Bowl season is frequently accompanied by an asterisk in today’s college football environment. Locker rooms get smaller, star players choose not to play in order to preserve their draft stock, and postseason games sometimes feel more like exhibitions than real finals. This fact makes the events taking place within the Iowa football program even more noteworthy.
One thing is conspicuously missing as the Hawkeyes get ready to play No. 14 Vanderbilt in the ReliaQuest Bowl on December 31: opt-outs. Not a single Iowa player has opted to miss the game on New Year’s Eve at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. Iowa’s full-team commitment has drawn attention and earned respect in a time when opting out has become the norm.
Tim Lester, the offensive coordinator, recently explained why the Hawkeyes have avoided the college football trend. Lester clarified that Iowa’s strategy isn’t based on regulations or coercion in an interview with a Tampa-area television station. It has to do with something much more traditional. “They enjoy playing together,” Lester remarked. “They couldn’t fathom being out there without their companion. It’s an incredible bond. I don’t even think anyone thought about it, but that’s how football should be.
Under head coach Kirk Ferentz, that connection has been a defining characteristic of Iowa football for decades. The Hawkeyes have maintained their core values of consistency, responsibility, and team spirit even as the sport around them has changed due to NIL, the transfer portal, and playoff expansion. The bowl game is not seen as a risk, according to Lester. It’s seen as a prize.
“We’re all going out there,” Lester said. “We’re going to go out there and play together. That’s the program that coach Ferentz runs. And it’s awesome to be a part of.”
There’s more to those words than just sentiment. They are a reflection of a meticulously constructed and fiercely guarded culture. Players from Iowa frequently talk about perseverance, growth, and finishing what they started. For seniors, the bowl game represents their last chance to dress up with teammates they have fought with for years. It’s an opportunity for underclassmen to develop, compete, and uphold the values instilled in them. Looking across the field makes the contrast even more pronounced.
With a 10-2 record and a No. 14 ranking going into the ReliaQuest Bowl, Vanderbilt is anticipated to be without its most potent offensive weapon. Eli Stowers, an All-American tight end, is expected to withdraw from the game in order to concentrate on his career. Even though these choices are becoming more common—and frequently encouraged—they unavoidably alter the dynamics of a match.
Iowa, meanwhile, will arrive in Tampa whole.
This unity is important, particularly for a game that will be nationally televised on ESPN and begin at 11 a.m. CT on New Year’s Eve. Bowl games have significance for programs like Iowa even though they don’t have playoff implications. They serve as a gauge. A declaration. An end to a season characterized by tenacity and fortitude. Lester’s remarks also demonstrate why Iowa is still prospering in spite of persistent skepticism from the outside world. The Hawkeyes regularly perform when it counts, even though they don’t always make headlines with spectacular offenses or five-star recruiting classes. Their players support them. They maintain their connection. They also don’t vanish when postseason play starts.
In many respects, Iowa’s low opt-out rate is a sign of mutual trust as well as trust in the program and the coaching staff. It is the conviction that, even in a sport that is changing quickly, every snap matters. Fans will witness rosters and depth charts being rearranged as the nation’s bowl season progresses. But Iowa’s lineup will be recognizable. In an effort to finish together, the same players who fought throughout the regular season will take the field once more, shoulder to shoulder.
That’s more than just refreshing for Tim Lester and the Hawkeyes. That’s the idea. Additionally, Iowa’s collective mindset may be its most potent statement to date in a time when individual choices are frequently what define college football.
