The task facing the Hawkeyes as Iowa football gets ready for its matchup in the ReliaQuest Bowl on New Year’s Eve is obvious: slowing down one of the nation’s most explosive quarterbacks won’t be simple. Diego Pavia of Vanderbilt is not your typical bowl opponent. He is the focal point of an offense that requires constant attention from every level of defense, a proven dual-threat weapon, and a runner-up for the Heisman Trophy.
Pavia had an incredible regular season in 2025, completing 71.2 percent of his passes for 3,192 yards and 27 touchdowns. As if that weren’t enough, he rushed for 826 yards and nine more touchdowns, adding yet another lethal layer with his legs. He traveled to New York City as a Heisman finalist thanks to his combination of accuracy, explosiveness, and mobility. There, he finished second only to Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
It takes ingenuity, self-control, and extensive planning for Iowa to contain a player like that. While head coach Kirk Ferentz has adopted an additional, hands-on approach during bowl practices, defensive coordinator Phil Parker’s scheme will play a significant role. The Hawkeyes have looked to a surprising but intriguing option—a true freshman walk-on quarterback—to help replicate Pavia’s distinct skill set. The Des Moines Register’s Chad Leistikow reports that Iowa is replicating Pavia during practice with walk-on Ryan Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald’s background and playing style make him a perfect fit for the scout-team position, even though he is not yet well-known.
Fitzgerald, a 6-foot-1, 218-pound quarterback from Northfield, Illinois, is the son of Pat Fitzgerald, the new head coach at Michigan State. Despite the fact that he didn’t play in any games during his first season in Iowa City, the coaching staff is obviously impressed with him. The responsibility he has been given during bowl preparation is indicative of this belief.
Fitzgerald was a standout student at Loyola Academy High School prior to coming to Iowa, where he assisted in leading the team to three straight state titles. He threw for 3,835 yards and 45 touchdowns during his two seasons as the team’s starting quarterback. More significantly, he demonstrated that he was a serious rushing threat, gaining 988 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground. These figures demonstrate why Iowa’s staff chose him to practice alongside Pavia: he knows how to be a true dual-threat quarterback.
Fitzgerald’s presence gives the Hawkeye defense a more accurate picture of what it will encounter on game day. Preparing for a mobile quarterback on paper or on film is one thing, but defending against someone who can truly imitate Pavia’s timing, movement, and improvisation is quite another. When the game is at stake, daily exposure can have a significant impact. Fitzgerald’s role also has a long-term component that should not be disregarded. With Mark Gronowski expected to graduate, Iowa’s quarterback competition will be open for the upcoming season. Currently leading the depth chart are redshirt freshman Jeremy Hecklinski and sophomore Hank Brown, but Fitzgerald’s name is frequently discussed behind the scenes.
For a young quarterback, this bowl preparation experience is priceless. Fitzgerald must develop his football IQ, make better decisions, and lead the offense in practice in order to run the scout team and gain the coaching staff’s trust. Future contributors frequently start to dissociate themselves in these behind-the-scenes positions. It is hoped that Iowa will benefit from this meticulous preparation when it counts most. To prevent Pavia from controlling the game, the Hawkeyes must be disciplined in their pass rush, sound in coverage, and prepared to rally to the football every snap. It’s never easy to play a quarterback of his caliber, but Iowa feels it has prepared well.
ESPN will provide nationwide coverage of the ReliaQuest Bowl, which begins on Wednesday at 11 a.m. CST. The Hawkeyes will enter the game armed not only with a defensive strategy but also with weeks of practice molded by a walk-on quarterback attempting to emulate one of the biggest names in college football.
