The Vanderbilt Commodores' magical 2025 run came to a bittersweet close on Wednesday, falling 34-27 to Iowa in the ReliaQuest Bowl. It was a game that tested their resilience and ultimately marked the end of a historic chapter in Nashville.
Clark Lea, in his fifth year at the helm, met the media postgame with raw emotion, fighting back tears as he reflected on a season that rewrote the script for Vanderbilt football. And honestly, it’s hard to blame him. This wasn’t just another bowl game loss - it was the final act for a team that had shattered expectations and set a new standard for the program.
A Comeback That Fell Just Short
Vanderbilt didn’t come out firing in this one. By the middle of the third quarter, they were staring down a 21-3 deficit.
But like they had all season, the Commodores didn’t fold. Quarterback Diego Pavia led a spirited charge, cutting the gap to 24-17 late in the third.
The offense found some rhythm, the defense made key stops, and for a moment, it felt like the comeback was on.
But Iowa’s defense - as it has done to so many this season - dug in. The Hawkeyes sacked Pavia four times and clamped down when it mattered most.
Vanderbilt went 0-for-2 on fourth down, and Iowa’s late-game execution on both sides of the ball sealed the win. Ten fourth-quarter points from the Hawkeyes proved to be the difference.
“I’m Gonna Miss Those Guys”
When Lea stepped to the podium, it wasn’t about the loss. It was about the journey. About the players who had poured everything into a season that ended with Vanderbilt’s first-ever 10-win campaign.
“This team set a new bar for the program,” Lea said, his voice breaking as he paused to collect himself. “And I’m gonna miss those guys.”
That wasn’t just coach-speak. You could feel the weight of what this season meant - not just to the players or the staff, but to a coach who’s been building toward this moment for years. He spoke about the heartbreak of the loss, sure, but more so about the pride he felt for what his team accomplished.
“That’s what’s great about the arena,” he said. “You’re not guaranteed anything.
You’ve gotta go win it. And we didn’t do that.
But that doesn’t take anything away from that group of players, that coaching staff, that support staff - what they’ve poured into this.”
Lea made it clear: this group didn’t just play well. They made history.
“This is the best football team in Vanderbilt football history,” he said. “I want to make sure these guys are proud of that.”
A Season to Remember
Let’s not forget what this team pulled off in 2025. Wins over ranked opponents like South Carolina, Missouri, LSU, and Tennessee.
A 10-win season - something that had never been done before in program history. This wasn’t just a flash in the pan.
It was a blueprint for what Vanderbilt football can be.
Yes, the roster will look different in 2026. That’s the nature of college football.
But Lea’s message was clear: the foundation is built. Enough key players will return to keep the momentum going, and the bar has officially been raised.
For a program that’s spent decades fighting uphill in the SEC, this season was a statement. And while it didn’t end with a trophy, it ended with something just as valuable - belief.
The Commodores may have fallen short in Tampa, but they walked off the field as something more than bowl participants. They walked off as trailblazers for a new era of Vanderbilt football.