TAMPA, Fla. — Mark Gronowski threw two touchdowns and rushed for another to lead No. 23 Iowa to a 34-27 win over No. 14 Vanderbilt in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Wednesday at Raymond James Stadium.

Powered by balanced offense, opportunistic defense, and clutch late play-calling, Iowa outlasted the SEC’s surging Commodores to finish 9-4 and earn one of the program’s signature postseason victories of the Kirk Ferentz era.

Gronowski — named the game’s MVP — was 16 of 22 passing for 212 yards, throwing touchdowns passes of 10 and 21 yards to Reece Vander Zee and DJ Vonnahme, respectively, as Iowa got out to a 21-3 lead early in the third quarter.

“I can’t thank coach (Kirk Ferentz) enough for giving me the opportunity to play here at the University of Iowa,” Gronowski said after the game. “It’s been a fantastic year. There’s been a lot of ups and downs, but to have a coach like that who builds a culture like we have — it’s been a lot of fun.”

But this wasn’t a blowout. Vanderbilt (10-3), led by Heisman Trophy runner-up Diego Pavia, struck back with explosive plays, including a 75-yard touchdown pass to Tre Richardson, and later a 16-yard strike to Joseph McVay, pulling the Commodores within striking distance. Pavia finished with 347 yards through the air and added a rushing touchdown, keeping Vanderbilt in the hunt.

The fourth quarter became a chess match. Gronowski’s 1-yard scoring run restored Iowa’s two-score cushion at 31-17, but Pavia refused to back down, answering with an 11-yard touchdown run to make it a one-possession game.

A 44-yard field goal by Drew Stevens — capping a marathon, clock-eating drive — provided essential breathing room, making the score 34-24. Vanderbilt added a late 37-yard field goal, but Iowa’s final defensive stand — including a decisive third-and-1 conversion by Xavier Williams — sealed the victory as time expired.

Pavia finished with 347 passing yards. Richardson caught six passes for 127 yards and Junior Sherrill had eight catches for 123 yards for Vanderbilt.

Vonnahme led the Hawkeyes with seven catches for 146 yards and Kamari Moulton rushed for 95 yards and a touchdown. Gronowski had 54 rushing yards.

For Hawkeye fans and the Iowa locker room, the win felt like redemption and a testament to the team’s resilience.

“We never went backwards,” head coach Kirk Ferentz said of his squad’s season-long arc. “To beat a ranked, 10-win SEC team like Vanderbilt, that’s truly gratifying. Our seniors can feel proud. There’s a lot to build on here.”

Ferentz, one of Iowa’s longest-serving and most respected coaches, has now guided the Hawkeyes to 11 bowl victories — a mark that reinforces Iowa’s consistent presence among the sport’s better programs.

Meanwhile, Vanderbilt — which set a school record with 10 wins this season — left Tampa disappointed but reflective. Commodores leader Pavia acknowledged the bittersweet nature of the season in his postgame remarks, saying it was “heartbreaking and sad” to finish this way yet expressing pride in his teammates and belief in Vanderbilt’s future potential.

This game marked Iowa’s first win over a ranked opponent since 2021, a point not lost on Hawkeye supporters who watched closely throughout the contest.

For Iowa, it was a signature end to the season — hard-earned, competitive, and emblematic of a squad built on teamwork, toughness, and tradition.

No. 23 Iowa, No. 14 Vanderbilt 27

Iowa 7 7 10 10 — 34

Vanderbilt 0 3 14 10 — 27

First Quarter

IOWA–Moulton 4 run (Stevens kick), 12:55.

Second Quarter

VAN–FG B.Taylor 41, 7:49.

IOWA–Vander Zee 10 pass from Gronowski (Stevens kick), :35.

Third Quarter

IOWA–Vonnahme 21 pass from Gronowski (Stevens kick), 8:50.

VAN–Richardson 75 pass from Pavia (B.Taylor kick), 8:37.

IOWA–FG Stevens 47, 3:54.

VAN–McVay 16 pass from Pavia (B.Taylor kick), 1:41.

Fourth Quarter

VAN–FG B.Taylor 37, :43.

IOWA–Gronowski 1 run (Stevens kick), 13:35.

VAN–Pavia 11 run (B.Taylor kick), 11:19.

IOWA–FG Stevens 44, 4:13.

A–35,382.

TEAM STATISTICS

IOWA VAN

First downs 19 21

Total Net Yards 379 398

Rushes-yards 37-167 22-51

Passing 212 347

Comp-Att-Int 16-22-1 25-38-0

Sacked-Yards Lost 2-14 5-40

Punts 3-49.0 3-48.0

Fumbles-Lost 1-0 1-0

Penalties-Yards 5-53 10-53

Time of Possession 29:26 43:19

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

RUSHING–Iowa, Moulton 14-95, Gronowski 10-54, Williams 5-25, Wetjen 2-3. Vanderbilt, Pavia 15-36, Alexander 3-7.

PASSING–Iowa, Gronowski 16-22-1-212. Vanderbilt, Pavia 25-38-0-347.

RECEIVING–Iowa, Vonnahme 7-146, Vander Zee 4-33, Gill 2-18. Vanderbilt, Sherrill 8-123, Richardson 6-127, Alexander 3-19, Brown 3-15, Spence 2-31.