Shane Beamer erupted after Bret Bielema taunted him over Citrus Bowl substitutions

Shane Beamer was HOT.

If you need proof that non-CFP bowl games matter, look no further than the Citrus Bowl between South Carolina and Illinois on Tuesday. This game got so testy, the two head coaches almost needed to trade in their headsets for boxing gloves.

It all started with some unorthodox late defensive substitutions by the Illini, which delayed South Carolina’s pace and clearly got under the skin of Gamecocks coach Shane Beamer. During an in-game interview, he told the ABC broadcast Illinois should be penalized for 12 men on the field. Regardless, officials allowed it.

Fast forward to the third quarter, Illinois coach Bret Bielema was checking on an injured player on South Carolina’s side of the field when he decided to taunt Beamer with the arms-out substitution sign. Suffice to say, Beamer didn’t appreciate it because he absolutely snapped.

This was all kinds of petty from Bielema, but it brought some excitement to what was already a decent game.

A giant Cheez-It officiated a wedding at the Citrus Bowl because we are a post-shame society

Ched-Z has no eyes but wears stunner shades. How does this qualify him to officiate a wedding???

Bowl games, for the most part, are inherently silly. Outside of the College Football Playoff, they feature two teams with little in terms of established history or geographical interest playing in a game barely effects the final standings.

Teams play not for a national title but often for a generic trophy stamped with the name of whichever sponsor came through that year. In recent winters, they’ve been marred by opt-outs and matchups where the motivation levels of each side are wildly mismatched.

Fortunately, a sport that often takes itself too seriously has developed the self-awareness to lean into this ridiculousness. Late-season exhibitions held far from either team’s home base have leaned into their uniqueness regardless of the action on the field. It’s how we’ve gotten French fry dumps and edible mascots.

It’s how we got a giant Cheez-It mascot officiating an in-game wedding ceremony.

In a world where everyone is chasing Pop-Tarts Bowl clout, Cheez-It stands above the fray as arguably the thirstiest of the postseason sponsors. Not only were there multiple dedicated Cheez-It Bowls — one of which actually went on to become the Pop-Tarts Bowl — but the baked snack is also sponsor of the Citrus Bowl. So, naturally, this football game between two top-20 programs became the perfect backdrop for toasted cheese-themed nuptials.

Who amongst us hasn’t planned their dream wedding, hitched to the back of a golf cart and lorded over by a giant brick of carbohydrates with no eyes but, for some reason, stunner shades? Indeed, this lucky couple said “I do” in front of the hottest mascot of 2012 and the indifferent cameras of tens of thousands of people. Their footage will be immediate grounds for annulment should it be presented to a priest, cleric or shaman of their choosing.

On the other hand, if two people have the overlapping interests that allow them to be married on a football field by an anthropomorphic snack seemingly intent on cuckolding the groom:

Well, maybe they were meant to be.

Jaylen McCollough breaks Tennessee career record for starts

Jaylen McCollough breaks Tennessee career record for starts.

No. 23 Tennessee (9-4, 4-4 SEC) defeated No. 17 Iowa (10-4, 7-2 Big Ten), 35-0, Monday in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.

Rankings reflect the US LBM Coaches Poll.

Senior defensive back Jaylen McCollough made his 51st career start in Tennessee’s win against Iowa. That sets Tennessee’s career record for starts, passing defensive back Jonathan Hefney, who started 50 games for the Vols from 2004-07.

The 6-foot, 206-pound McCollough recorded four tackles and one pass deflection against the Hawkeyes.

“We are proud of him,” Tennessee defensive coordinator Tim Banks said of McCollough ahead of the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl. “I think it says a lot about him as a man and his durability and being able to fight through some bumps and bruises. We are excited for him. Not only has he been a tremendous player on the field, but, definitely, a great locker room teammate and a guy that we have enjoyed coaching through this ride.”

