Kentucky football gets rematch with Iowa in Music City Bowl, same day as hoops showdown

The Kentucky football team is once again headed to the Music City Bowl, where a familiar foe awaits Mark Stoops and company.

Playing in their seventh consecutive bowl game, the Wildcats will square off against the Iowa Hawkeyes on New Year's Eve at Nashville's Nissan Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for noon (11 a.m. CST) on Dec. 31, the same time as tipoff in the annual men's basketball game between UK and Louisville at Rupp Arena in Lexington.

Stoops has already faced — and beaten — his alma mater on the gridiron once this year. Kentucky topped Iowa, 20-17, in the Vrbo Citrus Bowl on New Year's Day in Orlando, Florida, after an electrifying, 52-yard catch and run by former Wildcats star Wan'Dale Robinson set up running back Chris Rodriguez's go-ahead touchdown with 1:48 to play in the fourth quarter. Linebacker Deandre Square sealed the victory with an interception on the Hawkeyes' final possession.

Tickets became available Sunday afternoon for Kentucky's sixth trip to the Music City Bowl and its fifth since it ended a seven-year postseason drought in 2006. The last time the Wildcats played in the bowl game was a 24-23 loss to Northwestern on Dec. 29, 2017.

After clinching a 10-win season with its victory over Iowa in the Citrus Bowl, UK entered the 2022 campaign with aspirations of reaching the Southeastern Conference championship game. Stoops and the Wildcats got off to a 4-0 start, but their dreams of playing in Atlanta were shattered by the end of October after back-to-back losses against Ole Miss and South Carolina and getting blown out by Tennessee at Neyland Stadium.

Kentucky went 3-3 over its final six games, including a historic loss to Vanderbilt and a fourth consecutive win over rival Louisville, to finish at 7-5 overall and 3-5 in SEC play.

Rich Scangarello:Kentucky football cuts ties with offensive coordinator after just one season

In the week between the Governor's Cup victory and Sunday's bowl announcement, Stoops has parted ways with two coaches, first-year offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello and running backs coach/co-special teams coordinator John Settle. Seven of his players, meanwhile, have announced their intentions to enter the transfer portal.

All eyes will be on Kentucky quarterback Will Levis in the days leading up to the xxxxxx. Last week, Levis announced he will be entering the NFL draft but said he has not reached a decision on whether or not he will suit up for the Wildcats in the bowl.

"I've talked with the coaches and the people I needed to these past couple days," Levis said Nov. 30 during a Twitter space. "I will be making a decision (on the bowl) soon, but nothing is final."

Will Levis:Kentucky quarterback declares for NFL draft; undecided on bowl game

Iowa enters the Music City Bowl with a 7-5 record. The Hawkeyes went 5-4 in Big Ten play and ended their regular season with a 24-17 loss against Nebraska.

Here's what you need to know to watch the Music City Bowl on TV or livestream:

Bowl season:What is the 2022 college football bowl game schedule? The complete list of all 42 matchups

How to watch Kentucky football vs. Iowa in the Music City Bowl

Game time: noon ET Saturday, Dec. 31

Location: Nissan Stadium (Nashville, Tennessee)

TV: ABC

Online livestream:ESPN.com/watch

Terrestrial radio broadcast: WHAS 840-AM in Louisville; WLAP 630-AM and WBUL 98.1-FM in Lexington

Reach recruiting and trending sports reporter Brooks Holton at bholton@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @brooksHolton.