Ranking the 10 best non-New Year鈥檚 Six bowl matchups
3. Cheez-It Citrus Bowl: No. 17 Iowa vs. No. 21 Tennessee
Iowa and Tennessee will meet for the fourth time ever in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl on New Year鈥檚 Day. The last matchup between the two programs came in 2015 when the Volunteers beat the Hawkeyes in the TaxSlayer Bowl behind young quarterback Joshua Dobbs. Despite some players in the transfer portal from both teams, particularly on the defensive side of the ball, this year鈥檚 contest remains intriguing.
The Vols certainly didn鈥檛 have the season they were hoping for in 2023, going 8-4 in the regular season. However, three of those losses came to SEC heavyweights Alabama, Georgia and Missouri. Tennessee still has a productive offense led by Joe Milton III and leading rusher Jaylen Wright. Iowa can鈥檛 quite say the same, ranking 130th among FBS teams in total offense this year. It was the Hawkeyes鈥� fifth-ranked total defense that led them to a Big Ten West title and a big day from that unit may be their only chance at getting a win in Orlando.
