Outback Bowl 2019, Iowa vs. Mississippi State: Where, when, and team info
The game in Tampa now has its matchup.
Who’s playing in the 2019 Outback Bowl?
Iowa (8-4, 5-4 in Big Ten)
It looked for a while like the Hawkeyes would be a dark-horse Playoff contender. It didn’t work out that way, and they finished with the same record everyone always thinks they’ll finish with. But this team’s good fun, and a lot more daring than Kirk Ferentz’s usual outfit. Not only are the Hawkeyes no longer punt-obsessed, but they’re now one of the more creative units in the sport. They should be a fun watch here.
Mississippi State (8-4, 4-4 in SEC)
The Bulldogs never developed any kind of passing game, but they put together a strong season with two main ingredients: hard running and an awesome defense. They finished the regular season No. 4 in Defensive S&P+, with the No. 2 unit against the pass. They were one of two teams in that span, along with LSU, to make Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa look somewhat mortal. And their ground game, headlined by QB Nick Fitzgerald and RB Kylin Hill, was No. 5 in Rushing S&P+. MSU specialized in efficiency, getting to at least five yards beyond the line on 60 percent of their runs (No. 2 in the country).
Few teams had as many huge strengths and huge weaknesses, but it all worked out to produce a pretty good team in Joe Moorhead’s first year.
Where is the Outback Bowl?
Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The Bucs play here on Sundays, and USF plays here on Saturdays. The pirate ship in the end zone is unfortunately not in use for the game.
When is the Outback Bowl, and how can I watch it?
Noon ET on New Year’s Day. ESPN2 for TV, and WatchESPN for streaming.