PHOTOS: Tennessee defeats Iowa in 2024 Cheez-It Citrus Bowl

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

James Pearce Jr. scores on first career touchdown

James Pearce Jr. scores on first career touchdown in the Citrus Bowl.

Tennessee defensive lineman James Pearce Jr. concluded his sophomore season on Monday in the Vols’ 35-0 win versus Iowa in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl.

Pearce Jr. recorded three tackles, one sack, one tackle for a loss, one interception, one touchdown and one forced fumble against the Hawkeyes. He scored on a 52-yard interception for his first career touchdown.

The 6-foot-5, 242-pound defensive lineman discussed Tennessee’s victory after the game.

“We always want to come out and dominate at a really high level no matter who we are playing,” Pearce Jr. said.

Pearce Jr. recorded 24 tackles, 13 tackles for a loss and 8.5 sacks during the 2023 season.

PHOTOS: Tennessee defeats Iowa in 2024 Cheez-It Citrus Bowl

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Nico Iamaleava recaps first career win

Nico Iamaleava recaps first career win at Tennessee.

Freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava made his first collegiate start for Tennessee in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl versus Iowa.

Iamaleava completed 12-of-19 passing attempts for 151 passing yards and one passing touchdown. He also totaled 15 rushing attempts for 27 yards and three touchdowns.

Iamaleava was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.

He met with media following the contest and recapped his performance.

“Felt great,” Iamaleava said. “Finally, to play a whole game, I have not done that in a while. Felt good to get back out there and get my feet wet.

“I am proud of the guys and how they played. The receivers played a tremendous game, and o-line did good. Receivers did good. I still think there is a lot of room for us to get better.”

Iamaleava became the fourth true freshman quarterback to start a bowl game for Tennessee in program history, joining Tyler Bray (2010 Music City Bowl versus North Carolina), Casey Clausen (2001 Cotton Bowl versus Kansas State) and Peyton Manning (1994 Gator Bowl versus Virginia Tech).

PHOTOS: Tennessee defeats Iowa in 2024 Cheez-It Citrus Bowl

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Josh Heupel recaps Vols’ win in 2024 Citrus Bowl

Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel recaps the Vols’ win in the 2024 Citrus Bowl.

Tennessee (9-4, 4-4 SEC) defeated Iowa (10-4, 7-2 Big Ten), 35-0, Monday in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.

Third-year head coach Josh Heupel recapped the Vols’ win after the game.

“Really proud of our team, our program,” Heupel said. “I thought it during the course of our preparation, but they were very intentional, focused when they went into the meeting, went on the practice field. They were engaged and they competed hard. That was true in our preparation back home. It was true, while we were here. They enjoyed the bowl festivities at the same time. I thought it was a great balance, and they came out and played as though they had prepared the right way, and proud of the performance.

“You look defensively, violent and disruptive on the line of scrimmage. Handled the run game really the entire day. Mashed things out on their boot game and got off the field on third downs. The front applied so much pressure during the course of it. James (Pearce Jr.) did an unbelievable job the entire day. Obviously, everybody saw the big pick, and he was in the backfield and made it uncomfortable for the quarterback all day long. Offensively, efficient enough. Nico (Iamaleava) played really well. First-time starter. There was nothing that was too big for him. Never got rattled. Very composed, in control, communication, controlling the run game, just did an unbelievable job, decision-making, and then made plays with his feet as well. At the end of the day, we played all three phases well together. That was the challenge for us going into this one. That is a really good football team that we played today that has had a tremendous amount of success this season, but over coach’s (Kirk Ferentz) tenure, got a great amount of respect for who he is and how he conducts his program. Great way to finish the 2023 season and to kick off the ’24.”

PHOTOS: Tennessee defeats Iowa in 2024 Cheez-It Citrus Bowl

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Tennessee records first shutout bowl win since 1957

Tennessee football records first shutout bowl win since 1957.

Tennessee (9-4, 4-4 SEC) defeated No. 17 Iowa (10-4, 7-2 Big Ten), 35-0, Monday in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.

