The significance of Iowa’s ranked victory over No. 14 Vanderbilt for the No. 23 Hawkeyes Tampa — For Xavier Nwankpa, it was a long-awaited moment. Nwankpa wasn’t even a college student the last time Iowa football defeated a ranked opponent.
Sitting in the stands during Iowa’s 2021 victory over Penn State as a five-star high school recruit, he was still considering his future and listening to the excitement surrounding his name. Five years later, he celebrated a 34–27 victory over No. 14 Vanderbilt on the field at Raymond James Stadium while donning a ReliaQuest Bowl champions hat. This victory ultimately dispelled one of the Hawkeyes’ most persistent myths.
It was also the final game of Nwankpa’s Iowa career, and the timing couldn’t have been better.
Nwankpa stated, “We’ve been working on this for the past four years, trying to be the best team out there.” It took four years, I suppose, but it’s thrilling. Especially with the team we had and the season we’ve had, what a way to profit.
This was more than just another bowl victory for No. 23 Iowa. It was revolutionary. The Hawkeyes had a season full of near-misses and a long losing streak in the rankings going into the ReliaQuest Bowl. Iowa lost all four of its regular-season games by a single point, for a total of just 15 points. The frustration persisted, and the margins were extremely narrow.
Against Vanderbilt, things finally tilted Iowa’s way.
By limiting the Commodores to just three points in the first half, the Hawkeye defense set the tone early on. The offense was able to control the game and win by a single score once more thanks to that effort, but this time the outcome went Iowa’s way. As the Hawkeyes defeated a top-15 opponent by seven points, confetti fell in shades of navy, teal, and yellow.
In that moment, the familiar criticism faded.
Wide receiver Kaden Wetjen remarked, “It’s just super, super awesome.” “Earlier this week, Coach Ferentz discussed dispelling the myth that we are incapable of defeating ranked teams. It’s unique to be among the guys who eventually succeeded.
Kirk Ferentz, the head coach of Iowa, grinned as his players rejoiced from the stage close to the 20-yard line. Ferentz had indicated throughout the season that this team was different, frequently drawing comparisons to his 2008 squad. Even so, he was cautious in what he said, stating time and again that success in football must be earned rather than taken for granted.
This one, he said, was earned.
”Deserved” and “justice” are powerful terms for football,” Ferentz remarked. However, these guys most definitely deserved it. They simply continued to improve and climb, and I believe that was evident today.
Ferentz’s victory, which was his eleventh bowl victory in his career, also had historical significance. For the players who had spent years attempting to damage Iowa’s reputation in crucial games, however, the significance went deeper. Nwankpa and Logan Jones, an offensive lineman, were among the seniors who had endured the program’s hardships, including near defeats and criticism. Along the way, others joined, such as quarterback Mark Gronowski, the ReliaQuest Bowl MVP, who assisted Iowa in crossing the finish line.
Together, they delivered a performance that felt like a release.
Jones declared, “We’re just here to win football games.” “Their rank is irrelevant. We’ve demonstrated throughout the season that we can play with anyone, I believe. We participated in 13 games. It’s noteworthy to leave with a victory, and it’s even more satisfying to defeat a ranked team.
The triumph reframed the season’s frustrations rather than eliminating them. These one-score defeats now seem less like flaws and more like proof of how close Iowa had always been. The Hawkeyes finally received the break they had been anticipating. The seniors will know that they have contributed to changing the narrative, not only for themselves but also for the program they are leaving behind, as they get ready to start the next phase of their lives.
Additionally, the belief feels different now that Iowa is focusing on the upcoming season. That’s what a ranked bowl victory does. The Hawkeyes did more than just win a game for one night in Tampa. They demonstrated something to both themselves and the outside world.
