2025/12/31

Eye Opener: Gameday for Iowa in ReliaQuest Bowl vs. Vanderbilt

It's Wednesday, December 31. Make the last day of 2025 a great one!

Today's emoji forecast: ☁️ Temps in the 40s return this afternoon with cloudy skies, but we cool back down in a hurry tonight. Jon Rivas has your forecast.

What people are talking about:

Since July, it's been illegal to operate a mobile device like a phone while driving in Iowa. But law enforcement hasn't been able to give tickets until now. Starting Jan. 1, drivers found to be holding their phone while driving will receive a $100 fine.
Democrat Renee Hardman was elected to the Iowa state Senate on Tuesday in a holiday-week special election, denying Republicans' bid to reclaim two-thirds control of the chamber.
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TOP STORY: Hawkeyes close 2025 in ReliaQuest Bowl

THE 101: Iowa concludes its 2025 season today in Florida. The No. 23 Hawkeyes (8-4, 6-3 in Big Ten play) can close out the season with a ninth win if they can beat No. 14 Vanderbilt (10-2, 6-2 in SEC play). The two teams will meet at 11 a.m. in the ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa, Florida.

WHY IT MATTERS: Kirk Ferentz's team hasn't beaten a ranked opponent since upsetting No. 4 Penn State in 2021. The Hawkeyes, 0-12 against ranked teams since then, hope to end that streak today against No. 14 Vanderbilt and Heisman Trophy runner-up Diego Pavia.

SERIES HISTORY: There is none — this will be the first matchup between Iowa and Vanderbilt.

2025 RELIAQUEST BOWL

When: 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31
Where: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida
TV: ESPN
Livestream: Watch ESPN

4 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

🥳 Celebrate New Year's Eve: Celebrate the arrival of the new year in style with an exciting lineup of events around the Des Moines metro area. List of events

🚗 Impressive car collection up for auction: The late Carl Moyer's multimillion-dollar car collection, featuring some of the most prized classic and custom cars in the country, is set to be auctioned in Florida. Read more

🏈 Rogers builds staff: Iowa State football head coach Jimmy Rogers has announced his new support staff for his first season in Ames. See the new hires

🛬 Fly to Chi: More flights between Des Moines and Chicago's O'Hare International Airport are coming in February. Read more

IOWA WEATHER

Wednesday starts mild with temperatures in the mid- to low-30s for much of Iowa. It'll be cloudy all day, but we'll still warm up into the mid-40s in Des Moines.

A cold front will be entering the state this afternoon and pass over central Iowa a little after sunset. This will drop our temperatures overnight and make it feel like the teens and single digits around midnight. Winds will pick up for our celebrations with wind speeds around 10 to 15 mph and gusts around 20 mph. This front will also bring a chance for some flurries as temperatures drop this evening, with a possibility of spotty wintry mix to the north this afternoon.

DAY BY DAY:

Today: Mostly cloudy skies with some PM flurries possible. High 46F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph.
Tonight: Cloudy skies early will become partly cloudy later at night. Low 14F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph.
Tomorrow: Partly cloudy. High around 28F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.
Tomorrow night: Cloudy. Low 20F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.