The Iowa Hawkeyes huddles in the redzone against the Michigan State Spartans Nov. 22, 2025 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Iowa's Bowl Game Projections Continue to Fluctuate

Originally posted on Iowa Hawkeyes on SI
By Jordon Lawrenz | Last updated Nov 24, 2025 11:00 AM ET

While one bowl game projection has remained the same, the Iowa Hawkeyes once again are projected for a new bowl game. Sitting at 7-4, their hopes of making the College Football Playoff have long been over, but they still have a chance at making a major bowl game.

ESPN's Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach continue to come together to predict the bowl games, as there's only one game left in the regular season. Iowa knows it won't be making the Big Ten Championship game, so its season finale against Nebraska is its last chance to solidify itself in a big-time bowl game.

ReliaQuest Bowl vs. Tennessee

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Iowa has been embarrassed by Tennessee in a bowl game before, so one could only imagine how much they want revenge. While this game would take place in Tampa instead of Orlando, it's yet another chance for them to come to Florida to play one of the SEC's finest teams.

Schlabach continues to see Iowa in this ReliaQuest Bowl game, and it's a game that would certainly look good on Kirk Ferentz's resume, if it is indeed his final year. While that may be unlikely, Hawkeyes fans know that they have to make every moment count and this could be a big one.

Should Iowa make this bowl game, it would kick off at noon EST on ESPN. The game is set to take place on New Year's Eve, Dec. 31. Tennessee is far from a lock to make this game, as is Iowa, but it would be quite an intriguing rematch of the Cheez-It Bowl.

SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl vs. Utah

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After pushing Iowa out of this game last week, Bonagura once again sees the Hawkeyes heading to Allegiant Stadium. Instead of playing in Florida at the home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Iowa could go to the west coast inside of a dome. Those are two completely different environments, but either way would have them playing in an NFL stadium.

For what it's worth, both Bonagura and Schlabach have Utah in this bowl game. Iowa's status remains up in the air, but should they lose to the Cornhuskers, it seems much more likely that this would be their destination. There's no shame in finishing 7-5, but that record may not cut it for a marquee B1G vs. SEC bowl game.

On paper, Utah seems to be a better team than Tennessee, which could lead some to believe the Las Vegas Bowl would be the bigger game. With the Utes fighting for their CFP lives, Tennessee already has three losses, which all but confirms they will be in a regular bowl game this postseason.

This article first appeared on Iowa Hawkeyes on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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