Citrus Bowl Live Updates: No. 21 Tennessee 35, No. 17 Iowa 0, Final

Happy New Year’s and happy Tennessee football game day. The Vols are back in a New Year’s Day bowl game for the first time since 2016, with facing Iowa in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl at Camping World Stadium in Orlando. The game is set for a 1 p.m. Eastern Time kickoff and will be televised by ABC.

Follow along for live updates before, during and after today’s game on The General’s Quarters

Iowa (10-3) capped a 10-win regular season with a win at Nebraska on November 24, then lost to No. 1 Michigan 26-0 a week later in the Big Ten championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. 

Tennessee (8-4) wrapped up its regular season with a 48-24 win over Vanderbilt on Senior Day at Neyland Stadium on November 25, bouncing back from back-to-back losses at Missouri and at home against Georgia.

The last New Year’s Day appearance for the Vols was the 45-6 win over Northwestern on January 1, 2016 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. 

First Quarter

Tennessee 0, Iowa 0 (10:11, 1Q): After forcing an Iowa three-and-out to open the game, Nico Iamaleava threw for 9 yards on first down and rushed for a first down before the run was called back due to holding. A false start followed and the drive stalled, ending with a Jackson Ross punt that went just 26 yards.

Tennessee 0, Iowa 0 (4:55, 1Q): Iowa drove 43 yards to the Tennessee 4-yard line, but on third down quarterback Deacon Hill was intercepted in the end zone by Tennessee’s Andre Turrentine to eliminate the Hawkeye scoring threat.

Second Quarter

Tennessee 7, Iowa 0 (14:54, 2Q): Touchdown, Nico. Touchdown, Tennessee. Iamaleava started the second quarter with a 19-yard touchdown run up the middle to open the scoring. It capped a seven-play, 73-yard touchdown drive that covered 2:13. Iamaleava before the touchdown had completed 4 of 8 passes for 42 yards and rushed three times for seven yards.

Tennessee 14, Iowa 0 (8:12, 2Q): Another Nico touchdown. Another touchdown on the ground. This time Iamaleava ran three yards to double Tennessee’s lead and give him two rushing touchdowns in the second quarter. The drive went 68 yards on 11 plays and included one fourth-and-1 conversion by freshman running back Cameron Seldon.

Third Quarter

Tennessee 21, Iowa 0 (1:43, 3Q): After both teams traded a pair of punts, Tennessee sacked Iowa’s Deacon Hill at the 3-yard line, forcing a fumble and recovering it. Nico Iamaleava cashed in the turnover two plays later, running two yards for his third rushing touchdown of the day.

Fourth Quarter

Tennessee 28, Iowa 0 (14:15, 4Q): James Pearce is more than just a pass rusher. Tennessee’s leader in sacks and tackles for loss this season picked off Iowa quarterback Deacon Hill early in the fourth quarter and returned the interception 52 yards for a touchdown.

Tennessee 35, Iowa 0 (4:48, 4Q): Nico Iamaleava threw his second career touchdown pass for Tennessee and for the second time it was tight end McCallan Castles on the receiving end. Castles caught an 18-yard touchdown pass from Iamaleava in the fourth quarter to give Tennessee a 35-0 lead, capping a seven-play, 78-yard touchdown drive. It gave Iamaleava 178 total yards and four total touchdowns, with 151 passing and 27 rushing, including three rushing touchdowns. 

No. 21 Tennessee vs. No. 17 Iowa: How To Watch

Kickoff Time: Monday, January 1, 1 p.m. Eastern Time

TV: ABC

Streaming: FuboTV

Radio: WNML-FM 99.1 in Knoxville. The Vol Network radio broadcast can be heard on local affiliates across the state of Tennessee. 

Location: Camping World Stadium (60,219)