Iowa Invited to Outback Bowl

Dec. 8, 2013

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa has accepted an invitation to participate in the 2014 Outback Bowl in Tampa, Fla., where the Hawkeyes will meet 15th-ranked LSU (9-3) of the Southeastern Conference. The Outback Bowl is scheduled for noon (CT) on Wednesday, Jan. 1. The game will be televised by ESPN from Raymond James Stadium (65,657).

The Hawkeyes are making their fourth appearance in the Outback Bowl, having defeated South Carolina (31-10) following the 2008 season and Florida (37-17) after the 2003 campaign, and lost to Florida following the 2005 season (31-24). Iowa has posted a 14-11-1 record in 26 previous bowl appearances, including winning three of its last four bowl games.

Iowa posted an 8-4 record in 2013, including a 5-3 record in Big Ten play, and finished in a tie for second in the Legends Division. The Hawkeyes won four of their last five regular season contests, finishing on a three-game win streak. Iowa’s schedule included seven games against teams that are bowl eligible. LSU (9-3) finished its conference slate 5-3 and placed third in the SEC West Division.

Iowa and LSU have met just once on the football field, with the Hawkeyes winning in dramatic fashion, 30-25, in the 2005 Capital One Bowl in Orlando, Fla. Iowa’s Warren Holloway caught a 56-yard touchdown from quarterback Drew Tate as time expired to upend the Tigers. The Hawkeyes are 4-1 against current SEC teams in bowl games under coach Kirk Ferentz having beaten Florida (2004 Outback), LSU (2005 Capital One), South Carolina (2009 Outback) and Missouri (2010 Insight) when the Tigers were members of the Big 12. Iowa lost to Florida in the 2006 Outback.

Iowa ranks third amongst Big Ten teams in bowl appearances and is bowl eligible for the 12th time under coach Kirk Ferentz. Iowa has posted a 6-4 bowl record under Ferentz, including wins in four of six January bowl games. Since the 2001 season, no Big Ten team has won more bowl games or has a higher winning percentage in bowl games than Iowa.

Outback Bowl ticket information is available at hawkeyesports.com, or by contacting the UI Athletics Ticket Office at 1-800-IA-HAWKS. Most of the tickets are $80, although a few club seats are available on a limited basis at $170. Kinnick Society and Champion Club members have the first opportunity at purchasing club tickets, while others have an opportunity to request a ticket upgrade when placing their order.

The UI Athletics Department encourages Hawkeye fans to purchase their bowl game tickets through the UI Athletics Ticket Office. By doing so, fans will help the UI Athletics Department meet its obligation to the bowl game by selling the full allotment of tickets it assumes responsibility for when the UI accepts its invitation to participate.

Another important benefit of purchasing your bowl game tickets through the UI Athletics Ticket Office is, by doing so, fans know they will be “sitting among friends” on game day.

The deadline to place a ticket order and have your seat assignments determined by your ticket priority is Sunday, Dec. 15. There is a limit of 10 tickets per order. Current UI students are reminded to order their game tickets through their online account with the UI Athletics Ticket Office.

Hawkeye fans seeking a turn-key travel alternative to the bowl game destination have two options: they can travel on the official UI Alumni Association tour (hawkeyesportstravel.com) or on the official tour offered by Winebrenner Red Carpet Travel (winebrenner.com).