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The Kentucky Wildcats and Iowa Hawkeyes will face off in a bowl game for the second time this year, this one being the 2022 TransPerfect Music City Bowl. Game time is set for noon ET on December 31st via ABC. Stream the game online with WatchESPN, ESPN+ and the ESPN app.
This game will come one year after the two programs played in a thrilling Citrus Bowl that saw Will Levis and the Wildcats score a 21-17 comeback victory.
However, both teams will look significantly different in Round 2, as Levis is sitting out of the bowl to prepare for the 2023 NFL Draft, while regular Iowa starter Spencer Petras is out due to injury, and his backup is now in the transfer portal, leaving third-stringer Joey Labas to make his first collegiate start, while true freshman Destin Wade likely gets the starting nod for Kentucky.
In case you were unaware, neither of these players have attempted a college pass.
Of course, we already knew what kind of defensive struggle this game is poised to be.
The Music City Bowl will feature:
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) December 7, 2022
- Two offenses outside the top 100 in scoring
- Two top-15 scoring defenses
- Iowa's 3rd string QB
- Kentucky's backup QB
- Few first-string receivers
This game is going to be a beautiful mess.
Among the other players to opt out of this game include running back Chris Rodriguez Jr., cornerback Carrington Valentine, and Iowa safety Kaevon Merriweather.
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Go Cats!!!