CITRUS BOWL: #22 KENTUCKY VS #15 IOWA
SATURDAY, JAN. 1, 2022 – 1 PM ET • ABC – ORLANDO, FLA.
CAMPING WORLD STADIUM
Iowa Hawkeyes Notes
1 – Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz is one bowl win shy of tying Joe Paterno (10) for most bowl wins as a member of the Big Ten Conference. Ferentz has a 9-8 bowl record and has led Iowa to three straight bowl wins, tying its longest such streak in program history. Ferentz’s nine bowl wins tie Barry Alvarez for second in Big Ten history.
2 – C Tyler Linderbaum is the 12th Hawkeye to earn unanimous consensus All-America status and the 28th Hawkeye to earn consensus All-America status. Linderbaum is the 2021 Rimington Trophy winner and was also selected as the 2021 Big Ten Conference Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year
3 – Iowa has won 15 straight games against non-conference opponents, including 12 regular season non-conference victories and three bowl wins. The nonconference win streak is the longest in the country. Iowa’s last nonconference loss was at the 2017 Outback Bowl (Florida, 30-3).
4 – Iowa has three wins this season over ranked opponents (vs. #17 Indiana, 34-6; at #9 Iowa State, 27-17; vs. #4 Penn State, 23-20).
5 – Iowa is playing for a trophy for the sixth time this season. The Hawkeyes are 3-2 in trophy games this season and 25-6 in their last 31 trophy games (includes bowl games and conference championship games).
6 – Iowa leads the country with a school-record 24 interceptions and ranks third nationally in takeaways (30). The Hawkeyes have 88 interceptions since 2017, more than any team in the country.
7 – LB/DB Dane Belton leads the B1G and ties for second in the NCAA lead with five interceptions. DB Riley Moss has four interceptions and DBs MaƩ Hankins and Jermari Harris have three interceptions. Eleven different Hawkeyes have at least one INT this season. Iowa is plus-19 in turnover margin in its 10 wins and minus-five in its three losses.
8 – LB Jack Campbell leads the Hawkeyes and ranks second in the Big Ten with 129 tackles. He is the first Hawkeye to record 100 tackles in a single season since Josey Jewell, who had 100+ tackles each year from 2015-17 (126, 124, 136). Campbell has four double-digit tackle performances (11, 18, 17, 16) this season.
9 – Charlie Jones is the Rodgers-Dwight Big Ten return specialists of the year. Jones ranks second in the Big Ten averaging 7.8 yards on a league-high 36 punt returns. He has returned 23 kickoff s for an average of 26.3 yards per return, No. 2 in the Big Ten.
10 – TE Sam LaPorta leads Iowa in receptions (46) and receiving yards (548). The last Hawkeye right end to lead the team in receptions and receiving yards was T.J. Hockenson in 2018 (49-760). LaPorta had a team-high 27 receptions in 2020.
IOWA TO MEET KENTUCKY AT VRBO CITRUS BOWL
The 15th-ranked University of Iowa football team will face No. 22 Kentucky in the 2022 Vrbo Citrus Bowl on Jan. 1 in Orlando, Florida. Kickoff is set for noon (CT) from Camping \World Stadium and the game will be televised on ABC. \The Hawkeyes will be making their 34th bowl game appearance and their second Citrus Bowl appearance (formerly the Capital One Bowl). Iowa defeated No. 11 LSU, 30-25, on an improbable Drew Tate-to-Warren Holloway 56-yard touchdown pass as time expired on Jan. 1, 2005.
The Hawkeyes have won three straight bowl games and are 25-6 in their last 31 trophy games (includes bowl games). Iowa defeated Boston College, 27-20, at the 2017 Pinstripe Bowl; No. 18 Mississippi State, 27-22, at the 2019 Outback Bowl; and No. 22 USC, 49-24, at the 2019 Holiday Bowl. Iowa was scheduled to face Missouri at the 2020 Music City Bowl but the game was canceled due to COVID.
The Hawkeyes have never faced Kentucky in program history. Iowa is 6-5 all-Ɵ me in bowl games against current Southeastern Conference opponents.
The Hawkeyes have been bowl-eligible 20 times in the last 21 seasons. Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz is one bowl win shy of tying Joe Paterno (10) for most bowl wins as a member of the Big Ten Conference. Ferentz has a 9-8 bowl record and has led Iowa to three straight bowl wins, tying its longest such streak in program history. Ferentz’s nine bowl wins tie Barry Alvarez for second in Big Ten history.
