The Missouri Tigers (9-3) may not have been able to secure a spot in the College Football Playoff, but they’ve put together an incredibly strong campaign and went out on a high note by defeating the Iowa Hawkeyes (8-4) in this year’s Music City Bowl, 27-24.
Prior to this contest, this looked like it was going to be a fun contest. After all, it was SEC vs. Big Ten, one of these teams ended the season ranked, and both programs had both strung together a few solid seasons in a row. However, it wound up being much more than that. The Music City Bowl was the only college football game played on Dec. 30, giving both programs an opportunity to shine in a national spotlight, and shine they did.
After the Hawkeyes got out to a first half lead, the Missouri Tigers came up big in the second half, holding the Hawkeyes to just three points in the second half. Despite an incredibly efficient run game for Iowa, they just couldn’t string together enough explosive plays to pull away early on, giving Missouri the opportunity to hang in there. Thanks to heroics from kicker Blake Craig, which included two field goals from over 50 yards, the Tigers ended this season on a tremendous high note.
Here’s everything that went down during the 2024 Music City Bowl.
2024 Music City Bowl highlights
FINAL: Missouri 27, Iowa 24
This was an instant classic as the Missouri Tigers came from behind, hitting two 50-yard field goals and coming up big on defense to earn the victory over Iowa.
Quarterback Brady Cook went bananas in this contest, throwing for 287 yards and two touchdowns to propel his team to victory. Of course, the biggest play came on the last offensive play of the game for Iowa. On 4th & 1, Iowa quarterback Brendan Sullivan tried to sneak for a first down, but the Tigers’ defense pushed him back for a loss.
This was an instant classic, but in the end, Missouri came out victorious, 27-24.
Blake Craig has the clutch gene
It was a big drive for the Missouri Tigers. Not only did quarterback Brady Cook surpass 9,000 career collegiate passing yards, but they were able to take their first lead of the game thanks to kicker Blake Craig’s second 50-yard field goal of the game.
This time, the boot came from 56 yards out, marking Craig’s sixth field goal of 50+ yards on the year. It’s 27-24 Missouri with under five minutes to play.
Missouri ties it 24-24
With just over ten minutes to go, it’s Missouri that keeps their foot on the gas. Although their drive stalled out around the 35-yard line, kicker Blake Craig came up big with a 51-yard field goal to tie this one up.
End of Q3: Iowa 24, Missouri 21
The offenses are starting to heat up.
After a slow start to the third quarter, a few big throws from Mizzou quarterback Brady Cook brought the Tigers back within one score. In retaliation, the Hawkeyes have put together a very methodical, but solid drive that has yet to conclude.
If Iowa can find the end zone one more time, they might be able to run the clock out given the effectiveness of their ground game. This will be a very pivotal drive in determining this contest’s outcome.
Tigers touchdown: Iowa 24, Missouri 21
After their first touchdown of the drive was taken back thanks to an illegal formation penalty, the Tigers made sure there was no doubt two plays later on a jet sweep handoff to Joshua Manning.
The Tigers’ offense looked to be in for another quick out at the beginning of their drive, but some clutch throws from quarterback Brady Cook got Mizzou in position to score quickly. Momentum may be shifting with less than two minutes to play in the third quarter.
Iowa field goal: Iowa 24, Missouri 14
A key roughing the passer penalty may have given the Hawkeyes a few extra shots at the end zone, but Missouri’s defense held tough when it mattered most, holding the Hawkeyes to only three points.
While this contest is now a two-possession game, neither offense has gotten into a groove thus far in the second half. If Missouri can start building momentum quickly, they’ll have a very good chance to get ahead.
End of 1st half: Iowa 21, Missouri 14
The Hawkeyes have to feel fantastic about their first-half production on offense. The team hadn’t scored 21 points in the first half of any game this year. But in arguably the biggest moment of their season, they come up big.
Sure, one of their scores came on special teams, but Iowa’s production on offense has still been outstanding. Quarterback Brendan Sullivan is 8-of-9 passing with a touchdown. The Hawkeyes’ rushers are averaging over six yards per carry. While Missouri might be outgaining the Hawkeyes, Iowa has been able to turn their offense into points, and that’s why their ahead.
Hawkeyes Touchdown: Iowa 21, Missouri 14
It was a wild series of events before this score. First down necessitated video review, but ultimately pushed the Hawkeyes back to the eight-yard line.
Second down saw Iowa quarterback Brendan Sullivan run all over the field, improvising a masterful run, leaping into the end zone at the end, but getting stuffed at the half-yard line.
