By Pat Harty

The way in which football is now played has changed significantly at all levels over the past few decades. But one thing that hasn’t changed, and never will change, is the importance of dominating the line of scrimmage.

Even in this age of spread offenses and pass-happy mindsets, games still are won in the trenches and that’s where No. 23 Iowa had the biggest advantage in its 34-27 victory over No. 14 Vanderbilt in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Wednesday at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, who finished as the runner-up for the 2025 Heisman Trophy, certainly had some moments of brilliance in Wednesday’s game, especially in the second half, but not quite enough for his team to prevail.

Iowa quarterback Mark Gronowski held his own in the quarterback matchup as he finished with 212 passing yards and two touchdowns, and with 54 rushing yards and another score. It marked the first time that Gronowksi has thrown for at least 200 yards in a game for Iowa.

Gronowski, who played his first four seasons for FCS power South Dakota State, finished his career with 58 wins, which is the most by a college quarterback at any level.

He also became the first Iowa quarterback to rush for more than 500 yards in a season, and that’s the one area where Vanderbilt couldn’t match Iowa was on the ground where Iowa had a 167-51 advantage running behind its celebrated offensive line, which won the Joe Moore Award as the nation’s most outstanding offensive line.

Iowa was clearly the more physical team on both sides of the line of scrimmage, and it’s a good thing because the electrifying Pavia played better as the game wore on.

He finished with 347 passing yards and two touchdowns despite not having star tight end Eli Sowers, who opted out of playing in the game, and despite being sacked four times, all of which came in the first half

Iowa finished the season with a 9-4 record and also snapped a 13-game losing streak against ranked opponents that dated back to the 2021 season.

Vanderbilt finished 10-3, it’s first 10-win season in program history.

The Vanderbilt players were on a mission to show that they deserved to be in the 12-team playoff after winning 10 games in the Southeastern Conference.

But it proved to be mission impossible as Iowa held on for the win despite Pavia’s superb play down the stretch.

A season that will be remembered mostly for four agonizingly close losses to four ranked opponents by a combined 15 points could have easily unraveled down the stretch.

But instead, the players stayed the course and stayed unified, helped by the presence of 27 seniors, as Iowa won its final three games.

Redshirt freshman tight end DJ Vonnahme, a former walk-on, capped a breakout season by making seven catches for a career-high 146 yards and one touchdown in Wednesday’s victory

Vonnahme had 67 yards after the catch, including 51 on one play.

Wednesday’s game could have easily unraveled for Iowa after Pavia, with his team trailing 21-3, finally made a big play by connecting with Tre Richardson for a 75-yard touchdown pass with 8 minutes, 37 seconds left in the third quarter.

Pavia also threw a 16-yard touchdown pass with 1:41 left in the third quarter, cutting Iowa’s lead to 24-17 with still over a full quarter remaining.

But Iowa responded with another scoring drive that was capped by Gronowski scoring his 16th rushing touchdown of the season on a one-yard run with 13:37 left in the fourth quarter.

That made it a two-score game again with Iowa leading, 31-17.

Vanderbilt responded with an 11-yard touchdown run by Pavia, making it a one-score game at 31-24, but then Iowa answered with a 44-yard field goal by Drew Stevens, making it a two-score game again.

Vanderbilt kicker Brock Taylor made a 37-yard field with 2:58 remaining, making it a one score game again with Iowa clinging to a 34-27 lead that would ultimately hold up.

Iowa sent a strong message on the first offensive possession of the game, marching 72 yards on just five plays for a touchdown behind its Joe Moore Award-winning offensive line.

Sophomore running back Kamari Moulton scored on a four-yard run with 12:55 left in the first quarter.

Gronowski had the key play on the drive as he avoided being tackled for a loss and then broke loose for a 44-yard run into Vanderbilt territory.

The Commodores were also called for late hit on the play, moving Iowa even closer to the end zone.

Vanderbilt drove to near midfield on it opening possession of the game, but the drive stalled when Iowa linebacker Karson Sharar sacked Pavia for a nine-yard loss on third down.

Iowa was threatening to score again on its next possession, but Gronowski’s pass to running back Xavier Williams deflected off Williams’ hands, and off the hands of a Vanderbilt defender before defensive back Martel Hight made a diving catch in the end zone for an interception and for a touchback.

Pavia and the Vanderbilt offense couldn’t capitalize on it, though, as he was sacked again by Sharar on third down, forcing another punt.

So after one quarter, Iowa only led 7-0, but had a 147-29 advantage in total yards.

Pavia completed 5 of 6 passes in the first quarter, but for just 34 yards. He also had a minus-5 rushing yards in the first quarter as Iowa dominated the line of scrimmage on both sides.

Gronowski passed for 64 yards and rushed for 40 yards in the first quarter, giving him the early statistical edge over his more celebrated opposing quarterback.

Iowa sacked Pavia two more times in the second quarter and held Vanderbilt to just three points in the first half.

The Hawkeyes also took advantage of a huge mistake by the Vanderbilt punter late in the second quarter when he crossed the line of scrimmage before kicking the ball, which is against the rules and the same as a turnover.

Iowa took possession at the Vanderbilt 10 with 45 seconds left in the second quarter, and then on the next play, sophomore receiver Reece Vander Zee made a leaping catch for a touchdown with a Vanderbilt defender draped all over him.

Drew Stevens made the point-after kick, giving Iowa a 14-3 lead with 41 seconds left before halftime.

The Commodores drove to the Iowa 48, but eventually ran out of time as Pavia attempted a deep pass that fell incomplete on the final play of the first half.

Vanderbilt was held to just 118 yards in the first half, including eight rushing yards, while Iowa passed for 109 yards and ran for 74.

Pavia was also sacked four times in the first half, so it was clearly advantage to Iowa defensive coordinator Phil Parker for one half.

Parker, in the days leading up to the game, talked about the importance of keeping Pavia contained in the pocket, and for one half, his defense met that challenge in spectacular fashion.

This Vanderbilt team isn’t used to scoring just three points in a half, or in a quarter for that matter, so this was sort of uncharted territory for Pavia and his cohorts.

Halftime is when adjustments are made, and it was clear that Vanderbilt had some adjusting to do.

But adjustments only go so far when one team is just physically dominating the line of scrimmage, which Iowa did on both sides of the line of scrimmage in the first half.

Pavia is known for playing better as the game moves along, especially in the fourth quarter, so trailing by 11 points with two quarters still to be played was hardly an insurmountable deficit.

He did all he could down the stretch, but it just wasn’t enough as the more physical team would ultimately hang on to prevail, giving Kirk Ferentz his 11th bowl win, which is a Big Ten record for a head coach.

Iowa 7 7 10 10 – 34

Vanderbilt 0 3 14 10 – 27

I – Kamari Moulton 4 run (Drew Stevens kick)

V – Brock Taylor 41 FG

I – Reece Vander Zee 10 pass from Mark Gronowski (Stevens kick)

I – DJ Vonnahme 21 pass from Gronowski (Stevens kick)

V – Tre Richardson 75 pass from Diego Pavia (Taylor kick)

I – Stevens 47 FG

V – Joseph McVay 16 pass from Pavia (Taylor kick)

I – Gronowski 1 run (Stevens kick)

V – Pavia 11 run (Taylor kick)

I – Stevens 44 FG

V – Taylor 37 FG