Can you hear it? Missouri Tigers ready to take on Iowa Hawkeyes in Music City Bowl
As No. 19 Mizzou looks to put the finishing touches on what the team hopes to be a second straight double-digit-win season, a stout Iowa defense stands in its way.
The Hawkeyes, who finished the season on a two-game win streak, enter Monday afternoon’s Music City Bowl against the Tigers with an 8-4 record. The two teams have played each other 13 times, with Missouri coming out on top in seven of those showdowns.
The last meeting between the two programs was in the 2010 Insight Bowl, a game the Hawkeyes won 27-24. Missouri and Iowa were originally slated to meet in the 2020 Music City Bowl, but the game was canceled because of COVID cases within the Tigers’ program.
Iowa came out on top in four of the final five games of the regular season, and the team’s defense excelled during that stretch, allowing just 12.8 points per game. Across the entire season, the Hawkeyes allowed an average of 13.4.
The unit ranks 15th nationally in yards allowed per game (313.6), 26th in rush yards allowed per game (117.5) and 36th in pass yards allowed per game (196.1). Iowa has the fifth-highest-graded defense in the country, according to Pro Football Focus.
The Hawkeyes’ defense is led by first-team All-America linebacker Jay Higgins. Higgins has spent all five seasons at Iowa, and Monday’s matchup against Missouri will be the final game he plays with the Hawkeyes.
In 2024, Higgins led his team in tackles, recording 35 more than Iowa’s next-best tackler. In addition to his 118 total tackles, the star linebacker also racked up 2 1/2 tackles for loss, one sack, four interceptions, five passes defended and two forced fumbles.
His four interceptions rank as the second-most among linebackers behind only Buffalo’s Shaun Dolac (five), a player the Tigers have already seen this season.
According to PFF, Higgins is the 13th-highest-graded defender in the country (90.9). In three consecutive games in October — against Ohio State, Washington and Michigan State — he recorded 14 total tackles in each outing.
He is the unquestioned leader of the Hawkeyes’ defense, but he has help: Senior Ethan Hurkett, junior Max Llewellyn and junior Aaron Graves anchor a strong defensive line.
Hurkett finished the regular season with 6 1/2 sacks, while Graves had six and Llewellyn 5 1/2. Finding ways to limit Higgins will be important for Missouri, but the game will be won and lost in the trenches.
The Tigers’ offensive line will be short-staffed. Starting center Connor Tollison has been sidelined since suffering a season-ending knee injury Nov. 9 win against Oklahoma, but senior Drake Heismeyer has filled in well.
Right tackle Armand Membou opted out of playing in the bowl game in favor of preparing for the NFL Draft. The Lee’s Summit North High School product has arguably had the best season of any of Missouri’s offensive players, and his presence will be missed against Iowa.
Mitchell Walters will likely fill his spot. Walters has played snaps at left guard, right guard and right tackle this season and grades out as the team’s fifth-best pass blocker, according to PFF. Missouri will be short-handed, yes, but not inexperienced.
The Tigers’ offense was not explosive during the regular season but did put up at least 28 points in each of its final three games. Iowa’s defense has allowed 28 or more points just twice all season.
In October, Ohio State scored 35 points in a blowout win over the Hawkeyes. Iowa only got to the quarterback for a sack one time, and the Buckeyes ran for more than 200 yards.
Mizzou needs to control the line of scrimmage Monday, both to protect quarterback Brady Cook in the pocket and clear lanes for running backs Nate Noel and Marcus Carroll.
The Hawkeyes’ defense is stingy but not impenetrable. As the Tigers look for their 10th win of the year, the MU offense will need to dominate up front.
Copyright 2024 Columbia Missourian
This story was originally published December 29, 2024 at 12:21 PM.