Anchor Downed: Takeaways as Iowa football topples Vanderbilt

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After a season filled with close calls and heartbreaking finishes, Iowa got to be on the right side of a game against a ranked opponent to ring in the New Year.

The Hawkeyes went toe-to-toe with Vanderbilt and came out on top in a thrilling 34-27 victory in the 2025 ReliaQuest Bowl. This was a game of two halves, as the Iowa defense dominated in the opening 30 minutes, and the offense responded in the second half to every Commodore score.

Stars were born, legacies were defined, and the Hawkeyes go out on top to end the 2025 season 9-4. Here's what we learned from Iowa's exciting bowl win over Vanderbilt.

Mark Gronowski is a winner

If you just look at the box score, it would be easy to be unimpressed with Mark Gronowski. He didn't throw for a large number of yards or touchdowns, but he made key winning plays all season. Iowa didn't get the results in the big games earlier this year, but they finally did on Wednesday. And Gronowski is one of the biggest reasons why. He finished the ReliaQuest Bowl going 16-22 for 212 yards and two touchdowns, while adding 54 rushing yards and a score on the ground. But the play that defines Gronkowski's character doesn't appear in the box score.

Late in the second quarter, he was sacked and fumbled, and Vanderbilt jumped on the ball. It looked like a game-changing turnover until the replay showed Gronowski ripped the ball away from the defensive lineman to keep possession. It's that kind of effort that defines what Gronowski has brought to Iowa City this season. He's a gritty gamer who always seems to make the right play. He'll be missed next season, but his contribution to the program will never be forgotten.

DJ Vonnahme is the next great Iowa tight end

If DJ Vonnahme's late-season push didn't convince you he's a star in the making, then his performance in the ReliaQuest Bowl certainly did. The redshirt freshman tight end was electric, with seven receptions for 146 yards and a touchdown against Vanderbilt. He made big catches on third down, showed some impressive elusiveness to pick up YAC, and was the go-to guy all afternoon for Gronowski.

He ends the 2025 season as Iowa's leading receiver, with 29 receptions for 434 yards and three touchdowns. Vonnahme is a great story, as he was a walk-on last year and just put on scholarship before the 2025 season kicked off. He was the fourth tight end to begin the season, but an injury to Addison Ostrenga opened the door for more playing time, and Vonnahme took advantage of the opportunity. He's going to be a good one in Iowa City for years to come.

The pass rush affected Diego Pavia

While Diego Pavia's final stat line looks great, the Iowa defense did a lot of great things early on to slow him down. The Hawkeyes had four sacks in the game, with two coming from senior linebacker Karson Sharar and another 1.5 from senior edge rusher Ethan Hurkett. Phil Parker brought the heat, and Iowa made life very difficult for the Heisman Trophy runner-up in the first half.

Pavia found his rhythm in the second half and made some big plays, but all those early hits were definitely taking a toll on him. He wasn't the runner he normally is, finishing with just 36 rushing yards on 15 attempts. And he left a few passes short, which could've led to a few Iowa interceptions. The pass rush did its job in the first half, and Iowa was able to hang on to win. This was a nice way for Sharar, Hurkett, and the rest of the defensive seniors to go out.

This Hawkeye team is special

Some teams have a special place in fans' hearts long after the year is over, and I think this 2025 Iowa football team will be that for a lot of people. While this will ultimately be a season of what-ifs, given the number of close losses to ranked teams, this is a really beloved football team. They were tough and gritty, and seemed to play their best football when the chips were down. The Hawkeyes gave it their all every single weekend for Kirk Ferentz and the fans, and it was easy to see.

And now they get to go out on their terms, with a big bowl win over a ranked opponent, finally getting that monkey off their backs. A nine-win season is nothing to scoff at, especially when the team getting those wins gave you a fun, competitive game every week. The Hawkeyes showed on New Year's Eve that they're a really, really good football team, and I think once the dust settles, fans will remember this team very fondly. This was a fun and exciting season to be an Iowa football fan.

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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Anchor Downed: Takeaways as Iowa football topples Vanderbilt

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