Tennessee received a New Year's Six bid after finishing the regular season ranked higher than Power 5 champions Kansas State, Utah, and Clemson. The Volunteers started their regular season with eight consecutive wins, reaching No. 1 in the first College Football Playoff rankings. They then lost two of their final four games, suffering defeats by Georgia and South Carolina. Tennessee entered the bowl with an overall 10–2 record (6–2 in conference).[7]
Clemson
Clemson received a New Year's Six bid after winning the ACC championship.[8] The Tigers began their season with eight consecutive wins, reaching No. 5 in major poll rankings, then lost two of their final four regular-season games. Their defeats came against Notre Dame and South Carolina. Clemson qualified for the ACC Championship Game, where they defeated North Carolina, 39–10. Clemson entered the bowl with an overall 11–2 record (8–0 in conference).
^"Joe Milton helps No. 6 Tennessee beat No. 10 Clemson 31–14 in Orange Bowl | Pahokee native named Orange Bowl MVP". WPTV-TV. December 30, 2022. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
^Austro, Ben (December 4, 2022). "2022–23 bowl officiating assignments". footballzebras.com. Retrieved December 16, 2022.
^"Fitz and the Tantrums to Headline the Capital One Halftime Show During 2022 Capital One Orange Bowl". orangebowl.org (Press release). Retrieved December 30, 2022.
^ a b c d"2022 Orange Bowl Final Stats" (PDF). Statbroadcast. December 30, 2022. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
^"2022 College Football Bowl Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
^Sparks, Adam (December 29, 2022). "Tennessee football vs Clemson in Orange Bowl is a preview of 2023". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved November 26, 2024.
^"2022 Tennessee Volunteers Schedule and Results". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
^Reed, Steve (December 4, 2022). "Klubnik, No. 10 Clemson rout No. 24 UNC 39-10 for ACC title". AP News. Retrieved December 13, 2024.