Entering the Citrus Bowl, Tennessee held a 2–1 advantage in the overall series, also winning the Kickoff Classic game, 23–22, to open the 1987 season.
This was a change from previous editions of the Citrus Bowl, which allotted time for both marching bands to play during pregame and halftime.
In addition to negative social media reactions (using the hashtag "LetTheBandsPlay") receiving coverage from Iowa and Tennessee media outlets, a Change.org petition protesting the change (as well as similar developments in the 2023 Pop-Tarts Bowl and 2023 Frisco Bowl) obtained over 5,000 signatures a day after posting.
[12][13][14] On December 10, The Citrus Bowl announced on their Twitter and Facebook pages that both marching bands would now play at pregame and halftime, issuing the following statement:[15] We're working closely with Iowa and Tennessee to design a great experience for this year's Cheez-It Citrus Bowl.
During the halftime show presented by Cheez-It Snap'd, our live performance will be followed by traditional bowl game performances from University of Iowa Hawkeye Marching Band and The University of Tennessee Bands - Pride of the Southland Band.at Camping World Stadium • Orlando, Florida Pound sign (#) denotes national championship game.