruiting. It hasn’t been good though – as they recently lost former five-star Williams Nwaneri to the transfer portal to Nebraska. But that’s College Football now, it is what it is.

BHGP: Okay, back to the game at hand. Mizzou is favored by 3 in this one with an over/under set to 40.5 total points. How do you see this game playing out and what is your prediction for the final result for Monday?

RMN: This should be a good game. Music City is the only bowl game on Monday, and Nashville is a great place for Mizzou and Iowa fans to travel to. Bowl games usually come down to “who wants it more” and I think the Tigers have enough to match the Hawkeyes in a close one. 24-20.

So there you have it – a disappointing end to the 2024 football season for the Hawkeyes. We hope Sammy is wrong.

Thanks again to Sammy Stava of Rock M Nation for taking the time to answer our questions and give us an insight into the Missouri Tigers. Be sure to stop by Rock M ahead of the game on Monday for their coverage of the game, including my answers to their questions about the Hawkeyes.