The Tennessee Vols learned on Sunday afternoon that they’ll end the 2023 season with a matchup against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Citrus Bowl.

Tennessee last played in the Citrus Bowl in 2002 (2001 season). The Vols beat Michigan 45-17 in that matchup.

For Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton, the Citrus Bowl will provide a unique ending to a Vols career that started in 2021 when he arrived in Knoxville as a transfer from Michigan.

Milton is from South Florida, but he played high school football in Orlando. And the Citrus Bowl, of course, is played at Camping World Stadium in Downtown Orlando.

The Vols quarterback will see his collegiate career end in the same city where he was recruited by high profile programs like Michigan, Florida, Miami, LSU, and even Tennessee (remember former Vols quarterbacks coach Mike Canales?….he offered Milton way back in 2017).

There’s no word yet if Milton has any plans to skip the bowl game to prepare for the NFL Draft. That’s a move that’s becoming increasingly common for quarterbacks with NFL aspirations. But it’s hard to imagine Milton passing up an opportunity to end his carer by playing in Orlando. Playing in Florida, after all, is something that’s important to Milton.

“It meant a lot, I had a lot of family here,” said Milton earlier this season after Tennessee’s loss to Florida in Gainesville.

Vols head coach Josh Heupel, who spent three seasons in Orlando as UCF’s head coach before landing at Tennessee, alluded to the importance of the game for the players on UT’s roster from the Orlando area while speaking to reporters on Sunday evening.

“For our players from the area, it’s an opportunity to get back home,” said Heupel. “So many families and friends that are gonna have an opportunity to watch them play, but [also] get a chance to be a part of the entire week and the build up to it. Those guys have great pride.”

Offensive lineman John Campbell, a Miami transfer, is also from Orlando. While offensive lineman Gerald Mincey is from Fort Lauderdale and defensive back De’Shawn Rucker is from Tallahassee.

The Citrus Bowl will be played on New Year’s Day.