For the first time in over 20 years, Tennessee will play in a New Year’s Six bowl game. The 10-2 Volunteers were one of the surprises of the season, storming out to an 8-0 start. Josh Heupel’s year two team reached the No. 1 ranking in the first version of the College Football Playoff rankings before ultimately falling to Georgia and South Carolina in November.
Still, not many had a ten win season projected for Tennessee, and they have a chance to finish strong against a premier opponent in the Orange Bowl. Unfortunately for the Volunteers, the story coming in is more about who won’t be available to play.