NASHVILLE, Tennessee. — Joe Labas threw for 139 yards and a touchdown in his first start, and Iowa posted the first shutout in the Music City Bowl’s 24-year history with a 21-0 win over Kentucky on Saturday.

Iowa coach Kirk Ferenc ended his 24th season, tying the late Joe Paterno for the most wins by a Big Ten coach with his 10th seed. It was Hawkeyes’ second bowl shutout since the 1996 Alamo Bowl and the team’s first Big Ten match. since Penn State beat Texas A&M in the 1999 Alamo Bowl.

“I’m not the smartest guy in the world,” Ferenc said. “I learned one thing: if they can’t score, then you have a chance that you won’t lose. I know it. So if we could write a script, it would be perfect. Just very happy.”

Iowa (8-5) paid some price for ending last season losing to Kentucky in the Citrus Bowl after a late comeback Wild cats. On this occasion, the Hawkeyes’ defense outperformed the offense, returning two interceptions for TD in the second quarter. The Hawks ended the season with a fifth win in six games.

Kentucky (7-6) lost for the third time in four games, this time without defenseman Will Lewis and running back Chris Rodriguez, as both refused to qualify for the NFL Draft. The loss snapped the Wildcats’ school-record bowl winning streak of four.

“We both had a few players and were a bit short on players, and they did what they had to do to win the football game,” Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said.

The Hawks scored all their points in the second quarter to seize control, scoring twice 11 seconds apart at the start of the quarter.

After throwing his first college game snaps with Spencer Petras due to an upper body injury, Labas hit Sam LaPorta with a short pass that went 27 yards in the tight end, blasting through defensemen. Labas then found Luc Lachey for a short pass, and the tight end completed a 15-yard touchdown with 12:08 left.

“I was a little nervous at first, but getting those (first three completions on the opening drive) really helped,” Labas said.

Drew Stevens pushed the subsequent kickoff out of bounds to put Kentucky in 35th. Freshman Destin Wade, also making his college debut, was hit by Iowa defenseman Xavier Nwankpa, who went 52 yards for a 14-0 lead.

Bowl MVP Cooper DeJean kills Wade on third and 10th out of Kentucky 7 and easily ran 14 yards for a 21-0 lead.

“Our guys are in a hurry when there is turnover,” Ferenc said. “They’re trying to do more than, you know, take over.”

The Hawkeyes didn’t miss out on All-American quarterback Cavon Merryweather, who chose not to qualify for the NFL Draft. They announced their second shutout of the season, holding Kentucky for 185 yards, sacking Wade four times and forcing the Wildcats to flip him on a down twice.

OUTPUT

Iowa: The Hawkeyes need to improve on offense, especially after the loss of All-American linebacker Jack Campbell. It was the Hawkeyes’ sixth game this season with 222 or fewer rushing yards.

Kentucky: Stoops has made it clear he wants a glimpse into the future by launching Wade from nearby Spring Hill, even with Devin Leary arrives via transfer portal. Wade finished with a 98-yard pass and a 29-yard rush as Kentucky was out of the game for the first time since October 19, 2019, losing to Georgia. The Wildcats are in between the offensive coordinators, with Iowa ranked sixth nationally with just 14.4 points per game.

“He was in a difficult situation, so he will no doubt learn from it,” Stoops said of Wade.

CAMPBELL’S GRANDFATHER

Ferenc shared after the game that Campbell’s grandfather died Friday night in a traffic accident. William Smith, 76, was walking with family members when he may not have heard the warning not to cross the street. He was hit by a van and pronounced dead at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Iowa officials said Campbell’s parents told him about his grandfather’s death after the game “so Jack could play his Iowa Hawkeye teammates one last time.”

Campbell led Iowa with 10 tackles and received a sack and two tackles for the loss.

NEXT

Iowa: Will host Utah on September 2 to start the 2023 season.

Kentucky: Hosts Ball State on September 2 to start the 2023 season.

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