Iowa and Mississippi State to Square-Off in Outback Bowl

Tampa, FL— The Iowa Hawkeyes and No. 18 Mississippi State Bulldogs will square-off for the first time in the Outback Bowl on New Year’s Day in Tampa, bowl officials announced today.  Both teams are 8-4.  It will be the first time these teams have played in 119+ seasons of their football history.  It will also be the first appearance by Mississippi State in the Outback Bowl.

“We are thrilled to extend an invitation to Iowa and Mississippi State to play in this year’s Outback Bowl,” said Outback Bowl Chairman Todd Timmerman.  “These are two quality teams that should produce a terrific match-up that fans are really going to enjoy watching on New Year’s Day.    We look forward to hosting the Hawkeye and Bulldog teams and their fans, and ensure them they will have an amazing experience in the Tampa Bay area.”

“I am thrilled for our team and our tremendous group of seniors who have earned the opportunity to go out with a New Year’s Day bowl in the state of Florida,” MSU head coach Joe Moorhead said. “The Outback Bowl is the perfect destination for our team. I have always had tremendous respect for Coach Ferentz and his Iowa teams.”

“We are excited to accept a bid to our first Outback Bowl to cap off Joe Moorhead’s successful first season as our head football coach,” MSU Director of Athletics John Cohen said. “I want to congratulate our team and our coaching staff for earning our program’s ninth straight bowl appearance. This team featured college football’s best defense and demonstrated overall improvement throughout the year, as shown by winning four of its last five games, including a dominant win in a rivalry game to finish the regular season. Tampa is a great city, with an endless number of entertainment opportunities for our fans, and we always look forward to playing in an NFL stadium. I encourage our Bulldog family to pack Raymond James Stadium and send our senior class out the right way.”

“Our football team, coaches, and staff are excited to be invited to the 2019 Outback Bowl,” said Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz. “We know we will enjoy outstanding hospitality, and we know we will face a quality opponent from the SEC. This is a great reward for how hard our players have worked and the success they have enjoyed this season.”

“I always feel at this time of the year an excitement for our student-athletes, their families and our coaches to continue the season,” stated Henry B. and Patricia B. Tippie Director of Athletics Chair Gary Barta.  “We have had several great trips to the Outback Bowl.  Jim McVay, his staff and volunteers, put on a great experience in sunny Tampa.  Once again, Hawkeye fan support has been fantastic this season, and I cannot wait to see the black and gold in Raymond James Stadium on New Year’s Day.”

The Outback Bowl will be played on January 1st at 12:00 PM ET at Raymond James Stadium.     Tickets are on sale through Ticketmaster at (813) 287-8844 or 1-800-745-3000 and can be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com.  Tickets can also be purchased at any Ticketmaster outlet in the state of Florida.

For information on Outback Bowl events leading up to the game go to the bowl web site at www.outbackbowl.com for details.

-OBB-