Nashville, TN. (BCSNN) — The 2024 TransPerfect Music City Bowl, featuring the No. 19 Missouri Tigers of the SEC and the Big Ten's Iowa Hawkeyes, lived up to hype in a close one that saw Missouri emerge victorious with a narrow 27-24 win over Iowa.
The victory gave Missouri head coach Eliah Drinkwitz his 38th win at the school, the most by any coach in his first five seasons with the Tigers.
“It’s something that they should take a lot of pride in back-to-back seasons," Drinkwitz said. "Finishing ranked is an unbelievable accomplishment for our program and really, really proud of them.”
Mizzou led in total yards, accumulating 376 yards compared to Iowa's 297 yards. The Tigers' defense was particularly strong in the second half, holding Iowa to just one field goal and forcing the only turnover of the game on Iowa quarterback Brendan Sullivan. Iowa started strong with a 5-6 third-down efficiency in the first half but faltered in the second half, finishing 6-13.
The game was marked by a record-breaking performance from Missouri kicker Blake Craig, who broke the Music City Bowl record with a 56-yard field goal in the fourth quarter. Earlier in the quarter, he also split the uprights from 51-yards out. The Tiger offense was balanced, excelling both on the ground and in the air.
Missouri quarterback Brady Cook was named the game's MVP, finishing with 287 total yards, averaging nine yards per play, and scoring two touchdowns. Wide receiver Joshua Manning would score Mizzou's only rushing touchdown of the game on Manning's only touch of the game - a four yard scamper into the endzone.
“We knew we were going to and getting that 10th win and leaving our legacy and going out with a win, going out winning a championship — no matter what the championship is, we won a championship today,” said Music City Bowl MVP Brady Cook. "And that’s what we want to do every single year.”
On the Iowa side, running backs Kamari Moulton and Jazmin Patterson stepped up following Kaleb Johnson's entry into the NFL draft. Moulton ended the game with 96 yards and a touchdown, averaging 6.9 yards per carry, while Patterson contributed 74 yards, averaging 8.2 yards per carry.
Defensively, Missouri's Corey Flagg Jr. and Daylan Carnell made crucial plays. Flagg Jr. leaped over the Hawkeyes' offensive line to slow down Sullivan on a fourth-down play with 51 seconds left, allowing Carnell to make the tackle and secure the turnover on downs.
With the win, Missouri finishes the 2024 season with a 10-3 record, while Iowa ended with an 8-5 record.
