Kentucky, Iowa meet once again, this time in Music City Bowl

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Kentucky coach Mark Stoops sees no situation with enjoying Iowa for a second straight 12 months, even when the Music Metropolis Bowl is nowhere near the Citrus Bowl the place the groups wrapped up final season.

After all, his Wildcats pulled off a late comeback for a 20-17 win to cap a 10-3 season.

Iowa freshman operating again Kaleb Johnson remembers the loss effectively, despite the fact that he wasn’t on the roster.

“I watched all of it, and it simply makes me wanting to play much more and win,” mentioned Johnson, who ran for a team-high six touchdowns and led Iowa with 1,114 all-purpose yards.

Iowa (7-5) and Kentucky (7-5) will cap their seasons at Nissan Stadium, house to the NFL’s Tennessee Titans. Neither staff is ranked, and every can be lacking some key gamers.

Kentucky can be with out quarterback Will Levis and operating again Chris Rodriguez, whereas defensive again Kaevon Merriweather opted to not be a part of fellow All-American linebacker Jack Campbell in main Iowa’s protection one final time. All three selected to begin making ready for the NFL draft in April.

Campbell by no means had a doubt about enjoying his closing sport at Iowa and coach Kirk Ferentz, who’s one win from matching the late Joe Paterno (10) for many bowl wins amongst Large Ten coaches.

“After I signed my nationwide letter of intent, I signed to play each single sport that I’m wholesome for or in a position to so I’m going to go play,” Campbell mentioned.

That is Iowa’s first journey to the Music Metropolis Bowl whereas Kentucky is making a report sixth look. The Wildcats are attempting to complete off this season with a fifth straight bowl victory and with an eighth win for the fourth time in 5 seasons.

KENTUCKY’S REPLACEMENTS

With Levis gone, Kentucky isn’t sharing his alternative. Kaiya Sheron is listed on the Wildcats’ up to date depth chart because the starter “OR” Destin Wade. Sheron began for an injured Levis in a loss to South Carolina the place he was 15 of 27 for 178 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.

JuTahn McClain is listed because the beginning operating again forward of La’Vell Wright because the backup. McClain performed in 9 video games this season and ranked third with 238 yards dashing. He additionally had 15 catches for 93 yards and a landing.

“Some guys have to step up and they should play as exhausting as Chris does, and that’s exhausting to do,” Stoops mentioned of Rodriguez’s replacements. “He’s a tricky, bodily man, and hopefully they’ll step up.”

IOWA’S QUARTERBACK

Three-year starter Spencer Petras received’t play due to an harm. Alex Padilla hit the switch portal. So Ferentz can be beginning a quarterback who didn’t take a single snap this season.

Redshirt freshman Joe Labas is poised to begin, backed up by freshman Carson Could. Ferentz mentioned it’s anybody’s guess who the Hawkeyes’ third quarterback can be.

“It is a actually uncommon state of affairs, and yeah, the one who suffered probably the most right here is Spencer simply because it ended up being an harm that wanted surgical procedure,” Ferentz mentioned. “In order that half is admittedly exhausting. It’s exhausting for him to be on the market watching with a sling on and all that.”

DEFENSIVE SHOWDOWN

Kentucky ranks eleventh nationally permitting simply 19.1 factors a sport, and the Wildcats held top-ranked Georgia to 16 final month. Additionally they are seventeenth within the nation in permitting 320.2 complete yards.

Campbell heads up an Iowa protection that led the Bowl Subdivision giving up simply 4.10 yards per play. The Hawkeyes held opponents to 13 or fewer factors in 9 video games whereas giving up 200 yards or much less in 5 video games.

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