Iowa's game plan for the ReliaQuest Bowl could reportedly get a whole lot easier.
The Hawkeyes are fully immersed in their Bowl preparation for New Year's Eve, and they know Vanderbilt will be a challenging opponent.
Kirk Ferentz acknowledged that Vanderbilt's offense will be hard to stop with Diego Pavia at the helm, especially with everything he brings to the table.
Pavia, the Heisman runner-up, finished the regular season with 3,192 passing yards and 27 touchdowns, while adding 826 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on the ground.
Pavia's dual-threat ability was on full display this season, and the Hawkeyes will have the challenging task of containing one of the top quarterbacks in college football.
With the challenges that Pavia presents, the Iowa defense needs all the help it can get, and that could come to fruition after an announcement that a key player on the Commodores' offense is expected to opt out of the Bowl game.
Vanderbilt All-American tight end Eli Stowers is expected to opt out of the ReliaQuest Bowl against Iowa, sources tell @CBSSports. pic.twitter.com/TkZu647HlL
— Brandon Marcello (@bmarcello) December 21, 2025
According to CBS Sports' Brandon Marcello, All-American tight end Eli Stowers is expected to opt out of the ReliaQuest Bowl to prepare for the 2026 NFL Draft.
Stowers' absence would be a huge loss for the Commodores as he is a favorite target and security blanket for Pavia.
During the regular season, Stowers compiled 769 receiving yards and four touchdowns on 62 receptions and was the John Mackey Award recipient.
The Mackey Award is given annually to the top tight end in college football.
For the Iowa defense, it gives them one less weapon on the outside to worry about, and it will hurt the Vanderbilt running game because Stowers also excels at blocking.
Vanderbilt's loss could turn into a big advantage for the Hawkeyes' defense.