Michigan Related Info: Team Page Conference Page City Page: • Ann Arbor Message Boards: • Michigan • Big Ten

Tennessee Related Info: Team Page Conference Page City Page: • Knoxville Message Boards: • Tennessee • SEC

ORLANDO, Florida (Ticker) -- Two teams coming off losses that cost them conference championships clash when eighth-ranked Tennessee takes on No. 15 Michigan in the Florida Citrus Bowl.

Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer is all too familiar with Orlando, having made three trips to the Citrus Bowl in four years from 1994-1997. The Citrus Bowl came to symbolize Tennessee's inability to beat Florida and Gators coach Steve Spurrier once joked that "citrus" cannot be spelled without UT.

The Volunteers ended years of frustration with a 34-32 victory over the Gators that catapulted them into the Southeastern Conference championship.

Tennessee snapped a seven-game losing streak at Florida, but the Volunteers followed up with a 31-20 loss to Louisiana State in the SEC title contest that knocked them out of the national championship picture.

Travis Stephens, the SEC's leading rusher, was held to 37 yards on 14 carries and also had a crucial fumble that led to the go-ahead score for LSU. Stephens set a Tennessee record by rushing for 1,464 yards.

Casey Clausen is 16-3 as a starting quarterback for the Volunteers. Kelley Washington become the first true freshman to lead Tennessee in receiving yards with 1,010.

Michigan's hopes for a Big Ten championship were dashed in a 26-20 defeat loss to Ohio State that handed the conference title to Illinois.

Michigan is attempting to win five straight bowls for the first time in school history, a streak that started in 1997, when the Wolverines captured a share of the national championship.

Michigan is making its second straight appearance in the Florida Citrus Bowl, beating Auburn, 31-28, last season. Anthony Thomas rushed for 181 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries to become Michigan's all-time leading rusher.

Michigan quarterback John Navarre has had an inconsistent season, throwing four interceptions against Ohio State. His favorite receiver is Marquise Walker, who caught 15 passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns against the Buckeyes to go over 1,000 receiving yards for the season.

Michigan and Tennessee have combined for 75 bowl appearances. The Wolverines are making their 27th straight postseason appearance and the Volunteers their 13th in a row, yet the traditional powers never have faced each other.

Tennessee will be playing its first game against any school from the state of Michigan. The Volunteers are making their 42nd bowl appearance, second all-time behind Alabama's 51.