ORLANDO, Fla. — No. 21 Tennessee football rung in the New Year with a 35-0 win over No. 17 Iowa in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl on Monday afternoon, pitching a shutout at Camping World Stadium on New Year’s Day.
Tennessee freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava impressed in his first career start. Iamaleava was 12-of-19 passing against an elite Iowa defense for 119 yards and a touchdown without turning the football over. The true freshman rushed for three touchdowns to tie Joshua Dobbs and James Stewart for the Tennessee bowl game record. Iowa had allowed four rushing touchdowns on the season entering the game.
Sophomore running back Dylan Sampson led the Vols in rushing with 133 yards on 20 carries after Jaylen Wright and Jabari Small opted out of the game to begin preparing for the 2024 NFL Draft. Freshman Cameron Seldon added 55 yards on 13 attempts in his first significant action of the season.
s Pearce Jr. spearheaded a strong defensive effort for the Vols. The vaunted edge rusher recorded a sack, a tackle for a loss, forced a fumble to set up a Tennessee touchdown and intercepted an Iowa pass and returned it 52-yards for a touchdown.
Iamaleava, Sampson, Pearce, Seldon, tight end McCallan Castles, defensive back Jaylen McCollough and defensive lineman Tyre West all met with the media following the win to discuss what went well for the Vols.
