As Diego Pavia steps onto the field tomorrow for what’s expected to be his final collegiate appearance, there’s no question the spotlight will be firmly fixed on him - and not just because of his playmaking ability.
The Vanderbilt quarterback made headlines for all the wrong reasons after finishing second in the Heisman Trophy race to Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza. Pavia’s now-deleted social media post, in which he vented his frustration with a profanity-laced message directed at the voters, sparked immediate backlash across the college football landscape. His own head coach, Clark Lea, didn’t shy away from addressing the situation.
“I regretted the fact that he put that out there, and I appreciated his apology,” Lea said. “He used words that sent the wrong message, that don’t align with our program and don’t align with who he is.”
Pavia did issue a public apology, calling the Heisman ceremony “an honor” and congratulating Mendoza as a “deserving winner.” But with the controversy now in the rearview mirror, the focus shifts back to football - and a marquee matchup in the ReliaQuest Bowl.
ReliaQuest Bowl: #23 Iowa (8-4) vs. #14 Vanderbilt (10-2)
Date: December 31
Time: 12:00 PM ET
Channel: ESPN
Location: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida
There’s plenty on the line in this one. For Iowa, it’s a chance to notch their first win over a ranked opponent since 2021, when they took down Penn State. For Vanderbilt, a victory would cap off a historic season with an 11th win - something the program has never done before.
Clash of Styles
This game is a classic contrast in identities. Iowa plays a brand of football that feels like it’s been pulled straight from a different era - physical, methodical, and rooted in trench warfare. They want to control the clock, wear you down, and win ugly.
Vanderbilt, on the other hand, brings a dynamic, high-octane offense to the table. They’ve leaned heavily on Diego Pavia’s dual-threat capabilities all season, and until now, it’s worked. But the Commodores will be without a major piece of that offensive puzzle: tight end Eli Stowers.
Stowers, the 2025 Mackey Award winner and one of the most productive tight ends in the nation, has opted out to prepare for the NFL Draft. He led Vanderbilt in both receptions and receiving yards this season, and his absence is a significant blow to an offense that’s already dealing with some self-inflicted distractions.
Can Vanderbilt Adjust Without Stowers?
Losing your top target - especially one as versatile and reliable as Stowers - changes the calculus for any quarterback. For Pavia, it means someone else will need to step up in the intermediate passing game, particularly against an Iowa defense that thrives on forcing you into third-and-long situations. The Hawkeyes are disciplined, fundamentally sound, and rarely beat themselves.
That said, Pavia has shown he can make plays off script and extend drives with his legs. If Vanderbilt can keep him upright and find ways to get their speed in space, they still have the firepower to put points on the board. But without Stowers, the margin for error shrinks considerably.
Iowa’s Offense: Just Enough?
Let’s not pretend Iowa’s offense is lighting up the scoreboard. In fact, they finished near the bottom of the Big Ten in total offense. But what they lack in explosiveness, they make up for in grit and execution.
Fifth-year senior quarterback Mark Gronowski isn’t going to wow anyone with his arm - 8 touchdowns to 6 interceptions on the year isn’t exactly Heisman-worthy - but he’s a savvy runner who knows how to finish drives. His 15 rushing touchdowns are tied for fourth among FBS quarterbacks, and he’s been Iowa’s most consistent red zone weapon.
The formula is simple: run the ball, win the line of scrimmage, and don’t turn it over. That’s Iowa football in a nutshell.
Prediction: A Grind-It-Out Finish
Six of Iowa’s twelve games this season were decided by one possession. They’re comfortable in close, low-scoring battles. Vanderbilt, without their top pass-catcher and coming off a week of off-field noise, may find it hard to stay in rhythm against a defense that thrives on disruption.
If Iowa can dictate tempo and turn this into a slugfest, they’ve got the edge. Expect a physical, grind-it-out affair where one or two key plays - a turnover, a red zone stop, a busted coverage - decide the outcome.
Final Score Prediction: Iowa 27, Vanderbilt 20
The Hawkeyes finally get that elusive ranked win, while Vanderbilt’s historic season ends with a reminder of how thin the line is between elite and just short.