Monday’s victory marks Tennessee’s first shutout win in a bowl game since defeating Texas A&M, 3-0, in the 1957 Gator Bowl.

“Really proud of our team, our program,” Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel said after Tennessee’s win against Iowa. “I thought it during the course of our preparation, but they were very intentional, focused when they went into the meeting, went on the practice field. They were engaged and they competed hard.

“You look defensively, violent and disruptive on the line of scrimmage. Handled the run game really the entire day. Mashed things out on their boot game and got off the field on third downs. The front applied so much pressure during the course of it. James did an unbelievable job the entire day. Obviously, everybody saw the big pick, and he was in the backfield and made it uncomfortable for the quarterback all day long.”

PHOTOS: Tennessee defeats Iowa in 2024 Cheez-It Citrus Bowl

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Big Ten bowl woes deepen as Iowa gets routed by Tennessee

The Big Ten keeps taking body blows in the bowl season.

The Big Ten is losing one bowl game after another. Ohio State lost to Missouri in the Cotton Bowl on Friday. Penn State lost the Peach Bowl to Ole Miss on Saturday. Wisconsin fell to LSU in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Monday. The new year began with that Big Ten loss plus another one: Iowa was demolished by Tennessee in the Citrus Bowl in Orlando.

Hawkeyes Wire covered the story:

“Somehow the Iowa Hawkeyes managed to put on what may prove to be their most frustrating offensive performance to date in the final game of a year filled with extremely poor offensive games.

“Deacon Hill was unable to get anything going in the passing game and was handing out turnovers to Tennessee like it was Halloween candy. One saving grace is that this is the end of the era with Hill at quarterback.”

Vols Wire added this detail, pointing out that Tennessee goes into 2024 with a quarterback it is very excited about:

“The Vols led, 14-0, at halftime as freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava, made his first career start. He scored two touchdown runs during the second quarter. Iamaleava also had a 2-yard touchdown run in the third quarter to make the score, 21-0.”

So many Big Ten teams are heading into the offseason with a lot of questions swirling overhead. USC isn’t the only one.

Visit our friends at Fighting Irish Wire, Buffaloes Wire, and Ducks Wire.

Social media reacts to Tennessee’s win against Iowa in Citrus Bowl

Social media reacts to Tennessee’s win against Iowa in the 2024 Citrus Bowl.

Tennessee concluded its 2023 football season on Monday.

The Vols defeated Iowa, 35-0, in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.

Tennessee kicked off its 2023 season on Sept. 2, defeating Virginia, 49-13, at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.

The Vols’ home schedule had contests against Austin Peay (W, 30-13), UTSA (W, 45-14), South Carolina (W, 41-20), Texas A&M (W, 20-13), UConn (W, 59-3), Georgia (L, 38-10) and Vanderbilt (W, 48-24).

Tennessee’s road schedule featured games at Florida (L, 29-16), Alabama (L, 34-20), Kentucky (W, 33-27) and Missouri (L, 36-7).

PHOTOS: Tennessee defeats Iowa in 2024 Cheez-It Citrus Bowl

Below is social media reaction after the Vols’ win against Iowa at Camping World Stadium.

PHOTOS: Nico Iamaleava wins first career start in Citrus Bowl

PHOTOS: Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava wins first career start in the Citrus Bowl versus Iowa

No. 23 Tennessee (9-4, 4-4 SEC) defeated No. 17 Iowa (10-4, 7-2 Big Ten), 35-0, Monday in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.

Rankings reflect the US LBM Coaches Poll.

Freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava made his first career start for Tennessee. He completed 12-of-19 passing attempts for 151 yards and one touchdown, while rushing for 27 yards and three touchdowns on 15 attempts.

Iamaleava was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2024 Cheez-It Citrus Bowl. He started in replace of redshirt senior quarterback Joe Milton III. Milton III opted out of the contest to focus on the NFL draft.

Below are photos of Tennessee’s win versus Iowa at Camping World Stadium on New Year’s Day.