Third down came with under a minute left in the half, and finally, the Hawkeyes were able to breakthrough, thanks to an inside zone handoff to the redshirt freshman Kamari Moulton.
It’s 21-14 Hawkeyes lead with less than 50 seconds to go in the first half.
Tigers touchdown: Iowa 14, Missouri 14
Brady is indeed cooking.
The Missouri QB is now 8 for 9 on the day for 111 yards and two touchdowns. The most recent was a seven-yard dime to Marquis Johnson to tie the game up. As we have seen, the Hawkeyes will be prepared to answer.
End of Q1: Iowa 14, Missouri 7
Cook and the Tigers are again threatening to end the quarter. It’s be an electric game so far that has included three touchdowns, including a punt return for a touchdown.
Kaden Wetjen gave the Hawkeyes the lead with a 100-yard return to the house.
Hawkeyes 100-yard touchdown return: Iowa 14, Missouri 7
Well, we have ourselves an explosive game with Iowa taking no time at all to get the lead back.
Kaden Wetjen corraled a 65-yard punt only to return it 100 yards for an already entertaining game’s most exciting moment.
Tigers touchdown: Iowa 7, Missouri 7
Well, it didn’t take long for Brady Cook and the Tigers to answer back.
In what has been a frantic game of rushed passes, the Tigers showed resolve and marched 80 yards to tie the game. The drive was capped off with a Cook pass to Theo Wease Jr. for an eight-yard touchdown reception.
Hawkeyes touchdown: Iowa 7, Missouri 0
Brendan Sullivan started to cook early with a couple of nice pass completions to Jarriett Buie. That’s when Terrell Washington Jr. delivered the final flourish to this 70-yard drive.
Washington Jr. gets six-yard run to give the Hawkeyes the lead.
When is the Music City Bowl between Iowa and Missouri?
The TransPerfect Music City Bowl game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Missouri Tigers kicks off at 2:30 p.m. at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee
How to watch Iowa and Missouri in the Music City Bowl
The TransPerfect Music City Bowl game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Missouri Tigers will be televised nationally on ESPN.
Live streaming is available on Fubo, which has a free trial.
Watch UConn take on North Carolina with a Fubo subscription
Iowa vs. Missouri: Music City Bowl odds
The Missouri Tigers are favorites to defeat the Iowa Hawkeyes, according to BetMGM.
Odds as of Sunday, Dec. 29
Spread: Missouri (-2.5)
Moneyline: Missouri (-145); Iowa (+120)
Over/under: 40.5
Music City Bowl predictions: Iowa vs. Missouri
USA TODAY: Majority picks Missouri
Scooby Axson: Missouri
Jordan Mendoza: Missouri
Paul Myerberg: Missouri
Erick Smith: Iowa
Eddie Timanus: Iowa
Dan Wolken: Missouri
ESPN: Missouri 25, Iowa 21
Bill Connelly writes: ‘Both teams have had significant NFL draft opt-outs as Iowa will be without running back Kaleb Johnson, a Doak Walker Award finalist, while Missouri won’t have wide receiver Luther Burden III. Iowa should get quarterback Brendan Sullivan back for the game, and will lean on running back Kamari Moulton, who actually opened the season as the starter, and a defense that ranks 10th nationally in fewest points allowed. But a Missouri team with more offensive sizzle and a knack for winning close games claims another.’
BetMGM: Missouri will win
Staff writes: ‘The winning team model predicts Missouri will win this game with 57.2% confidence, based on game simulations, offensive & defensive matchups and recent game results.’
Bowl game picks
Here are USA TODAY Sports’ expert picks for all of the college football bowl games.
Iowa vs. Missouri all-time record
The Iowa Hawkeyes and Missouri Tigers have faced off 13 times in their history. The Tigers have a 7-6 record in the series.
Iowa beat Missouri 27-24 in their last matchup on Dec. 28, 2010.
College football bowl game schedule: Entire postseason lineup
College football bowl season began Dec. 14 and will run through Jan. 20 with the College Football Playoff championship game in Atlanta. Click here for the schedule of all upcoming bowls, including the College Football Playoff, and the results of already completed games.
College football bowl game rankings: 35 matchups from best to worst
We’ll begin with a couple of stipulations. First, we’ll operate under the assumption that all the first-round playoff games, as well as the quarterfinal and semifinal bowl contests, will be appointment viewing anyway, so they won’t be included in this exercise. We’ll also add that while some matchups look attractive in terms of records and rankings, whether the games will turn out to be good hinges upon which key players actually show up. We also recognize that your interest in a particular game might differ based upon your rooting interest.
