The Hawkeyes are headed back to the Sunshine State.

The University of Iowa football team has accepted an invitation to play in the Citrus Bowl, where the Hawkeyes (10-3) will face Tennessee (8-4) on Jan. 1, 2024, at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla.

Iowa and Tennessee have split two previous bowl meetings, with the Volunteers taking a 45-28 triumph over the Hawkeyes in the Jan. 2, 2015, TaxSlayer Bowl.

“We’re just excited to be playing another game,” Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. “Really proud of our team. They worked hard all year. Disappointing loss last night, but they’ve certainly earned the right to play in an outstanding bowl like the Citrus Bowl.”

The Citrus Bowl gets first pick of Big Ten and SEC teams that did not go to the prestigious New Year’s Six bowls. It will be the second time in the last three years Iowa has gone to the Citrus Bowl. Iowa suffered a 20-17 loss to Kentucky when the Hawkeyes went there following the 2021 season.

Tennessee is coming off an 8-4 season, with three of four losses against ranked opponents.

“It’s going to be a great challenge on the field,” Ferentz said. “We realize that. It was that way two years ago. It will be again this year as well.”

Iowa is ranked No. 17 in the final College Football Playoff rankings, while Tennessee ended 21st.

Tennessee ranks 17th among FBS teams with 453.5 total yards per game. Its 5.59 yards per rushing attempt ranks sixth nationally. Meanwhile, Iowa’s defense has been among the best in the country, especially at stopping the run. The Hawkeyes rank fifth in the country in total yards allowed per game and sixth with only 3.0 rushing yards allowed per attempt.

“They make you earn it,” Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said of the Iowa defense. “They’re not going to give you anything. … They don’t make mistakes.”

It will be the 36th bowl game all-time for Iowa and 14th against the SEC. The Hawkeyes are 7-6 in bowl games against teams from the SEC, including last season’s 21-0 win over Kentucky in the Music City Bowl in Nashville. Kentucky beat Iowa 20-17 in the 2022 Citrus Bowl.

Iowa has received a bowl invitation in 21 of its last 23 seasons, dating back to 2001.