Tennessee Football’s Bowl Picture: What’s Next After the Loss to Vanderbilt?
Tennessee football had a chance to lock in a Florida bowl game, but a season-ending stumble against rival Vanderbilt has reshuffled the postseason deck. Now, with an 8-4 record and a 4-4 mark in SEC play, the Vols find themselves in a more complicated bowl landscape - one where the Gator Bowl, Music City Bowl, and Duke’s Mayo Bowl are all in play.
Let’s break down how each of those scenarios could shake out, and what factors are working for - and against - the Vols as bowl season approaches.
The Gator Bowl: Still Within Reach, But Not a Lock
Date: Dec. 27
Location: Jacksonville, Florida
The Gator Bowl is traditionally one of the more desirable SEC-affiliated bowls outside of the New Year’s Six. Warm weather, strong opponent, and a solid national spotlight - it checks a lot of boxes. But getting there isn’t as simple as it once looked.
How Tennessee gets there:
If the SEC lands five teams in the College Football Playoff rotation - including the CFP itself and the New Year’s Six - the Gator Bowl becomes a real possibility for Tennessee. That group would likely include Texas A&M, Georgia, Ole Miss, Oklahoma, and Alabama.
From there, Texas would be the top non-playoff SEC team and likely headed to the Citrus Bowl, which has the first pick of the remaining SEC squads. Vanderbilt, fresh off a 10-2 season and a win over Tennessee, would be a strong candidate for the ReliaQuest Bowl. That leaves Tennessee and Missouri, both 8-4, in the conversation for the Gator Bowl.
Why it could be Tennessee:
If Missouri is slotted into the Texas Bowl or the Duke’s Mayo Bowl, that could open the door for Tennessee to grab the Gator Bowl invite. The Vols would likely jump at the chance to play in Florida rather than stay in-state, especially after the bitter taste left by the Vanderbilt loss.
Why it might not be Tennessee:
There’s a wrinkle here.
Missouri played in the Music City Bowl last year, and bowls typically avoid sending teams to the same spot in back-to-back seasons. That could make Missouri a more appealing fit for the Gator Bowl, nudging Tennessee toward the Music City Bowl instead.
The Music City Bowl: Familiar Territory, Mixed Feelings
Date: Dec. 30
Location: Nashville, Tennessee
The Music City Bowl is geographically convenient and financially practical, but it doesn’t carry the same prestige as a Florida bowl. Still, there are legitimate reasons Tennessee could land here - or even choose it.
How Tennessee gets there:
If four or five SEC teams make the CFP/New Year’s Six cut, Tennessee could slide into the Music City Bowl depending on how the SEC office and bowl organizers match preferences. The Vols could also end up here by choice, depending on how the other options stack up.
Why it could be Tennessee:
There are some logistical advantages to staying close to home.
The Dec. 30 date means players and coaches can spend Christmas at home. Travel costs are minimal, and ticket sales would likely be strong with a local fan base.
In an era where NIL budgets matter and every dollar counts, that’s not a small consideration.
Why it might not be Tennessee:
Let’s be honest - most teams would rather play in Florida in December.
And there’s also a bit of awkwardness here. Tennessee played in the Music City Bowl in 2021, Josh Heupel’s first season.
Going back just four years later - especially after a disappointing end to the season - might not be the look the program wants. Add in the fact that the team would likely practice at Vanderbilt’s facilities, and it’s easy to see why the Vols might prefer a different destination.
The Duke’s Mayo Bowl: A Long Shot, But Still in Play
Date: Jan. 2
Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
The Duke’s Mayo Bowl sits on the same tier as the Gator and Music City bowls in terms of SEC affiliations, but its later date and location make it a less attractive option for Tennessee - especially considering other factors in play.
How Tennessee gets there:
If only four SEC teams make the CFP/New Year’s Six, the dominoes fall differently.
Texas would likely go to the Citrus Bowl, and Vanderbilt - along with another high-performing SEC squad - would fill the ReliaQuest and Gator Bowl slots. That could push Tennessee down a tier, where the Duke’s Mayo Bowl becomes a more realistic landing spot.
Why it could be Tennessee:
If LSU ends up in the Music City Bowl - which would be its first appearance there since 2014 - Tennessee could be passed down to Charlotte.
From a geographic standpoint, it’s a reasonable fit. And while the Vols have never played in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl itself, they did play in the 2024 Duke’s Mayo Classic, so there’s some familiarity with the setting.
Why it probably won’t be Tennessee:
There are a couple of big red flags here.
First, Tennessee likely wouldn’t choose a Jan. 2 bowl if it can avoid it - that’s the day the transfer portal opens, and coaches want their rosters settled before then. Second, it’s hard to imagine the Music City Bowl passing on the Vols if they’re available.
And from Tennessee’s perspective, it’s unlikely they’d pick Charlotte over Nashville unless forced to.
What’s Next?
The SEC office will play matchmaker in the coming days, weighing team preferences, bowl requests, and financial considerations - all while waiting on the final CFP selections, which will be announced Dec. 7. Tennessee’s postseason fate hinges not just on its own résumé, but on how the rest of the conference shakes out in the national picture.
Had the Vols taken care of business against Vanderbilt, we’d be talking about sunnier destinations with more certainty. But after a 45-24 loss to close the regular season, the path forward is murkier.
Still, whether it’s Jacksonville, Nashville, or Charlotte, Tennessee will get one more shot to close the season on a high note. And after the way November ended, that opportunity might be more valuable than ever.