Week 0 is in the books and the majority of teams across the country are now in game-week preparation for Week 1. This includes Tennessee football, which is fighting to not just make another bowl game, but get back to the College Football Playoffs for the second-straight year.
According to Brett McMurphy of On3, the Vols could find themselves in a familiar bowl matchup after the 2025 campaign. In his prediction of every bowl game this year, he has Tennessee facing Iowa in the ReliaQuest Bowl. The game is played in Tampa, Florida, and will be held on Dec. 31, 2025.
The pair of teams just met after the 2023 season in a Florida-based bowl game, as well. The Vols squared off with the Hawkeyes in the Citrus Bowl, marking quarterback Nico Iamaleava’s first-ever start. Tennessee ultimately won 35-0.
More From RTI: Which Former Tennessee Football Stars Are Projected to Make NFL Rosters
The Vols finished the year 9-4 after an 8-4 regular season, led by Joe Milton III. Iamaleava, a true freshman, started at quarterback and completed 12-of-19 passes for 151 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for a net of 27 yards and three touchdowns, while being sacked six times. He was named the MVP of the game.
James Pearce Jr. also helped fuel the hype train that he parlayed into a strong junior year in 2024. He snagged a pick-six off Iowa quarterback Deacon Hill to help preserve the shutout win.
All-time, Tennessee is 3-1 against Iowa. Outside of the 2023 Citrus Bowl win, the Vols also won 45-28 in the 2015 TaxSlayer Bowl and 23-22 in East Rutherford, New Jersey, in 1987. UT lost its only game in Atlanta, 28-22, in 1982.
Iowa’s Vegas betting line for wins this year is set at 7.5 victories. You can get the over for +130 and the under for -160. The Hawkeyes have +3500 odds to win the Big Ten, which is tied with Indiana for the eighth-best mark in the conference.
Iowa’s odds to make the 12-team College Football Playoffs are at +760 for yes and -1400 for no.
