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The2010 FedEx Orange Bowl game featured theGeorgia Tech Yellow Jackets and theIowa Hawkeyes on Tuesday, January 5, 2010, atLand Shark Stadium inMiami Gardens,Florida. Iowa won the game 24–14, securing the Hawkeyes' first major bowl win since the 1959 Rose Bowl.

Georgia Tech was selected to participate in the Orange Bowl after an 11–2 season that culminated in a 39–34 victory in the2009 ACC Championship Game. Iowa was selected as the other half of the matchup after a 10–2 season that ended with a 12–0 win againstMinnesota. In the weeks between the teams' selection and the playing of the game, media attention focused on Georgia Tech's proficient offense and Iowa's highly rated defense.

The game was part of the 2009–10Bowl Championship Series (BCS) of the2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season and the last game of the season for both teams. It was the coldest Orange Bowl in Miami's history with a kick-off temperature of 49 degrees.

The game was televised in the United States onFOX, and marked the end of the broadcast agreement between the BCS and FOX, asESPN took over all BCS broadcast rights in 2011. This was Iowa's second Orange Bowl appearance (first appearance in2003 Orange Bowl), and Georgia Tech's sixth appearance, but first since 1967. It was the first time that the two teams had played against each other.

On July 14, 2011, theNCAA vacated Georgia Tech's appearance in the bowl game as a consequence for violations committed by the football program.^[5]

TheOrange Bowl is one of fiveBowl Championship Series (BCS)bowl games that have been played at the conclusion of every college football season since 2006.^{[nb 1]} As defined by contract, the bowl matches the champion of theAtlantic Coast Conference (ACC) against an at-large pick chosen by a special committee.^[6] On December 5, 2009, theGeorgia Tech Yellow Jackets defeated theClemson Tigers in the2009 ACC Championship Game, thus winning an automatic bid to the 2010 Orange Bowl Game.^[7]

The at-large spot in the Orange Bowl was filled via around-robin selection procedure defined by the other Bowl Championship series games (theSugar,Fiesta, andRose bowls) and the automatic bids.^[8] The order of at-large selections rotates annually among the BCS bowls. In 2010, after the bowls who lost host teams to the2010 BCS National Championship Game chose their replacements, the Orange Bowl picked first, followed by the Fiesta Bowl, then the Sugar Bowl.^[9][10] Having lost their SEC tie-in (Alabama Crimson Tide) to the national title game, theSugar Bowl chose theFlorida Gators as the replacement. Likewise, theFiesta Bowl picked theTexas Christian Horned Frogs to replace the Big-12 champion2010 Texas Longhorns. The Orange Bowl then selected theIowa Hawkeyes, while the Fiesta Bowl picked theBoise State Broncos to set up a battle of the unbeatens. The Sugar Bowl was thus left to selectBig East Conference championCincinnati Bearcats, fulfilling the BCS' contractual obligation to provide a game for the conference's champion.

The Hawkeyes entered the 2009 season after a 9–4 overall 2008 record that included a 31–10 win in the2009 Outback Bowl over South Carolina. Iowa's first game over Northern Iowa was a sign of things to come in the season. With 7 seconds left in the game, Northern Iowa attempted a 40-yard field goal that was blocked. Iowa avoided touching the ball thinking the ball had crossed the line of scrimmage, while in fact it had not. Northern Iowa's recovery allowed for another attempt with 1 second left. But once again, the attempt was blocked, giving Iowa a 17–16 victory.

Iowa won their next seven games, including a 21–10 win over top-five-rankedPenn State, a last-minute stop to beatMichigan, and a last-second touchdown to get a win overMichigan State.

On November 7, Iowa appeared to be headed for a 10–0 record when they took an early 10–0 lead against theNorthwestern Wildcats. However, early in the second quarter, quarterbackRicky Stanzi was knocked out of the game with an ankle injury, in a play that resulted in the Wildcats' first touchdown. Iowa did not score again in the game, and lost, 17–10. The Hawkeyes' following game, vs.Ohio State, would determine which team would earn a berth to the Rose Bowl. Down 24–10 with 11:11 left, Iowa staged a comeback to force overtime. But redshirtfreshman quarterbackJames Vandenberg, filling in for the injured Stanzi, threw an interception in the first overtime series. Ohio State took advantage and sealed a 27–24 victory with a 39-yard field goal. Iowa ended the season with a 12–0 shutout over theMinnesota Gophers. Iowa stayed at the Fountaine Bleu in Miami, before the Orange Bowl.

Georgia Tech ended the2008 college football season with a 9–4 record under first-year head coachPaul Johnson, including a share of the ACC Coastal Crown, a win overFlorida State, rivalGeorgia Bulldogs, and a 38–3 loss in the2008 Chick-fil-A Bowl.

