Football: Three takeaways from Vanderbilt’s ReliaQuest Bowl defeat – The Vanderbilt Hustler

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No. 14 Vanderbilt Football closed out its historic season with a 34-27 loss against No. 23 Iowa in the ReliaQuest Bowl on New Year’s Eve. The Commodores failed to rally from a 17-point deficit as quarterback Mark Gronowski led the Hawkeyes to its first ranked victory of the season. Gronowski also secured MVP honors after posting 266 total yards and 3 touchdowns.  
Coming out flat 
Whether it was being left out of the College Football Playoff or some late holiday weariness, the Vanderbilt Commodores looked shockingly flat and disinterested. Especially in the first half, it seemed as if Iowa merely wanted it more, and it showed in all phases of play. By the time Vanderbilt decided to wake up, the Commodores already trailed 20-3, and that proved to be a margin difficult to overcome.  
Iowa outran Vanderbilt 174-51, while also going 6-for-11 on third downs compared to Vanderbilt’s 2-for-9. Pavia was sacked four times in the first two quarters, and for the entirety of the game, Vanderbilt looked to be outmatched in the trenches. Iowa controlled the time of possession, the pace of play and executed its game plan without stout resistance from the Commodores until a margin had finally been established. 
Overall, after such a stellar season stock full of highlight performances from the Commodores, the ReliaQuest Bowl was an unsatisfying and uninspiring way to close out the year. 
Playmaking question marks 
Without star tight end Eli Stowers playing in the ReliaQuest Bowl, it became evident that Vanderbilt will desperately need to shop for a big-time playmaker in the transfer portal this offseason. Although wide receivers Junior Sherill and Tre Richardson have been consistent this year, there will be a substantial hole left behind in the offense without Stowers.  
The Vanderbilt receiving corps had their moments during the game, which included a massive 75-yard homerun touchdown by Richardson and a 16-yard reception over the middle for a touchdown by Joseph McVay. But, regardless, it’s apparent that Vanderbilt needs a weapon to serve as an every-down trump card, much like how Stowers was this season.  
What this is dependent on is whether or not Richardson or Sherill can make a substantial jump in the offseason. Yet, what is even more likely is that Vanderbilt will do some extensive shopping in the portal for a big-name wide receiver to truly bolster the offense. Especially with five-star recruit Jared Curtis expected to compete for the starting job, setting the young quarterback up with a true star wideout would do wonders for the offense going into next season. 
Pavia’s case for the big leagues 
Despite the outcome, quarterback Diego Pavia played quite well. The graduate signal caller went 25-for-38 with 347 passing yards, adding in 36 rushing yards and 3 total touchdowns. Beyond his usual knack for explosive plays and dynamic creativity, Pavia showed qualities more consistent with a quarterback who wants to play at the next level. 
While Pavia did miss a few throws, he did have a handful of gems, specifically when hitting targets far downfield. Pairing that with moments of poise in the pocket and guiding himself through his progressions efficiently, Pavia showcased a bit more of his skillset. Pavia, for the most part, is considered to be a fringe Day 3 pick in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft in April. However, between the blistering stats he put up in November and a relatively solid outing against an Iowa defense ranked in the top ten nationally, Pavia may see his stock climb.  
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