What bowl game is Tennessee football going to? Latest updates, projections for Vols

No. 21 Tennessee football gets its third straight bowl bid under coach Josh Heupel on Sunday, and it'll likely be in Florida.

Tennessee is projected to play in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl (Dec. 29, Jacksonville, Florida) or the ReliaQuest Bowl (Jan. 1, Tampa, Florida). And there's at least one projection that puts UT in the Cheeze-It Citrus Bowl (Jan. 1, Orlando, Florida).

The Vols (8-4, 4-4 SEC) have the sixth-best record in the SEC, and there are no other 8-4 teams in the league. So UT knows where it stands in the pecking order. But Georgia's loss in the SEC title game has stirred up the bowl scenarios for the SEC teams below it.

In 2021, UT lost 48-45 in overtime to Purdue in the Music City Bowl. In 2022, UT beat Clemson 31-14 in the Orange Bowl, a New Year's Six Bowl that season. This season, the Vols are in between those two selections in the pecking order of SEC bowl tie-ins.

Tennessee vs. Iowa in Citrus Bowl

Tennessee will face Iowa in the Citrus Bowl, pitting the Vols' fast-paced offense against one of the lowest-scoring offenses in the Power Five.

Here's a rundown of the matchup from Knox News' Adam Sparks:

VOLS BOWL PODCAST Why Tennessee should want to face North Carolina in Gator Bowl

What bowl game is Tennessee going to? Updated projections entering Sunday

These projections place Tennessee in the Gator Bowl:

• USA TODAY Sports: Tennessee vs. Notre Dame

• ESPN's Bonagura: Tennessee vs. North Carolina

• 247Sports: Tennessee vs. North Carolina

• ESPN's Schlabach: Tennessee vs. Louisville

• The Athletic: Tennessee vs. North Carolina State

• CBS Sports: Tennessee vs. North Carolina State

• Fox Sports: Tennessee vs. North Carolina State

There projections place Tennessee in the ReliaQuest Bowl:

• Action Network: Tennessee vs. Wisconsin

• Athlon Sports: Tennessee vs. Wisconsin

This projection places Tennessee in the Citrus Bowl:

• College Football News: Tennessee vs. Iowa

Here's what will determine Tennessee bowl bid

Whether Ole Miss goes to a New Year's Six Bowl or the Citrus Bowl will have a domino effect to Tennessee and the other SEC teams.

If the SEC gets three teams in the College Football Playoff and New Year's Six Bowls combined, Tennessee likely would go to the Gator Bowl. Those SEC teams would be Alabama, Georgia and Missouri.

If the SEC gets four teams in the College Football Playoff and New Year's Six Bowls combined, Tennessee likely would go to the ReliaQuest Bowl. Those SEC teams would be Alabama, Georgia, Missouri and Ole Miss.

After the CFP and NY6, the Citrus Bowl independently chooses from the remaining SEC teams regardless of record. It seems like Ole Miss (10-2) or LSU (9-3) would get that bid. But Tennessee (8-4) technically would be an option.

After the Citrus Bowl, the SEC follows a pecking order, according to overall record.

If it comes down to the ReliaQuest Bowl or Gator Bowl, LSU (9-3) would have preference over Tennessee (8-4). But the SEC works with the bowls and schools in the selection process.

When are college football bowl games announced?

The College Football Playoff Selection Show will begin at noon with CFP and NY6 bowl selections first. Expect the other bowls, including Tennessee's bid, to be announced around 3 p.m. ET.

Time: noon-4 p.m. ET

TV: ESPN

Streaming: Watch ESPN

Tennessee football schedule 2023

• Virginia: W 49-13

• Austin Peay: W 30-13

• At Florida: L 29-16

• UTSA: W 45-14

• South Carolina: W 41-20

• Texas A&M: W 20-13

• At Alabama: L 34-20

• At Kentucky: W 33-27

• UConn: W 59-3

• At Missouri: L 36-7

• Georgia: L 38-10

• Vanderbilt: W 48-24

Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.

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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee bowl projections: Latest updates for Vols’ opponent