The Yellow Jackets opened the2009 college football season with a 37–17 win overJacksonville State. Georgia Tech's second game against theClemson Tigers saw the Yellow Jackets build up a 24-0 lead, only to see Clemson crawl back to take a 27-24 lead in the fourth quarter. GT would survive, winning 30-27 on a last minute field goal. In Tech's first road game of the year, the Yellow Jackets leftLand Shark Stadium with a 17–33 loss to theMiami Hurricanes.

Following the loss, Georgia Tech won eight straight games, including a win over number 4Virginia Tech. The win was GT's first home win over a top-five team since 1962.^[11]

In Tech's final game of the regular season, theClean, Old-Fashioned Hate rivalry game vsGeorgia, GT would lose its second game of the season. Down 6 with less than two minutes remaining, the Yellow Jackets gave up their run offense and had four consecutive incomplete "Hail Mary" passes. On 4th and 10 at Georgia's 46-yard line, quarterback Josh Nesbitt's pass to a wide openDemaryius Thomas was dropped, sealing a 30-24 win for the Bulldogs.

In a week 2 rematch, GT faced Clemson in the2009 ACC Championship Game. In an exciting, high scoring game that saw no punts, the Yellow Jackets barely eked out a 39-34 victory to earn their first BCS berth.

Iowa entered the Orange bowl ranked 83rd (of 120Division I FBS teams) intotal offense.^[12] The team was ranked 42nd in passing offense and 95th in rushing offense.

At the conclusion of the regular season before the Orange Bowl, Georgia Tech's offense was among the best in Division I, ranked 10th in total offense, 2nd in rushing offense, but only 116th in passing offense (out of 120 teams). The triple option was able to rack up an average of 306.23 rushing yards per game before the Orange Bowl.

Iowa's defense was considered among the best in Division I, ranking 10th in total defense.^[13] The Hawkeyes ranked 34th in rushing defense and 4th in passing defense.

The Yellow Jackets were ranked 54th in total defense, 68th in rushing defense, and 45th in passing defense.

The first drive of the coldest Orange Bowl ever started with an Iowa fumble at its own 47-yard line.^[14] Despite having good starting field position, Georgia Tech was forced to punt. On Iowa's second drive of the game, quarterbackRicky Stanzi drove the Hawkeyes 80 yards, culminating in a 3-yard touchdown pass toMarvin McNutt. The Yellow Jackets' second drive ended in another punt. Iowa scored another touchdown on the following drive, with Stanzi hitting Colin Sandeman for 21 yards, giving the Hawkeyes a 14-0 lead. On the ensuing drive, GT punted for the third time in a row. On Iowa's next drive, Stanzi was intercepted byJerrard Tarrant. Tarrant returned the interception for a touchdown, cutting Iowa's lead in half.

The second quarter started with 6 straight punts. With less than one minute left in the half, Iowa faced a 4th and 5 on Georgia Tech's 43. But Stanzi's pass fell incomplete to Marvin McNutt. With only 12 seconds left, GT quarterbackJosh Nesbitt was sacked, ending the quarter.

Georgia Tech started the third quarter off with the ball. Their first drive ended in a 41-yard field goal attempt that was missed by kickerScott Blair. On the next drive, Iowa'sDaniel Murray connected on a 33-yard field goal to give Iowa a 17-7 lead.

On the first drive of the fourth quarter, Georgia Tech's Anthony Allen rushed for a 1-yard touchdown to cut Iowa's lead to 17-14. Iowa was forced to punt on its following drive. On the first play of the next drive, Nesbitt was intercepted, giving Iowa great field position at Georgia Tech's 15. On a 4th and goal on the 3-yard line, Iowa attempted a fake field goal. Kicker Murray fumbled the ball on the attempt giving GT possession. On the first play of the next drive, while trying to evade defenders,Jonathan Dwyer ended up in his own endzone. He narrowly avoided a safety by dodging tacklers and reaching the 1-yard line. But the 11-yard loss hurt the Yellow Jackets and they were once again forced to punt. Iowa's next drive ended with a Brandon Wegher 32-yard touchdown rush, giving the Hawkeyes a 24-14 lead. Down 10, with less than 2 minutes left, Georgia Tech was forced to go for it on a 4th and 8 on their own 32. Nesbitt's pass to Demaryius Thomas fell incomplete, allowing Iowa to run out the clock. A final sack of Nesbitt by IowaDefensive endAdrian Clayborn helped to seal the deal for the Hawkeyes, giving them their first major bowl victory in 51 years.

Iowa's win gave them the 2010 Orange Bowl trophy, and Iowa defensive end Adrian Clayborn was named the MVP. Clayborn and Stanzi, during the press conference at the end of the game, both announced their intention to return to Iowa for their senior years.

• 2009–10 NCAA football bowl games
• Orange Bowl
• Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football bowl games
• Iowa Hawkeyes football bowl games
• 2010 in sports in Florida
• January 2010 sports events in the United States
• Sports competitions in Miami Gardens, Florida

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