Iowa upends shorthanded Kentucky in Music City Bowl

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Joe Labas threw for 139 yards and a touchdown in his first start and the Iowa Hawkeyes posted their first shutout in Music City Bowl 24 by beating Kentucky 21-0 on Saturday.

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz also closed out his 24th season to match the late Joe Paterno for the most wins among Big Ten coaches with 10th.

Iowa (8-5) got a little payback for ending last season’s loss to Kentucky in the Citrus Bowl after a late comeback by the Wildcats. The Hawkeyes defense overwhelmed the offense, returning two interceptions for TDs in the second quarter. The Hawkeyes finished the season with their fifth win in six games.

Kentucky (7-6) lost for the third time in four games, this time without quarterback Will Levis and running back Chris Rodriguez as both opted to prepare for the NFL draft. The loss ended the Wildcats’ school-record streak of four straight bowl wins.

The Hawkeyes scored all of their points in the second quarter to seize control, scoring twice 11 seconds into the quarter.

Taking the first snaps in the college game with Spencer Petras out with an upper-body injury, Labas hit Sam LaPorta with a short pass that the tight end took 27 yards to push past the quarterback. Labas then found Luke Lachey for a short pass, and the tight end finished off a 15-yard touchdown with 12:08 left.

Drew Stevens pushed the next kickoff out of bounds, setting Kentucky up at 35. Freshman Destin Wade, also making his collegiate debut, was picked up by Iowa safety Xavier Nwankpa who went 52 yards for a 14-0 lead.

Bowl MVP Cooper DeJean picked off Wade on third-and-10 from the Kentucky 7 and ran it 14 yards for a 21-0 lead.

The Hawkeyes did not miss All-American defensive back Kaevon Merriweather who opted to prepare for the NFL draft. He posted his second shutout of the season, holding Kentucky to 185 yards while throwing to Wade four times and forcing the Wildcats to punt twice.

THE TAKEAWAY

Iowa needs to improve on offense, especially with the Hawkeyes losing All-American linebacker Jack Campbell. It was the Hawkeyes’ sixth game of the season posting 222 yards of total offense or less.

Kentucky: The Wildcats gave Wade, from Spring Hill, some experience even though Devin Leary came through the transfer portal to replace Levis. Wade finished with 98 yards passing and 29 yards rushing as Kentucky was shut out for the first time since Oct. 19, 2019, in a loss to Georgia.

UP NEXT

Iowa: Host Utah State on Sept. 2 to kick off the 2023 season

Kentucky: Host Ball State on Sept. 2 to kick off the 2023 season