BIG TEN BOWL GAMES SINCE 2001
Iowa will play Kentucky at the 2021 VRBO Citrus Bowl on Jan. 1, 2022. The Hawkeyes have been bowl-eligible 20 times in the last 21 seasons. Iowa accepted an invitation to the 2020 Music City Bowl, but the game was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz is one bowl win shy of tying Joe Paterno (10) for most bowl wins as a member of the Big Ten Conference. Ferentz has a 9-8 bowl record and has led Iowa to three straight bowl wins, tying its longest such streak in program history. Ferentz’s nine bowl wins Ɵ e Barry Alvarez for second in Big Ten history. Seventeen coaches have won 10 or more bowl games in their career. Among active coaches, only Nick Saban (16), Mack Brown (14), Kyle Whittingham (11), Mike Gundy (10) and Dabo Swinney (10) have more bowl wins than Ferentz. Since the 2001 season, only Ohio State (11) and Wisconsin (10) have more bowl wins (including FCS Playoff s and the BCS championship game), than Iowa. Iowa is 17-15-1 all-time in bowl games.
SERIES HISTORY
Iowa and Kentucky are meeting for the first time in program history. Iowa is 12-14 all-time against members of the SEC, and 6-5 in bowl games against current members of the SEC.
Kentucky Wildcats Notes
STORYLINES ABOUND AS KENTUCKY FACES IOWA IN VRBO CITRUS BOWL
Kentucky is returning to the Vrbo Citrus Bowl and this time it will take on Iowa, the alma mater of head coach Mark Stoops, on New Year’s Day in Orlando. Game time is 1 p.m. ET and it will air on ABC and the UK Sports Network. The Wildcats defeated Penn State in the 2019 edition of the game following the 2018 season.
The Cats will be looking to extend their non-conference winning streak to 16 games, which is tied with Iowa for the longest active streak in the country. Both programs have won three straight bowl games, tied for the third-longest active streak in FBS.
Offensively, the Wildcats have been guided by quarterback Will Levis, who is completing 66.5 percent of his passes for 2,593 yards and 23 touchdowns. Levis’ top target has been Wan’Dale Robinson, who has 94 catches for 1,164 yards and six TDs. The ground game has been paced by Christopher Rodriguez Jr., who has rushed for 1,272 yards and eight scores. The trio is just the second in school history to reach 2,000 yards passing, 1,000 rushing and 1,000 receiving in the same season.
The Kentucky defense has been exceptional at times in 2021, with linebackers Jacquez Jones and DeAndre Square leading the team in tackles, while safety Yusuf Corker and defensive end Josh Paschal are among the SEC leaders in pass breakups and tackles for loss, respectively.
QUICK NOTES
• Kentucky is returning to the Vrbo Citrus Bowl for the second time in the past four seasons, having defeated Penn State, 27-24, on Jan. 1, 2019 to cap a 10-win season.
• UK is ranked No. 20 in the USA Today Coaches Poll and No. 25 in the Associated Press Poll. The Wildcats finished No. 22 in the final CFP rankings.
• Coach Mark Stoops is his ninth season in Lexington. He is 58-53 overall, ranking second in school history in victories behind Paul “Bear” Bryant (60).
• He recently inked a contract extension that will keep him in Lexington through June 2028 with amended financial terms.
• Stoops started his tenure 12-26 but has gone an impressive 46-27 (.630) since that time, moving over .500 for the first time in his term as head coach.
• UK is 11-9 all-time in bowl games. The Cats are appearing in a school-record sixth straight bowl.
BY THE NUMBERS
3 STRAIGHT BOWL WINS
6 STRAIGHT BOWL APPEARANCES
15 STRAIGHT WINS OVER NON-CONFERENCE OPPONENTS
32 WINS SINCE START OF 2018
58 COACH STOOPS CAREER WINS
2021 GAME NOTES
• UK has won 15 straight non-conference games, dating back to the 2017 Music City Bowl loss to Northwestern. It is tied for the longest such streak in FBS with Vrbo Citrus Bowl opponent Iowa
• UK’s 32 victories since the start of the 2018 season rank sixth-most in the SEC.
• Those 32 wins rank 16th among Power Five programs.
• Kentucky is 9-3 for the first time since 2018 and just the third time in the past 44 seasons (1984, 2018, 2021).
• It’s the first time since 1949-52 the Cats have had at least eight total victories three times in a four-year span.
• Kentucky finished 5-3 in the SEC for second place in the SEC Eastern Division. It marks the first time since the league split into divisions in 1992 that UK ends the season in sole possession of second place of the East. UK also has finished in a tie for second in the division on two other occasions, 2016 and 2018.
• All three second-place East finishes have been in the last six seasons under Mark Stoops.
• This is the second time since 1977 that UK has posted a winning record in league play, 5-3 this season and also in 2018.
• For just the second time in school history, UK has a 2,000-yard passer (Will Levis), 1,000-yard rusher (Chris Rodriguez Jr.) and 1,000-yard receiver (Wan’Dale Robinson) in a season – 2007 was the only other season (Andre’ Woodson, Rafael Little, Steve Johnson).
