NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The University of Iowa football team fell to No. 19 Missouri, 27-24, in the 2024 Transperfect Music City Bowl on Monday afternoon at Nissan Stadium.

Iowa was outscored, 13-3, in the second half.

Brendan Sullivan finished the day completing 14-of-18 passes for 131 yards and adding one touchdown and one interception.

The Hawkeyes outrushed Missouri 166-89 and were led by Kamari Moulton (14 att, 96 yards) and Jaziun Patterson (9 att, 74 yards).

Three Hawkeyes had three receptions: Jarriet Buie, Jacob Gill and Terrell Washington Jr.

Defensively, Nick Jackson recorded a team-high eight tackles. Deontae Craig had five tackles (four solo), including four tackles for loss and two sacks.

QUOTING KIRK FERENTZ

"Obviously, we are disappointed with the outcome. We were competing tonight.  I think our guys played with good effort. I thought they prepared and practiced well getting ready for the bowl game.  Bottom line, and it's what I told them in the locker room, we didn't play well enough to expect to win against a good, ranked team.

I think three keys to me that made a difference: penalties, probably had a few more than we're used to. One costly one there certainly in the second half.  That was a judgment penalty, and that's disappointing.  Turnover take-away margin, we came up short in that, and that's not good for any football team.  Certainly not us.  Same thing with third-down conversions.  I think probably the biggest differentiating thing there I would point out, we were clean in the first half turnover-wise, and then had the one pick.  It came at a bad time.  There's never a good time, but we had the ball at midfield.  Then the third down situation.  We were 4-out-of-5 in the first half, and that was a point of emphasis. Then we were 6-of-13 overall, which you can do the math on that.  That's 1-of-8 in the second half.  That's pertinent.  

These guys are a highly-ranked team penalty-wise and a highly-ranked team turnover and take-away margin.  They've done a good job on third down conversions and third down defense.  I think in the first half we did a good job of minimizing those yardages, if you will, and were able to stay on the field a little better.  Obviously, it didn't happen in the second half.  It became a big deal as well.  It's disappointing.  In the final minutes we just didn't have what it took to get it done, so that's disappointing.  Give credit to Missouri.  They played a really good football game.  They're a good team, and we give them credit.  

Two things I just told the team in the locker room: I appreciate their effort, and we just didn't play well enough to win.  Then, most importantly, probably is just thanking our seniors.  We had a great group of 20-plus seniors that did a great job for us during their entire careers. A lot of good things this season.  A lot of really positives, and this one is going to sting for a little bit."

PHOTOS

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After stopping the Tigers on their opening drive, Iowa scored on a six-yard pass from QB Brendan Sullivan to RB Terrell Washington, Jr. Sullivan converted a crucial third down early in the drive, connecting with TE Addison Ostrenga for 29 yards.
• Iowa’s opening drive was eight plays, 70 yards and took 4:32 off the clock.
• Missouri responded with a 10-play, 85-yard touchdown drive to tie the game with 2:12 remaining in the first quarter.
• On the ensuing kickoff, return specialist Kaden Wetjen scurried 100 yards to the end zone to give Iowa a 14-7 lead late in the first quarter.
• The Tigers tied the game at 14-14 on a seven-play, 75-yard drive early in the second quarter.
• With 0:49 remaining in the first half, RB Kamari Moulton plunged into the end zone from one yard out to give Iowa a 21-14 lead, capping an 11-play, 90-yard drive.
• K Drew Stevens extended the Hawkeyes’ lead to 24-14 on a 38-yard field goal with 5:19 remaining in the third quarter.
• Missouri cut Iowa’s lead to 24-21 on a four-yard run with 1:49 left to play in the third, tied the game with a 51-yard field goal in the fourth and gained the lead with 4:24 remaining on a 56-yard field goal.
• The Hawkeyes were unsuccessful on a fourth-and-one quarterback sneak and turned the ball over on downs with 1:03 left to play.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

• KR Kaden Wetjen – in his first career start -- had a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the first quarter – tying the longest kickoff return in school history and the program’s longest since 2021 (Charlie Jones).
  • Wetjen is the fifth Hawkeye all-time to have a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
  • It is Wetjen’s first career kickoff return touchdown and his second special teams score this season (punt return vs. Northwestern).
  • It ties Iowa’s longest bowl game kickoff return in the record books, tying C.J. Jones against USC in the 2003 Orange Bowl.
  • It ties the Music City Bowl kickoff return record -- LSU’s Leonard Fournette’s 100-yard return in 2014.
  • Wetjen had three returns for 151 yards, averaging 50.33 yards per return, which is an Iowa bowl game record.
  • He also had 180 all-purpose yards in the game (151 kickoff, 16 punt, 13 receiving).
• QB Brendan Sullivan completed 14-of-18 attempts for 131 yards and one touchdown and one interception.
• RB Kamari Moulton recorded 96 yards on 14 attempts with one touchdown – his third rushing touchdown of the season.
  • He had a 38-yard run in the second quarter – his fourth 20+ yard rush of the season.
• RB Jaziun Patterson finished with 74 yards on nine attempts.
• RB Terrell Washington, Jr., had a 6-yard touchdown reception on Iowa’s opening possession – his first career touchdown.
• LB Nick Jackson finished with eight tackles, giving him 555 tackles for his career – the most by a Power 4 player and the second-most in FBS history.
  • Jackson played in an NCAA record 73 career games with 60 starts.
  • LB Jay Higgins finished with six tackles, giving him 124 tackles this season and 341 tackles in his Hawkeye career – the 14th most in program history.
• DL Deontae Craig had a career-high two sacks and three TFL.
• K Drew Stevens made a 38-yard field goal in the third quarter, making him 20-of-23 for the season.
  • It was his 20th make of the season (sixth most in a single season in program history) and the 54th make of his career, tying Rob Houghtlin for the third-most in the record books.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

• The Hawkeyes drove 70 yards over eight plays – the longest first drive of the season -- on their opening drive to score an opening touchdown. It is the second time this season Iowa has scored a touchdown on its first possession (third game-opening scoring drive of the year).
• Iowa had an 11-play, 90-yard scoring drive late in the second quarter – its longest drive (by yards) of the season.
• The Hawkeyes’ 21 first-half points were a season high.

UP NEXT

Iowa will open the 2025 season on Aug. 30, hosting Albany inside Kinnick Stadium.