TAMPA — The 2019 Outback Bowl will be the sixth appearance for Iowa in the past 15 years, making Tampa Bay a home away from home, of sorts, for the Hawkeyes.For one Hawkeye in particular, though, this postseason trip is a different kind of homecoming.Sophomore RB Mekhi Sargent, who hails from Key West, is one of just two Florida natives on Iowa's roster. And although Sargent is still several hours from his hometown, he is already soaking up the sun."It feels amazing. I've been in the cold for so long, I'm just excited to be back," said Sargent, who spent one year at Iowa Western Community College before becoming a Hawkeye this season. "I haven't been in Florida since I was in high school playing football."Despite being a new face in Iowa City, Sargent made an immediate impact for the Hawkeyes, rushing for a team-high 780 yards and nine touchdowns. It's a contribution that was somewhat expected based on his junior college stats — 1,449 yards rushing and 16 touchdowns in 10 games — which earned him first-team JUCO All-America honors."We've been high on Mekhi since he got on campus," Iowa offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz said. "He takes coaching, he responds to coaching, he's got a real attitude of gratitude about every day, because he's been some places where it wasn't so easy."Sargent could have a challenging day against Mississippi State, which gives up just 104 yards rushing per game on average — ninth best in Division I-A.It's a challenge he is ready to take on, especially with the support he expects to have at Raymond James Stadium.Sargent acquired 13 tickets to Tuesday's game. His mother, Yolanda Gardner, traveled to Iowa City last month to watch the Hawkeyes take on Northwestern in a 14-10 loss.Perhaps the most highly awaited spectator will be his father, Donald, who Sargent said hasn't seen him play since high school."I just want to show him what I've grown into," Sargent said, "what kind of football player I am." RELATED: Florida AD Scott Stricklin took a big chance on a recruit caught in an ugly video. Here's why Players from Mississippi State were scheduled to arrive in Tampa on Wednesday evening, and they were given the option to fly on the team charter or make the more than 10-hour trip by car. Many, like OL Elgton Jenkins, chose the latter, electing to carpool with teammates."(I wanted) just the experience, hanging out with my teammates," Jenkins said. "We're always bonding on the road."Turns out, Jenkins' long road trip still got him to his destination faster.Thirty players decided to fly, joining administrators and other team personnel, but mechanical issues with the plane delayed their departure until Thursday afternoon, causing Mississippi State's regularly scheduled practice at Jesuit High School to be canceled.Still, the Bulldogs found time to get some work in.Once the late arrivers landed in Tampa, the Bulldogs squeezed in a walkthrough practice on the grounds of the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay before rushing to Amalie Arena, where both Mississippi State and Iowa players were recognized at the Lightning's game against the Flyers.It was an unconventional practice, coach Joe Moorhead said, but a good one nonetheless."There's a big open area out here in the back that we utilized. I've heard that most teams use it when they come here," Moorhead said. "Aside from the field space, we got the same amount of work we would have planned for with the walkthrough as if we would have gone to the high school." RELATED: How Joe Moorhead went from sports writer to SEC head coach Iowa's football program may be Outback Bowl regulars, but coach Kirk Ferentz says every appearance is fresh."We have 70 new guys on this trip … so for them it's totally new," he said. "The way I put it is, and I told our guys, we're fortunate in that we've earned the bowl trip — nobody gives you that — and we're fortunate we're in a great venue for a bowl. And that's something we know from experience."Iowa has been to the Outback Bowl six times, more than any other bowl, including a 2006 matchup with Florida that was OC Brian Ferentz's last game as a player for his father'. Additionally, they Hawkeyes have traveled to Florida for postseason play 11 times, more than any other state.For Mississippi State, Tuesday's matchup will be a game of firsts.Despite traveling to Florida for a bowl for the third straight season — the Bulldogs played in the 2017 Taxslayer Bowl in Jacksonville and the 2016 St. Petersburg Bowl — Mississippi State has never appeared in the Outback. The Bulldogs have also never played Iowa.But Moorhead, who was the offensive coordinator at Penn State for two years before arriving in Starkville, knows all too well the challenges that Ferentz's Iowa team can present."Offensively, I played them the last two years," Moorhead said, "so I feel like we have a pretty good idea of what they're going to do on that side of the ball." Outback Bowl No. 18 Mississippi State vs. Iowa, noon Tuesday, Raymond James Stadium TV/radio: ESPN2; 620-AM