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This year has no quit. Reports surfaced this afternoon that Missouri has officially backed out of the Music City Bowl against Iowa.
Sources: The Music City Bowl between Missouri and Iowa is officially off.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) December 27, 2020
Sources: Missouri’s COVID-19 issues prompted the Music City Bowl to be called off. Missouri had nearly 20 players and staff test positive in the past week.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) December 27, 2020
The news comes just as Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz was set to return after his own bout with the disease. It was also foreshadowed a few hours earlier when we learned Iowa’s Brandon Smith announced he was forgoing the game for NFL prep.
Thank you to all of my supporters #12thfloor pic.twitter.com/GRl2qfz9yB
— Brandon Smith (@_BSmith12) December 27, 2020
Thamel Tweeted that Music City Bowls have reached out in order to find a replacement team with a four day notice, but later reported that the game will not happen.
In either case, this blogger asks, who could possibly fill the shoes of a 5-5 Missouri team?
Here's what Drinkwitz had to say in a release from the school: pic.twitter.com/WdNOFeI2If
— Mitchell Forde (@Mitchell4D) December 27, 2020
The news is especially frustrating considering Iowa’s week nine game against Michigan got canceled after the Wolverines privately canceled their season in October.
Adding more salt to that wound, Iowa forced its players to stay in Iowa City for the holidays and isolate, while Missouri players went home and spent time with their families.
The SEC: it just means more.
Anyway, barring something crazy happening (which can happen!), the 2020 season for your Iowa football Hawkeyes is over, and the healing can begin as we reload to 2021.
Sources: Any replacement opponent for Iowa to play in the Music Bowl is not going to happen. With the game in three days, there was no way prepare for it. https://t.co/9wslgt5N9h
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) December 27, 2020