Tennessee Football is 8-3 on the season with one game remaining on the schedule. In what is likely the biggest matchup in the history of the rivalry, the Volunteers will host in-state foe Vanderbilt to close out the regular season this Saturday in Neyland Stadium. Tennessee is playing for its ninth win of the season, while Vanderbilt is looking to avoid a third loss and subsequent elimination from the College Football Playoffs.
There’s a lot on the line this Saturday afternoon in Knoxville.
Ultimately, the result of the Tennessee-Vanderbilt game is just one factor in determining which bowl the Volunteers will wind up in. There are a few other games on the schedule this weekend, such as Alabama-Auburn and Texas-Texas A&M, that will play a significant role in determining where the Vols will play this winter.
There is an emerging trend in the latest projections, though, and that is for Tennessee to wind up back in the Sunshine State for their postseason game. It would be the third time in the last four years that Tennessee was in Florida for the bowl slate, and it would make for a second late-season trip there after defeating Florida in Gainesville this past weekend. The Vols went to the Orange Bowl in 2022 and the Citrus Bowl in 2023.
We’ve been following the bowl projections for a while now. And for one of the first times, we’re seeing agreeing opinions before the regular season finale. Both On3 Sports’ Brett McMurphy and ESPN’s Mark Schlabach have Tennessee tagged to take on Iowa in the ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa, FL, on New Year’s Eve. Last season’s bowl game saw Michigan defeat No. 11 Alabama by a score of 19-13 in Raymond James Stadium, the home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Hawkeyes are 7-4 on the season with losses to Iowa State, Indiana, Oregon, and Southern Cal. While Iowa is 0-4 against ranked teams this season, the four losses have only come from a combined 15 points. Iowa has not lost a single game by more than five points. The Hawkeyes will close the season with a road game at Nebraska on Saturday.
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The next projection comes from ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura, who has Tennessee slated to play Louisville in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl on Jan. 2 in Charlotte, N.C. This is the third straight week that Bonagura has kept his prediction on Tennessee’s bowl game.
The Cardinals are 7-4 on the season with three-straight losses to Cal, Clemson, and SMU. Louisville began the season on a 7-1 heater, including a win at Miami, but has suffered a brutal slide here late in the season. The Cards will finish the season with an in-state matchup against the SEC’s Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday afternoon.
Last season’s Duke’s Mayo contest saw Minnesota beat Virginia Tech by a score of 24-10 at Bank of America Stadium.
The final prediction comes from USA Today’s Erick Smith, who has Tennessee projected to go to the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl in a matchup against Michigan on Dec. 31 in Orlando, FL.
The Wolverines are 9-2 on the season, with losses to Oklahoma and Southern Cal and wins over Wisconsin and Nebraska. After blowing out Maryland last weekend, the only game left on Michigan’s schedule this season is a home finale against Ohio State this Saturday in Ann Arbor. With Michigan only having two losses, this is another game that could have a massive impact on Tennessee’s potential bowl opponent.
Last year’s Citrus Bowl saw Illinois defeat South Carolina by a score of 21-17. The prior year saw Tennessee demolish Iowa, 35-0.
We’ll know much more about Tennessee’s most likely bowl game options on Sunday after the conclusion of the regular season this weekend. Stay tuned to Rocky Top Insider for more bowl projections next week, with the regular season in the rear view window.
