3 things to know about the Iowa Hawkeyes, Kentucky football's Music City Bowl opponent

It's a rarity in the college football bowl season landscape: playing the same opponent in back-to-back postseason games.

That will be the case for the Kentucky Wildcats and the Iowa Hawkeyes, who on Sunday learned they'll be squaring off for the second time in less than a year when the Music City Bowl kicks off at noon on New Year's Eve at Nashville's Nissan Stadium.

UK head coach Mark Stoops got the better of his alma mater in the Vrbo Citrus Bowl on Jan. 1, 2022. With the Wildcats trailing 17-13, star wideout Wan'Dale Robinson had an electrifying 52-yard catch-and-run to set up Chris Rodriguez's go-ahead touchdown from 6 yards out with 1:48 to play in the fourth quarter. Linebacker Deandre Square sealed the 20-17 victory with an interception on Iowa's final possession.

Things have changed quite a bit for Kentucky after clinching its second 10-win season under Stoops. The Wildcats will be without Robinson and don't have an offensive coordinator after parting ways with Rich Scangarello, the man hired to replace the one calling the plays during the Citrus Bowl victory, Liam Coen.

Star quarterback Will Levis, meanwhile, already has declared for the NFL draft but has not publicly announced whether or not he'll suit up against the Hawkeyes again in Nashville. And as of Sunday night, seven UK players have said they intend to enter the NCAA transfer portal when it opens Monday.

Iowa experienced its share of letdowns this season after reaching the Big Ten championship game in 2021. Kirk Ferentz's team, like Stoops and the Wildcats, brings a 7-5 record into the bowl matchup and will be looking for vengeance from last season's down-to-the-wire loss.

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So how are the Hawkeyes different now than when they faced the Wildcats on New Year's Day? Here are three things to know:

The Hawkeyes own one of the nation's best defenses ...

Iowa ranks among the top six in the 131-team FBS in both total defense (277.9 yards per game; fourth) and scoring defense (14.42 points per game; sixth).

The Hawkeyes have allowed 10 or fewer points in eight contests this fall. That's the most in a single season since 1929; that year, Iowa gave up only 28 points during the entire eight-game season.

In terms of yards per play, no unit is better: Iowa gives up just 4.10 yards per snap, which ranks first nationally.

The only teams to find much success against the Hawkeyes' defense are a pair of College Football Playoff squads.

Michigan scored 27 in a 13-point win in Iowa City on Oct. 1. Ohio State was even more explosive, putting 54 points on the board — the most the Hawkeyes ever have permitted under longtime head coach Kirk Ferentz in a tenure that dates back to 1999. The last time an opponent scored more than that was 1995, when Ohio State totaled 56.

Linebacker Jack Campbell once again leads the way for the unit. Last season, he tallied 143 tackles, most in the FBS. He's notched another 118 tackles (so far) in 2022.

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... but also boast one of the country's worst offenses

Kentucky's offense has been nothing to write home about this season. It enters bowl season ranked last in the SEC in both yards (336.3) and points (22.1) per game. Both averages rank 106th in the FBS.

But Iowa is worse.

The Hawkeyes gain just 255.4 yards per outing. That's better than just one team in the FBS: New Mexico at 228.1. Its 4.23 yards per play only is better than New Mexico (3.94) and UMass (4.00).

Iowa's scoring offense is only slightly better, coming in at 122nd (17.9 ppg).

Despite being a punchline for offensive futility, Ferentz has stuck by his coordinator ... who also happens to be his son, Brian Ferentz.

It's not as if the unit is bereft of talent.

Running back Kaleb Johnson has 762 yards on the ground in 12 games, setting a single-season program record for a freshman. He also has six rushing touchdowns.

Then there's tight end Sam LaPorta. The senior is one of three finalists — Georgia's Brock Bowers and Notre Dame's Michael Mayer are the others — for the John Mackey Award, annually given to the country's top tight end. LaPorta leads the team in receptions (53) and receiving yardage (601). He missed the regular-season finale against Nebraska with a leg injury.

The elder Ferentz said Sunday that he expects LaPorta to be available for the Music City Bowl.

In a season where positivity has come at a premium for the Iowa offense, LaPorta suiting up is a godsend.

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Iowa will have a QB making first start of college career

As if things couldn't get any more difficult for the Hawkeyes' offense, the group will try to beat Kentucky with a quarterback who's never thrown a pass in a college game.

That signal-caller either will be redshirt freshman Joe Labas or true freshman Carson May.

The Hawkeyes were thrust into this conundrum after starter Spencer Petras suffered an injury to his throwing arm that required surgery; he won't be able to play in the bowl game. Petras' backup, Alex Padilla, announced he'll enter the transfer portal.

So Labas and May will battle it out during bowl practices to see who earns the right to start versus the Wildcats.

From the Des Moines Register: A new quarterback, big opportunity for Iowa football in Music City Bowl

While Labas has a year of experience and served as the third-string QB this fall, Ferentz said May isn't as far behind as one might think. That's because of Iowa's practice schedule. It's structured in a way where only the starter and backup receive extensive snaps. That leaves those behind the top two with limited, if any, opportunities.

"We'll do our best to take advantage of this time," Kirk Ferentz said Sunday, "and that's one good thing about the month of December: You have time available. So we'll try to do it to find out what they can do and do successfully."

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Iowa football vs. Kentucky: 3 things to know about the Hawkeyes