Through just over two quarters in Tampa on Monday, Florida and Iowa had staged the sort of defensive struggle that most expected of the 2017 Outback Bowl.
From the moment Mark Thompson took a screen pass to the house onward, though, Florida put on a show, as the Gators scored 27 unanswered points for a resounding 30-3 triumph over the Hawkeyes.
Austin Appleby threw for 222 yards and two touchdowns after throwing two passes tipped into interceptions in the game’s first six minutes, and was named Outback Bowl MVP for his performance. Florida’s Jordan Scarlett ran for another 94 yards on the ground on just 14 carries; Thompson’s 85 receiving yards led all players in the category, and Antonio Callaway’s seven catches (for 55 yards) did the same.