The 23rd ranked Iowa football team will get a final chance to beat a ranked opponent when the Hawkeyes take on 14th ranked Vanderbilt in the ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa on Wednesday. Iowa is 8-4 in a season of near misses. The four losses were to rated foes by a total of 15 points.

That’s Iowa quarterback Mark Gronowski. In an era of bowl game opt outs the Hawkeyes have had none.

Gronowski’s counterpart in this game will be Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia. The Heisman Trophy runner-up has passed for nearly 32 hundred yards and rushed for more than 800.

Against a team that averages nearly 40 points per game the Hawkeyes will need to score a lot to have a chance. Gronowski says the Commodore defense will try to confuse them.

A disciplined pass rush will be a key on Wednesday when the 23rd ranked Iowa Hawkeyes play 14th ranked Vanderbilt in the ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa. Not only has Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia passed for nearly 32 hundred yards but his ability to scramble leads to big plays. Iowa defensive end Max Llewellyn.

Iowa has played against Heisman Trophy winner Francisco Mendoza from Indiana and Oregon’s Dante Moore. Llewellyn says Pavia is a unique challenge.

Llewellyn on the opportunity in front of the Hawkeyes.

Iowa had no opt outs and Llewellyn says they are looking forward to the game.

Iowa safety Koen Entringer has a decision to make about returning for his final season or entering the NFL Draft. For now, the Michigan native is focused on Wednesday’s ReliaQuest Bowl. The 23rd ranked Hawkeyes take an 8-4 record into a game against 14th rated Vanderbilt. The Commodores are 10-2.

Entringer feels the Hawkeyes can make a statement with a win.

Entringer was a captain for a defense that finished the regular season ranked in the top 10 by giving up less than 15 points per game.

The ACGC Girls Basketball team is a perfect 7-0 as the holiday break is here. The Chargers have won each game by at least ten points and haven’t allowed more than 48 points in a game yet. Head Coach Brad Baudler says it’s been an entire team effort to get out to this well of a start.

ACGC has had nine players appear in every game so far with two players averaging double figures. Senior Camdyn Richter and Junior Olivia Mahaffey have been the primary scorers for the Chargers this season. Mahaffey comes off the bench and provides that depth needed to be successful. Baudler says the depth has been a massive piece to the year so far.

The amount of depth provides the energy each and every day on the floor.

ACGC is ranked inside the top ten in each of the major polls and look to continue their perfect season Tuesday, December 6th at Des Moines Christian.

Illinois State shot a sizzling 63 percent and beat Drake 73-56, Monday, in the Knapp Center. The Bulldogs fall to 1-2 in the Valley and suffered their fifth loss at home this season.

That’s Drake coach Eric Henderson, who says the Bulldogs need to become a more physical team.

Drake is 7-7 overall.

The third ranked Iowa State men overcame a sluggish first half, Monday, and beat Houston Christian 89-61 in Ames. Joshua Jefferson led the way with 23 points, Blake Buchanan scored 16 points and added 11 rebounds as ISU moved to 13-0.

The Cyclones open Big-12 play at home on Friday night against West Virginia.

The UNI men took control down the stretch to grind out a 58-48 win Monday, over Valparaiso in the McLeod Center. The Panthers limited Valpo to just 29 percent shooting, including three-of-23 from three point range. The Panthers move to 2-0 in the Valley.

That’s UNI coach Ben Jacobson, who remains concerned about defensive rebounding. Valpo had 12 offensive rebounds in the game.

Will Hornseth led the Panthers by tying his career high with 16 points.

Bennett Stirtz had 22 points and the 25th ranked Iowa men shot 58 percent in a 90-62 win over UMass-Lowell in Iowa City. Stirtz made seven-of-13 shots and dished out eight assists as the Hawkeyes improve to 11-2.

That’s Iowa coach Ben McCollum, who was happy with the way his team returned from Christmas break.

Junior forward Cam Manyawu had 14 points and nine rebounds. The Hawkeyes return to Big Ten action on Saturday by hosting UCLA.

Manyawu says Saturday’s game will match teams that pride themselves on defense.

The Drake women outscored Illinois-Chicago 22-12 in the third quarter, today (Monday) to take control in a 78-62 victory in Chicago. Senior guard Abbie Aalsma had a career high 30 as the Bulldogs move to 2-0 in the Missouri Valley Conference.

The Bulldogs were 12-of-23 from three point range and also had 29 assists. Drake coach Allison Pohlman.

An Iowa defense that ranks sixth nationally by giving up less than 15 points per game faces a big challenge in Wednesday’s ReliaQuest Bowl against 14th ranked Vanderbilt. Led by Heisman Trophy finalist Diego Pavia at quarterback, the Commodores are averaging more than 39 points per game in posting a 10-2 record. Pavia has passed for nearly 32 hundred yards and has also added more than 800 yards of rushing.

That’s Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz, who says Pavia is at his best when he scrambles.

Ferentz says the trick for the defense will be getting pressure on Pavia without giving up big plays.

Iowa middle linebacker Jayden Montgomery says Pavia has the ability to dominate a game.

Montgomery says Pavia’s ability to run makes him extra dangerous.

Iowa safety Xavier Nwankpa on the challenge Pavia will provide…*

The 23rd ranked Hawkeyes are 8-4.