College Football: No. 15 Iowa falls to No. 22 Ketucky, 20-17, in Citrus Bowl

ORLANDO – Kentucky (10-3) defeated Iowa (10-4), 20-17, on Saturday at Camping World Stadium at the 2022 Vrbo Citrus Bowl.

Iowa’s offense was non-existent in the first half as Kentucky jumped out to a 7-0 lead.

Iowa gained the lead late in the game but was unable to stop a winning Kentucky touchdown drive in the final moments of the game.

LB Jack Campbell led Iowa with 14 tackles, tied for fourth most in Citrus Bowl history. Campbell had 143 tackles this season, the fifth-best single-season total in school history. The 143 tackles are the most by a Hawkeye since Pat Angerer had 145 in 2009. Campbell had five double-digit tackle performances (11, 18, 17, 16, 14) this season.

RB Gavin Williams set career highs with 98 yards rushing on a career-best 16 carries. Williams was Iowa’s leading rusher for the second straight game. Williams made his first career start. He is the first Iowa running back to have his first career start come in a bowl game since Jordan Canzeri made his first career start at the 2011 Insight Bowl against Oklahoma.

TE Sam LaPorta had a career-high 122 receiving yards and matched his career high with seven receptions. He is the first Iowa tight end to have 100 yards receiving since T.J. Hockenson in 2018 (107 vs. Indiana). LaPorta led Iowa this season in receptions (53) and receiving yards (670). He is the first TE to lead Iowa in receptions and receiving yards since T.J. Hockenson in 2018 (49-760).

K Caleb Shudak connected on his only field goal attempt (28 yards) and connected on both PATs Saturday. Shudak scored five points today, raising his season total to 108 points, the fifth highest single-season total in school history. This season, Shudak was 24-28 on field goal attempts and connected on all 36 PAT attempts. He finished his career 24-29 on field goal attempts, an 82.8 career percentage that ranks No. 1 in school history (minimum 25 attempts). His 85.7 field goal percentage in 2021 is the fourth best single-season percentage in school history (minimum 15 attempts).

WR Arland Bruce’s 20-yard touchdown rush in the third quarter is the longest rush of his career, and the third rushing touchdown this season.

RB Leshon Williams set career highs with 10 rushes and 42 yards.

MISCELLANEOUS

Iowa had a season-high six sacks Saturday, including two by DL Zach VanValkenburg, who finished with eight tackles and 2.5 tackles-for-loss.

LB Jermari Harris had a fourth-quarter interception, his fourth interception of the season. Iowa had one interception Saturday to raise its season total to a school-record 25. The Hawkeyes have 89 interception since 2017, more than any team in the country. Eleven different Hawkeyes had at least one interception this season. Four Hawkeyes have at least three interceptions this season (Belton 5, Moss 4, Harris 4, Hankins 3). The last time Iowa had four players with at least three interceptions in a single season was 2018 (Gervase 4, Hooker 4, Stone 4, Ojemudia 3).

Iowa’s streak of 15 straight wins against non-conference opponents was snapped Saturday. The nonconference win streak was the longest in the country. The loss was Iowa’s first nonconference loss since the 2017 Outback Bowl (Florida, 30-3).

Iowa played for a trophy for the sixth time this season. The Hawkeyes were 3-3 in trophy games this season and 25-7 in their last 32 trophy games (includes bowl games and conference championship games).

Iowa was plus-19 in turnover margin in its 10 wins and minus-seven in its four losses this season.

Kentucky won the toss and elected to defer. The Hawkeyes have played 288 games under head coach Kirk Ferentz. Iowa has opened the game on offense 214 times (136-78). The Hawkeyes have opened the game on defense 74 times (42-32).

INSTANT REPLAY