NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – Despite not getting into the playoffs, Vanderbilt will be playing a postseason bowl game in consecutive seasons for the second time in program history.
On Sunday, Vanderbilt Athletics said they accepted an invitation to the ReliaQuest Bowl against Iowa at the Raymond James Stadium on Dec. 31. Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT on ESPN.
According to Vanderbilt, this will be the Dores’ first meeting with the Hawkeyes.
The last time Vandy played in consecutive bowl games was when they accomplished “the feat on three straight occasions from 2011-13.”
“I want to first thank Glenn Fasani and the ReliaQuest Bowl staff for this invitation,” E. Bronson Ingram Chair in Football Clark Lea said. “Playing in this game represents an important step for our program as we look to build upon our historic season. We are grateful to have one final opportunity to compete as a team, and to be able to do that in such a prestigious bowl, in a great city, and against a respected opponent is all very meaningful. We are excited and proud to represent the SEC in this contest, and hope to close out the season with our best performance. We will need that to be able to complete the mission against an Iowa program that has come to represent the level of sustained success we aspire to at Vanderbilt. I have the utmost respect for Kirk Ferentz, and look forward to the opportunity to compete against his team.”
The Commodores were ranked 12th in the most recent AFCA coaches’ poll and 13th in the Associated Press rankings, appearing in each of the last 12 weeks in the latter poll after defeating four top 25 teams during the course of the season.
National Commodore Club members can place a ticket request as of Dec. 1 to see the game. The deadline to request tickets through the Vanderbilt Ticket Office is Tuesday, Dec. 9, at 5 p.m. There is a max order limit of four tickets per request.
For more information about the Dores’ trip to the ReliaQuest Bowl, click here.
To book travel to Tampa to see the game, click here.
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