Iowa Hawkeyes to play in 2015 TaxSlayer Bowl

The University of Iowa has accepted an invitation to participate in the 2015 TaxSlayer Bowl in Jacksonville, Florida. The TaxSlayer Bowl is scheduled for 2:20 p.m. (CT) on Friday, Jan. 2. The game will be televised by ESPN from EverBank Field (77,511).

The Hawkeyes are making their second appearance in the TaxSlayer Bowl, having lost to Florida (14-6) following the 1983 season. The attendance for that 1983 contest, 81,293, still ranks as the fourth highest attendance in the history of the event. Iowa has posted a 14-12-1 record in 27 previous bowl appearances.

Iowa posted a 7-5 record in 2014, including a 4-4 record in Big Ten play (West Division). Four of Iowa’s five losses were by a touchdown or less. Tennessee (6-6) finished its conference slate 3-5 and tied for fourth in the SEC East Division.

Iowa and Tennessee have met twice previously, with each team earning a victory. The Hawkeyes beat the Volunteers, 28-22, in the 1982 Peach Bowl played in Atlanta. Tennessee registered a narrow, 23-22, win over the Hawkeyes in the 1987 season opener played in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

The Hawkeyes are 4-2 against current SEC teams in bowl games under coach Kirk Ferentz having beaten Florida (2004 Outback), LSU (2005 Capital One), South Carolina (2009 Outback) and Missouri (2010 Insight) when the Tigers were members of the Big 12. Iowa lost to Florida and LSU in the 2006 and 2014 Outback bowls, respectively.

Iowa ranks third amongst Big Ten teams in bowl appearances and is bowl eligible for the 13th time under coach Kirk Ferentz. Iowa has posted a 6-5 bowl record under Ferentz, including wins in four of seven January bowl games. Since the 2001 season, no Big Ten team has won more bowl games or has a higher winning percentage in bowl games than Iowa.

Fans interested in purchasing tickets to the game are encouraged to make their purchase through the UI Athletics Ticket Office. By doing so, fans of the Hawkeyes will help the UI Athletics Department meet its obligation to the bowl game by selling the full allotment of ticket it assumes responsibility for as a participant. Fans can make their ticket purchase online at hawkeyesports.com tonight. The UI Athletics Ticket Office will also begin accepting orders over the phone at 1-800 IA-HAWKS and over-the-counter at its location in Carver-Hawkeye Arena at 8 a.m. (CT) Monday.

Another important benefit of purchasing bowl game tickets through the UI Athletics Ticket Office is a seat location inside Jacksonville’s EverBank Field – the home of the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars – among other friends and fans of the Iowa Hawkeyes. Fans will also be seated on the east side of the stadium where you’ll enjoy the most Florida sunshine available on game day.

Fans can learn more about EverBank Field by visiting TaxSlayerBowl.com. Iowa has been assigned sections 130, 131, 134, 135, 139, 142, 143, 229, 230, 231, 232, 233, 234, 235, 240, 241, 242, and 243.

The UI Athletics Ticket Office will limit orders for game tickets to 12 ticket per order. Fans interested in purchasing more than 12 tickets should call Eric Heinkel, group ticket sales coordinator for the UI Athletics Department, at (319) 384-4299 for priority handling of their order.

The UI Athletics Ticket Office will assign seat location based on ticket orders received by the priority deadline of 5 p.m. (CT) on Friday, Dec. 12. The UI Athletics Ticket Office will continue to accept orders for tickets beyond the priority deadline as long as it has ticket inventory available. The UI Athletics Ticket Office expects to mail tickets by Dec. 16.

The UI Association will offer an official tour for friends of the UI and Hawkeye fans looking for a turn-key travel solution. Fans can learn more about that option at IowaAlum.com/athletictours. Winebrenner Travel will also offer the same service to friends of the UI and fans of the Hawkeyes. Fans can learn more about that option via winebrenner.com.