SAN DIEGO — The 16th-ranked University of Iowa football team won its third straight bowl game to cap a 10-win season with a 49-24 rout of No. 22 USC in the SDCCU Holiday Bowl on Friday night at SDCCU Stadium.
Junior Ihmir Smith-Marsette scored three touchdowns — one rushing, one receiving, and one via a 98-yard kickoff return — en route to Offensive Most Valuable Player honors. Junior A.J. Epenesa had four tackles, 2.5 sacks, and 1.5 tackles for loss to garner Defensive MVP honors.
The Hawkeyes’ offense stole the show in the first half, scoring four first-half touchdowns — one coming off Smith-Marsette’s 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown that broke a 14-14 tie.
Iowa’s defense surrendered a USC touchdown on the first series of the third quarter that brought the score to 28-24. Epenesa knocked Trojan quarterback Kedon Slovis out of the game the Trojans’ next offensive series and forced three second-half turnovers.
After gaining 75 yards on its first second-half series, Iowa allowed 71 yards over the final 28 minutes.
USC out-gained Iowa, 356-328, for the game, but the Hawkeyes had a 115-22 advantage in rushing yards and didn’t commit a turnover. Iowa was 8-of-13 on third down and had a nearly seven-minute advantage in time of possession (33:24-26:36).
Senior Nate Stanley completed 18-of-27 attempts for 213 yards and two touchdowns, completing passes to six different players. Freshman Sam LaPorta had six catches for 44 yards, while junior Brandon Smith and Smith-Marsette had touchdown receptions.
Freshman Tyler Goodson led the rushing attach, gaining 48 yards on 18 attempts with a touchdown. Smith-Marsette and redshirt freshman Tyrone Tracy, Jr., also had rushing touchdowns.
Sophomore Jack Koerner had a team-high eight tackles (six solo), while junior Matt Hankins and senior Kristian Welch had seven stops apiece. Junior Nick Niemann had two tackles, a sack, and an interception — that he returned 25 yards for a touchdown — to put the exclamation point on Iowa’s third straight bowl victory.
Klovis was 22-of-30 for 260 yards and two touchdowns in a little more than a half, but USC’s rushing attack finished with 22 yards on 18 attempts.
