Iowa vs Missouri Opt Outs and Injuries 

The Iowa Hawkeyes and the 19th-ranked Missouri Tigers will face each other in the Music City Bowl on Monday, Dec. 30. This is likely to be a close game between the two teams, with Bleacher Report giving the Tigers only a -2.5 point lead.

However, as with many of these somewhat meaningless Bowl games, there are numerous players on both teams that have opted out.

Here is a look at the players who have opted out.

Iowa Hawkeyes

Cade McNamara

McNamara has had a somewhat decent season on an Iowa side that has historically struggled on offense. This year, he has thrown for 1,017 yards and thrown for six touchdowns. He is not playing in this game due to entering the transfer portal.

Kaleb Johnson

Another key opt-out for the Hawkeyes is Kaleb Johnson. He has been the main offensive weapon for the Hawkeyes, rushing for 1,537 yards and scoring 21 touchdowns. He will not play in this game due to declaring for the 2025 NFL draft.

Jermari Harris

On the defensive side of the ball, Jermari Harris will be out of the game. This is because of the injury he sustained in the last few weeks of the regular season.

Here are the other Hawkeyes who will not be taking part in the Music City Bowl:

• James Resar, QB
• Marco Lainez, QB
• Rusty Vanwetzinga, FB
• Leshon Williams, RB
• Graham Friedrichsen, WR
• Judah Mallette, WR
• Kaleb Brown, WR
• Reece Vander Zee, WR
• Grant Leeper, TE
• Johnny Pascuzzi, TE
• Beau Stephens, OL
• Gennings Dunker, OL
• Brian Allen, DL
• Caden Crawford, DL
• Jeff Bowie, DL
• Karson Sharar, LB
• Kelby Telander, LB
• Jermari Harris, CB
• Tripp Woody, K

Missouri Tigers

Luther Burden III

Burden has been one of the best wide receivers in the SEC in recent years. However, this year, as most of the Missouri Tigers did, he struggled. He only caught 676 yards this year, half the amount from 2023. He has declared for the NFL draft.

Brett Norfleet, TE

Brett Norfleet has been the Tigers' best tight end this season. He has recorded 235 yards and has scored two touchdowns. He will miss this game due to an injury.

Here are the other Missouri Tigers who will miss the Music City Bowl

• Aidan Glover, QB
• Sam Horn, QB
• Kewan Lacy, RB
• Courtney Crutchfield, WR
• Mekhi Miller, WR
• Mookie Cooper, WR
• Brett Norfleet, TE
• Armand Membou, OL
• Connor Tollison, OL
• Jack McGarry, OL
• Logan Reichert, OL
• Darris Smith, DL
• Jaylen Brown, DL
• Joe Moore, DL
• Williams Nwaneri, DL
• Brayshawn Littlejohn, LB
• Chuck Hicks, LB
• Khalil Jacobs, LB
• Boyton Cheney, CB
• Shamar McNeil, CB
• Phillip Roche, S
• Brady Boehm, K
• Orion Phillips, P
• Will Safris, P
• Brett Le Blanc, LS
• Jack Kautz, LS