We try to put these in order of what we think will have the highest entertainment value, but circumstances can change before the games kick off. Click here for our watchability rankings for all 35 non-playoff bowls. — Eddie Timanus
The uncertain future of the college football bowl system
For an industry that has gone out of its way over many decades to accommodate the bowl industry, even cutting them in on the spoils of the College Football Playoff, there’s been a disturbance in the force.
Though everyone knew a decade ago that creating the CFP would change the nature of and interest in college football’s larger postseason, the bowls were still considered untouchable. Despite a financial model that ensured most schools lost money on bowls, schools and conferences dutifully participated in them, believing in their necessity as a reward for players, a vehicle for coaches to squeeze in extra practices and a marketing tool for the university. — Dan Wolken
College football, CFP games and NIL impact
If players are employees, then they’ll negotiate College Football Playoff bonuses for each round completed. Not unlike the NFL and its playoff bonus structure.
You can’t ask players to play more games (to increase your bottom dollar with booming media rights deals), and not give them a bonus structure for those extra games. I’ll say this again because it’s getting lost in the greedy players narrative: Penn State and Texas could play 17 games this season.
That, everyone, is insanity for two rosters that aren’t yet paid directly to play. A majority of the players on those rosters make little to nothing in NIL deals. — Matt Hayes
College football players drivven by money bother you? Get over it
College Football Playoff bracket: CFP schedule
The first round of the College Football Playoff concluded with all four home teams winning.
FRIDAY, DEC. 20
Game 1: No. 7 Notre Dame def. No. 10 Indiana, 27-17
SATURDAY, DEC. 21
Game 2: No. 6 Penn State def. No. 11 SMU, 38-10
Game 3: No. 5 Texas def. No. 12 Clemson, 38-24
Game 4: No. 8 Ohio State def. No. 9 Tennessee, 42-17
CFP quarterfinals schedule
The four quarterfinal games will be played on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, with one game on Dec. 31 and three on Jan. 1. All games will be televised by ESPN.
All times Eastern
TUESDAY, DEC. 31
Fiesta Bowl: No. 3 Boise State vs. Penn State, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 1
Peach Bowl: No. 4 Arizona State vs. Texas, 1 p.m. (ESPN)
Rose Bowl: No. 1 Oregon vs. Ohio State, 5 p.m. (ESPN)
Sugar Bowl: No. 2 Georgia vs. Notre Dame, 8:45 p.m. (ESPN)
CFP semifinals schedule
The semifinal games will be played on Jan. 9 and Jan. 10. Both games will be televised by ESPN.
All times Eastern
THURSDAY, JAN. 9
Orange Bowl: Fiesta Bowl winner vs. Sugar Bowl winner, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
FRIDAY, JAN. 10
Cotton Bowl: Peach Bowl winner vs. Rose Bowl winner, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)
CFP national championship game schedule
MONDAY, JAN. 20
Game: Orange Bowl winner vs. Cotton Bowl winner
Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
CFP rankings
Oregon (Big Ten champion, No. 1 seed)*
Georgia (SEC champion, No. 2 seed)*
Texas (No. 5 seed)
Penn State (No. 6 seed)
Notre Dame (No. 7 seed)
Ohio State (No. 8 seed)
Tennessee (No. 9 seed)
Indiana (No. 10 seed)
Boise State (MWC champion, No. 3 seed)*
SMU (No. 11 seed)
Alabama
Arizona State (Big 12 champion, No. 4 seed)*
Miami
Mississippi
South Carolina
Clemson (ACC champion, No. 12 seed)**
*first-round bye; **automatic bid
How does College Football Playoff format work?
The 12 participating teams in the College Football Playoff bracket are the five conference champions ranked highest by the CFP selection committee, and the next seven highest-ranked teams.
The four highest-ranked conference champions are seeded one through four and received a first-round bye. The fifth conference champion is seeded where it was ranked among the top 12 teams, or at No. 12 if it is outside the top 12 in the CFP rankings. Non-conference champions ranked in the top four will be seeded beginning at No. 5.
‘Because of this,’ the CFP warns on its website, ‘the seeding, 1 through 12, could look different than the final rankings.’
For the first round, the higher-ranked team in each pairing (5 vs. 12, 6 vs. 11, 7 vs. 10, 8 vs. 9) will serve as host on campus. The winners advance to the quarterfinals and match up with the corresponding top-four conference champion based on seeding. Quarterfinal games will played at the Fiesta Bowl, Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. The semifinals – played at the Orange Bowl and Cotton Bowl Classic – will take place Jan. 9-10.
The two semifinal winners will play for the national championship Jan. 20 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. — Mark Giannotto
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