• In the regular season finale, Kentucky routed rival Louisville, 52-21, on the road. The Cats scored 31 unanswered points before the Cardinals scored a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter against the reserves … It was the fourth straight win for UK in the regular season finale, the first time it has done that since 1898-1901.
• The UK offense has scored a touchdown on its opening possession seven times in 12 games.
• Before falling at No. 1 Georgia on Oct. 16, Kentucky had won its previous eight games, marking the fifth-longest win streak in school history.
• Kentucky opened the season 6-0. UK’s previous 6-0 starts include 1950 (10-0), 1910 (7-0), 1903 (7-0) and 1898 (7-0).
• Kentucky started 4-0 in the SEC for the fourth time in school history (also 1949, 1950, 1977).
• The win over Florida was Kentucky’s first win over a AP top-10 team since a 31-28 win over South Carolina in 2010.
• The Wildcats have the third-most wins among SEC East schools from 2016-21 (46). Only Georgia (64) and Florida (48) have more.
• Kentucky has 11 players in school history who have rushed for at least 1,900 career yards. Four of those have come during Stoops’ tenure: Benny Snell Jr. (3,873), Chris Rodriguez Jr. (2,633), Stanley “Boom” Williams (2,511) and A.J. Rose (1,971).
• RB Chris Rodriguez Jr. is second in the SEC and 12th nationally with 106.0 rushing yards per game.
• WR Wan’Dale Robinson is second in the SEC and sixth nationally in receptions per game (7.8) and second in the conference, 15th nationally in receiving yards per game (97.0).
• Guided by defensive coordinator Brad White, UK is 10th in the FBS in fourth down defense (38.7%), 36th in tackles for loss (6.4 per game) and 25th in total defense (336.4).
• Kentucky is 17th nationally in rushing defense (117.2 per game).
• Senior defensive end Josh Paschal ranks second in the SEC and 16th nationally with 1.3 tackles for loss per game. He has 15.5 total TFL this season. His 37.0 tackles for loss in his career, ranks third in UK history. He has charted a TFL in 10 of 12 games, and eight in a row, tied for the second-longest such streak in school history.
• UK has allowed 30 or fewer points in 43 of the past 50 games.
• After entering the lineup in the third game of the season, senior Colin Goodfellow has emerged as one of the nation’s best punters, averaging 46.0 yards per kick.
• Jon Sumrall, UK co-defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach, was named head coach at Troy on Dec. 2. Sumrall will rejoin the Wildcats to coach the Vrbo Citrus Bowl.
• During Stoops’ tenure, the Wildcats have had nine different starting quarterbacks win a game in Jalen Whitlow, Maxwell Smith, Patrick Towles, Drew Barker, Stephen Johnson, Luke Wright, Lynn Bowden Jr., Terry Wilson and now Will Levis.
• Since 2016, UK is 19-8 (.704) in games decided by seven points or less.
• The Wildcats signed their highest-rated recruiting class in school history in 2022.
CATS CONTINUE TO CLIMB THE SEC LADDER
• Kentucky is 9-3 for the first time since 2018 and has clinched a winning record for the 2021 season.
• Kentucky is 5-3 in the SEC and finished in second place in the SEC Eastern Division.
• It is the first time since the league split into divisions in 1992 that UK ended the season in sole possession of second place of the East.
• UK also has finished in a tie for second in the division on two other occasions, 2016 and 2018.
ALL-TIME BOWL RESULTS
Great Lakes Bowl (Dec. 6, 1947)
UK 24, Villanova 14
Orange Bowl (Jan. 2, 1950)
Santa Clara 21, UK 13
Sugar Bowl (Jan. 1, 1951)
UK 13, Oklahoma 7
Cotton Bowl (Jan. 1, 1952)
UK 20, TCU 7
Peach Bowl (Dec. 31, 1976)
UK 21, North Carolina 0
Hall of Fame Bowl (Dec. 22, 1983)
West Virginia 20, UK 16
Hall of Fame Bowl (Dec. 29, 1984)
UK 20, Wisconsin 19
Peach Bowl (Dec. 31, 1993)
Clemson 14, UK 13
Outback Bowl (Jan. 1, 1999)
Penn State 26, UK 14
HomePoint.com Music City Bowl (Dec. 29, 1999)
Syracuse 20, UK 13
Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl (Dec. 29, 2006)
UK 28, Clemson 20
Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl (Dec. 31, 2007)
UK 35, Florida State 28
AutoZone Liberty Bowl (Jan. 2, 2009)
UK 25, East Carolina 19
Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl (Dec. 27, 2009)
Clemson 21, UK 13
BBVA Compass Bowl (Jan. 8, 2011)
Pittsburgh 27, UK 10
TaxSlayer Bowl (Dec. 31, 2016)
Georgia Tech 33, UK 18
Franklin Mortgage Music City Bowl (Dec. 29, 2017)
Northwestern 24, UK 23
VRBO Citrus Bowl (Jan. 1, 2019)
UK 27, Penn State 24
Belk Bowl (Dec. 31, 2019)
UK 37, Virginia Tech 30
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl (Jan. 2, 2021)
UK 23, NC State 21
KENTUCKY IN BOWL GAMES
• The Wildcats own an 11-9 all-time record in bowl games, including a 4-1 record under head coach Mark Stoops.
