COLUMBIA, Mo. – The University of Missouri will play in its 37th bowl game when it meets Iowa in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl on Monday, December 30 in Nashville.
Kickoff between the No. 19 Tigers and the Hawkeyes is set for 1:30 p.m. CT with ESPN and Tiger Radio Network providing coverage.
The meeting on the gridiron between Mizzou (9-3) and Iowa (8-4) will mark the first since 2010 and the 14th in the series history with the Tigers holding the slim 7-6 advantage on the previous 13 matchups.
“It’s an honor to be selected to participate in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl,” Mizzou head coach Eliah Drinkwitz said. “We’re looking forward to the opportunity to play at Nissan Stadium in Nashville. It’s a great market for our alumni and fanbase and I know we’ll have an excited crowd. Our team has worked extremely hard to achieve this goal, and we are looking forward to preparing and playing against a terrific Iowa squad. I’m just thankful I get to coach this special group of men for one more game this season.”
This season, Mizzou achieved its 15th perfect season at Memorial Stadium and first undefeated mark at home since 2010. The Tigers also sold out all seven home games on its 2024 schedule, marking the first time they reached the feat since 1979. In addition, Mizzou earned its 10th nine-win campaign and accomplished the mark in back-to-back seasons for the third time in program lore after going 11-2 in 2023 (2007-08 & 2013-14).
The Tigers rank in the top-25 in numerous offensive and defensive categories such as third down conversion percentage, third down conversion percentage defense, time of possession, fumbles recovered, fumbles lost, scoring defense and red zone offense.
Offensively, the Tigers are led by quarterback Brady Cook, who holds a 25-13 record as Mizzou’s starter to rank tied with Brad Smith for the second-most victories in program history. He’s converted on 183-of-289 (.633) pass attempts for 2,248 yards this season, while adding 169 rushing yards on 73 carries. Wide receiver Theo Wease Jr. leads the team in receiving yards with a career-high 809 on 55 receptions with three touchdowns. The running back duo of Nate Noel and Marcus Carroll led the ground game with 804 and 578 rushing yards, respectively. Noel ranks fourth in the SEC in rushing yards per game (80.40), fifth in rushing yards, and ninth in yards per rush (5.12), while Carroll sits fourth in the conference and tied for 32nd nationally with 12 rushing touchdowns.
Defensively, linebackers Corey Flagg Jr. and Triston Newson lead the team in tackles with 76 and 64, respectively. Additionally, defensive end Johnny Walker Jr. holds the longest sack streak nationally (six consecutive games) and ranks 29th in the country and tied for eighth in the SEC with 0.63 sacks per game. The Tampa, Fla., native is also 21st nationally and tied for fifth in the SEC with 0.25 forced fumbles per outing after recording three during the regular season.
“On behalf of our Board of Directors, staff and volunteers we look forward to welcoming the Hawkeyes and Tigers to Music City for our 27th annual TransPerfect Music City Bowl,” TransPerfect Music City Bowl President and CEO Scott Ramsey said. “This year’s game will showcase two teams that won a combined 17 games in the two strongest conferences in the country, and we expect a great turnout of fans flooding Nashville.”
Mizzou holds an all-time record of 16-20 in bowl games and is coming off a 14-3 victory over Ohio State in the 88th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic last season.
The Tigers have also appeared in the Christmas Festival (1925), Orange (1940, 1960, 1961 & 1970), Sugar Bowl (1942 & 1966), Cotton Bowl (1946, 2008, 2014 & 2023), Gator Bowl (1949, 1950 & 1968), Bluebonnet Bowl (1962), Fiesta Bowl (1972), Sun Bowl (1973 & 2006), Liberty Bowl (1978, 1980 & 2018), Hall of Fame Bowl (1979), Holiday Bowl (1983 & 1997), Insight Bowl (1998 & 2010), Independence Bowl (2003, 2005 & 2011), Alamo Bowl (2008), Texas Bowl (2009 & 2017), Tangerine/Citrus Bowl (1981 & 2015), Armed Forces Bowl (2021) and Gasparilla Bowl (2022). Mizzou was also invited to participate in the Music City Bowl in 2020, but the game was cancelled due to Covid-19.
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