The 1994 Gator Bowl saw Tennessee face off against regional rival 17th-ranked Virginia Tech at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on the campus of the University of Florida.

[13] The Tennessee Volunteers had finished the 1993 season with a 10–2 record and a season-ending loss to the Penn State Nittany Lions under first-year head coach Phillip Fulmer in the Citrus Bowl.

The loss was merely a bump in the road, however, as Tennessee won all four regular-season games that followed, ending the regular season with a 65–0 drubbing of in-state rival Vanderbilt.

The Hokies started the season well, winning their first four games in succession and culminating with a victory against West Virginia in the annual battle for the Black Diamond Trophy.

6 Miami, when Tech lost its second game of the season, a loss that was followed by a season-ending defeat to perennial rival Virginia.

In addition to that loss, Gator Bowl officials later stated they were reluctant to invite an Atlantic Coast Conference team for a fourth straight year, thus opening the door for the Hokies from the Big East.

[25] This natural rivalry was amplified by a basketball game held the day prior to the Gator Bowl that pitted the two schools' varsity teams against each other.

[34] Manning's favorite target was Joey Kent, who caught 36 passes for 470 yards during the regular season, but slightly injured his ankle in a pre-Gator Bowl practice.

[38] One of Tennessee's other backup running backs, Jay Graham, was predicted to be kept out of the game due to an injury, but played after undergoing surgery.

[40] Prior to the game, Tennessee coach Fulmer pronounced himself unsatisfied with the Vols' performance in opponents' red zone during the regular season.

[41] On offense, the Virginia Tech Hokies were led by quarterback Maurice DeShazo, who completed 164 of his 296 pass attempts during the regular season for 2,110 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions.

[47] On the ground, Virginia Tech's rushing offense was led by running back Dwayne Thomas, who carried the ball 142 times for 642 yards and five touchdowns.

[51] Though he was not able to actively coach the team during the Gator Bowl, Bustle offered advice and strategy to Beamer during the weeks before the game.

[53] During the regular season, the Volunteers' scoring defense was ranked the second-best in the SEC, allowing an average of just 16.82 points per game.

[61] Fellow linebacker Ken Brown was named a first-team All-Big East selection, signifying his status as one of the best players at his position in the conference.

[47] Despite that success, Brown suffered a pulled hamstring before Virginia Tech's final regular-season game and his presence in the Gator Bowl was doubtful.

TBS televised the game in the United States, and Gary Bender, Pat Haden, and Craig Sager were the broadcasters.

Tennessee won the ceremonial pre-game coin toss and elected to kick off to Virginia Tech to begin the game.

On the second play, Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning completed a nine-yard pass to wide receiver Nilo Silvan.

[64] On the first play of the drive, Tennessee committed a five-yard false start penalty, pushing the Volunteers back toward their goal line.

Two plays later, James Stewart broke free for an 18-yard run that gave Tennessee a first down at the Virginia Tech one-yard line.

Tech gained a first down at the Tennessee six-yard line, and used a timeout to stop the clock in order to have a chance to earn a touchdown before halftime.

The punt was fair caught at the Tech 25-yard line, and the Hokies began their first offensive possession of the second half with 10:14 remaining in the third quarter.

On the next play, Tech wide receiver Antonio Freeman committed a pass interference penalty, pushing the Hokies back 15 yards.

Dwayne Thomas made good the penalty by gaining 16 yards on an option run, which was followed by a 17-yard pass from DeShazo to Freeman, who kept the Hokies' drive going with a first down at the Tennessee 39-yard line.

After an incomplete pass, Thomas broke free for a 27-yard run along the left side of the field, giving Tech a first down at the Tennessee 13-yard line.

[66] The fourth quarter began with Tennessee in possession of the ball and facing a first-and-10 at the Virginia Tech 37-yard line after a long punt return.

James Stewart took the first play of the Volunteers' drive, an eight-yard gain, then backup Jay Graham entered the game and ran to the five-yard line for a first down.

Branndon Stewart completed a pass to tight end David Horn, pushing Tennessee back to the three-yard line, but not gaining enough for a first down.

[68] Following the kickoff and return, backup Virginia Tech quarterback Jim Druckenmiller entered the game to guide the Hokies' offense.