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ESPN makes its preseason bowl projections for Tennessee Football

IMG_3593by: Grant Ramey08/15/25GrantRamey
Bowl Projections AFI

ESPN’s new preseason bowl projections don’t have Tennessee returning to the College Football Playoff this season. The two picks from Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach aren’t in agreement, either. 

Bonagura has Tennessee returning to the Citrus Bowl for a second time in three years, this time facing Michigan, while Bonagura has the Vols headed to the Texas Bowl to face Iowa State. 

Tennessee has never played in the Texas Bowl and has faced Iowa State just once, winning 23-21 in Knoxville in 1982.  

Vols went 10-3 last season, losing in first round of College Football Playoff

Tennessee has played in the Citrus Bowl six times. The Vols beat Maryland 30-23 in 1983, lost to Penn State 31-13 in 1994, beat Ohio State 20-14 in 1996 and Northwestern 48-28 in 1997, Michigan 45-17 in 2002 and Iowa 35-0 two seasons ago.

The win over Michigan in the Citrus Bowl to end the 2021 season is Tennessee’s only meeting with the Wolverines.

The Vols went 10-3 last season, making the College Football Playoff as a No. 9 seed in the first season with a 12-team field. Ohio State ended Tennessee’s season with a 42-17 win at Ohio Stadium last December, starting the Buckeyes on their run to the national championship. 

ESPN’s College Football Playoff Picks

Bonagura’s projected first-round matchups in the playoff are No. 12 Boise State at No. 5 Georgia, No. 11 Miami at No. 6 Notre Dame, No. 10 Arizona State at No. 7 Alabama and No. 9 LSU at No. 8 Oregon.

His second-round matchups are No. 8 Oregon vs. No. 1 Texas, No. 5 Georgia vs. No. 4 Clemson, No. 7 Alabama vs. No. 2 Penn State and No. 6 Notre Dame vs. No. 3 Ohio State.

His semifinals are No. 5 Georgia vs. No. 1 Texas and No. 3 Ohio State vs. No. 2 Penn State, with No. 2 Clemson facing No. 1 Texas in the national championship game.

Schlabach’s projected first round is No. 12 Boise State at No. 5 Ohio State, No. 11 Arizona State at No. 6 Alabama, No. 10 LSU at No. 7 Notre Dame and No. 9 Miami at No. 8 Oregon.

Then in the second round it’s No. 8 Oregon vs. No. 1 Texas, No. 10 LSU vs. No. 2 Clemson, No. 6 Alabama vs. No. 3 Penn State and No. 5 Ohio State vs. No. 4 Ohio State.

His semifinals are No. 4 Georgia vs. No. 1 Texas and No. 3 Penn State vs. No. 2 Clemson, then No. 2 Clemson vs. No. 1 Texas in the title game.

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