• UK is appearing in its school-record sixth straight bowl game.
• Kentucky has won three straight bowl games which is tied with Iowa for the third-longest active streak in FBS. The Cats defeated Penn State, Virginia Tech and N.C. State.
• This is UK’s second appearance in the Citrus Bowl during the six-year bowl run. The Cats ended their 10-win 2018 season in the VRBO Citrus Bowl in Orlando on Jan. 1, 2019, defeating Penn State, 27-24.
KENTUCKY VS. IOWA/BIG TEN
• This marks UK’s first meeting in school history against Big Ten member Iowa.
• Kentucky is 29-37-4 all-time against current Big Ten members.
• UK last faced a Big Ten opponent in 2018 in the Citrus Bowl, defeating Penn State, 27-24.
A UK WIN WOULD…
• Be Kentucky’s fourth consecutive bowl victory.
• Be Kentucky’s 16th consecutive non-conference victory, extending the nation’s longest active streak in FBS, dating to the beginning of the 2018 season.
• Boost UK to 21-3 in last 24 non-conference games dating to 2016.
• Give Coach Mark Stoops 59 career victories at UK, putting him just one win shy of tying Paul “Bear” Bryant for the school’s all-time winning coach.
• Give UK 10 wins for the second time in Stoops’ tenure as head coach (2018, 2021).
• Be just the fourth time in school history the Cats have won 10 games (1950, 1977, 2018,
2021).
• Give Kentucky six wins in 2021 vs. opponents who played in a bowl game.
• Improve UK to 30-35-5 all-time vs. current members of the Big Ten.
OFFENSE REACHING NEW HEIGHTS
• Kentucky’s offensive philosophy under new coordinator Liam Coen has been on full display this season as the Wildcats morphed from a heavy run attack to a more balanced, aggressive style.
• The shift has led to remarkable success in year one with Coen, who came to Lexington after spending time with the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams.
• UK is averaging 225.0 passing yards and 206.1 rushing yards per game, which is on pace to be the first season in school history to average at least 200 yards in both facets of the offense.
• UK is one of only 11 teams in the nation (one of only eight among Power 5 teams) that is averaging at least 200 rushing yards and 225 passing yards per game.
• The impressive balance hasn’t been smoke and mirrors either, as the unit is averaging 6.57 yards per play (5,173 in 787 plays) for the season. The number would represent the highest yards per play average for a single-season in school history, besting the 6.45 in 1998 with Tim Couch at the helm of Hal Mumme’s “Air Raid”.
• UK’s offense steadily improved throughout the season before exploding in the month of November, averaging 560.8 total yards per game in those four contests. The total was the highest of any Power Five team and second nationally only to Kent State (564.0).
• The offense had the highest 4+ yard rushing percentage of any team in nation, a hat tip to OL coach Eric Wolford’s group up front (source: SportSource Analytics). The Wildcats also lead the SEC in rushing yards per attempt with a 5.51 average.
• The 33.3 points per game this season currently ranks fourth in school history for a single-season.
• 707 total yards vs. New Mexico State is the second-highest total in school history.
• QB Will Levis (2,593 passing yards), RB Chris Rodriguez Jr. (1,272 rushing yards) and WR Wan’Dale Robinson (1,164 receiving yards) became just the second trio in school history to go 2000/1000/1000 in the same season. Andre’ Woodson (3,709 passing), Rafael Little (1,013 rushing) and Stevie Johnson (1,041 receiving) was the other in 2007.
• The explosiveness of the passing game has been breathtaking with 35 pass plays of at least 20 yards this season, seven of which are at least 40 yards. The combined totals from the 2019 and 2020 seasons were 36 pass plays of 20+ yards (four of them 40+ yards).
• Other individual records and accomplishments of note on offense include:
>> RB Chris Rodriguez Jr. tying the school record with eight 100-yard rushing games.
>> WR Wan’Dale Robinson setting the single-season school record with 94 receptions.
>> Robinson has the second-most receiving yards in a season and joins Randall Cobb as the only two players in school history with two games in their career of 12 or more catches.
>> K Matt Ruffolo setting the single-season school record for PATs with 52.
