Why Tennessee football should want to face North Carolina in Gator Bowl

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If the Gator Bowl is to be Tennessee football’s postseason path, then let the opponent be North Carolina.

The Vols (8-4) will learn their bowl destination on Sunday. Most of the prominent projections have identified Tennessee as being earmarked for the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, against either UNC (8-4) or North Carolina State (9-3).

Tennessee last played in the Gator Bowl to culminate the 2019 season, rallying to beat Indiana to culminate Jeremy Pruitt’s second year on the job.

On this edition of “The Volunteer State,” Blake Toppmeyer of the USA TODAY Network and the News Sentinel’s Adam Sparks and John Adams examine the Vols’ postseason path and why UNC would be a more desirable opponent for Tennessee.

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In truth, the outcome of this game doesn’t matter much for the direction of the program under Josh Heupel. What happens in the December signing period, plus the transfer window, is much more influential.

ADAMS: No surprise, most readers wanted to see more of Nico Iamaleava. Maybe, in bowl game?

TOPPMEYER: Texas A&M Aggies hire Mike Elko. Pfffft.

TENNESSEE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE: Vols get 2024 dates for Oklahoma, Alabama, Florida games

Nevertheless, a bowl game outcome will shape perception of the season. If Tennessee finishes 9-4, that would match the Vols’ best record achieved by any coach between Phillip Fulmer and Heupel. Butch Jones posted two 9-4 seasons.

An 8-5 campaign probably would knock Tennessee out of the Top 25 and be viewed as more of a clear step backward from 2022.

We expect Joe Milton to play in the bowl game, meaning Nico mania must wait until 2024.

In the meantime, beat UNC.

Here’s the argument for playing UNC rather than NC State.

We know this, because the Wolfpack just beat the Tar Heels, 39-20, in the regular-season finale.

If UNC’s Drake…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/why-tennessee-football-want-face-111514592.html

Author : Knox News | The Knoxville News-Sentinel

Publish date : 2023-11-29 11:15:14

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