The Official Tennessee vs. Illinois, Music City Bowl Game Thread, 5:30 PM ET, ESPN

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YankeeVol

YankeeVol

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#1
Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl


Tennessee Volunteers: 8-4 (4-4 SEC)
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vs.

Illinois Fighting Illini: 8-4 (5-4 B10)

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GAME 13 | DEC. 30, 2025 | 4:30 P.M. CT | NASHVILLE, TENN. | NISSAN STADIUM (69,143)



Weather
Hi: 37 / Low: 26 // Precip: 0%


Line: UT -3.5
O/U: 61.5


TV: ESPN / Watch
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Illinois Game Notes

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#2
#2

NEED TO KNOW​

Bowl Facts
Tennessee will be playing in its 57th all-time bowl/postseason game (30-26 record) when it takes on Illinois on Tuesday, a mark that is tied for seventh nationally with LSU. This will also be the Vols' fourth time playing in the Music City Bowl after defeating Nebraska in 2016 and dropping a pair of overtime contests to North Carolina (2010) and Purdue (2021).
UT is 2-2 in postseason games under Heupel, posting wins over Iowa in the 2024 Citrus Bowl and Clemson in the 2022 Orange Bowl.

Turning Takeaways Into Points
The Vols are one of the nation's best teams when it comes to scoring defensive touchdowns, leading the Power Four and ranking second in the FBS with six defensive scores this season (three INT returns, 3 fumble returns).
Tennessee has forced 18 turnovers in total this season, which is tied for the second most in the SEC, and has forced multiple turnovers in eight of its 12 games.

Freshmen Phenoms on Rocky Top
UT produced an impressive five Freshman All-Americans this season by various outlets. Braylon Staley, Jesse Perry, Edwin Spillman and Ty Redmond were all named to The Athletic Freshman All-America Team, marking the most players by any team in the nation. David Sanders Jr. was recognized on the 247Sports and On3 Freshman All-America teams, as well. Redmond was also tabbed to the 247Sports team.

Milestone Watch
A couple of different Vols are within reach of impressive milestones entering this year's Music City Bowl. Redshirt sophomore running back DeSean Bishop needs just 17 rushing yards to eclipse 1,000 for the season. By doing so, Bishop would become the third Tennessee running back in as many years to hit the 1,000-yard mark, joining Dylan Sampson (1,491 in 2024) and Jaylen Wright (1,013 in 2023).

Staley needs one reception to break UT's freshman record (true or redshirt) of 64 set by Kelley Washington in 2001. He is also one touchdown catch short of tying Justin Hunter's freshman record (true or redshirt) of seven set in 2012.

Lastly, senior quarterback Joey Aguilar needs 242 yards to break Peyton Manning's single-season program record for total offense (3,789 in 1997). Aguilar enters Tuesday's contest with 3,548 yards of total offense, including a Heupel-era high 3,444 passing yards.
 
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#3
#3

SERIES HISTORY​

First Meeting
This year's Music City Bowl showdown will mark the first meeting on the gridiron between Tennessee and Illinois. The Vols will look to even their record to 2-2 against Big Ten foes under Heupel with a win.
 
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#4
#4

ABOUT ILLINOIS​

Illinois is led by head coach Bret Bielema, who is finishing his fifth season with the program. The Fighting Illini boast an 8-4 record, including a 5-4 mark in Big Ten play and are receiving votes in both the AP and Coaches polls.

Veteran quarterback Luke Altmyer leads Illinois offensively with 2,811 passing yards and 21 touchdown passes while adding 188 yards and four more scores on the ground. Senior wide receiver Hank Beatty is Altmyer's top target through the air with team highs in receptions (64) and receiving yards (826) to go along with three touchdowns. Sophomore wideout Collin Dixon has 33 catches for 538 yards and a team-leading five touchdown catches. The duo of Ca'Lil Valentine and Kaden Feagin lead the Illini ground attack with a combined 1,048 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns.

Defensively, junior defensive back Matthew Bailey leads the team with 76 total tackles, including four tackles for loss, to go along with two pass breakups and a pair of forced fumbles. Senior outside linebacker Gabe Jacas has been a handful for opposing offenses with a team-high 13.5 tackles for loss and 11.0 sacks, which are tied for the second most in the Big Ten, but will not play in the bowl game after declaring for the NFL Draft.
 
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#9
#9
Kind of confused as to why the spread has gone from Tennessee being favored by 8 1/2 to 2 1/2......am I missing something? The weather? Players entered the portal or not playing? Seems like a huge change........but I got VOLS BY FIDDY!!!!!
 
#10
#10
ejb8910 said:
Kind of confused as to why the spread has gone from Tennessee being favored by 8 1/2 to 2 1/2......am I missing something? The weather? Players entered the portal or not playing? Seems like a huge change........but I got VOLS BY FIDDY!!!!!
Click to expand...
It's 3.5, not 2.5 (at least at ESPN now).
 
#11
#11
I am very excited about this game ! Probably more than I should be- I’m ready to whip some big X booty. I am very much looking forward to watching us sack their QB on multiple occasions, and our offense light up the scoreboard.

UT 52 - UIUC - 13

So it is written. So shall it be done.

Long johns and ski pants, and get ready to make some noise!
 
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#12
#12
Hulavol said:
I am very excited about this game ! Probably more than I should be- I’m ready to whip some big X booty. I am very much looking forward to watching us sack their QB on multiple occasions, and our offense light up the scoreboard.

UTK 52 - UIUC - 13

So it is written. So shall it be done.

Long johns and ski pants, and get ready to make some noise!
Click to expand...
If you wish to be proper and all...
 
#13
#13
This one, ugh...

Vegas has the Vols as a 2.5 point favorite. Sagarin has the Vols anywhere from 5 to 7 points better by his metrics. His prediction is UT 31-29.

Defensive stop rate: UT #90, Illinois #92.

Weather will be a factor. Cold favors the team with the better running game. RYPG: UT 175, UI 131. Illinois averaging 29 PPG. I don't trust (a) our defense, (b) our conditioning, or (c) our FG kicker. So UT will have to (a) score at least 35; (b) be at least 14 ahead entering Q4; and (c) if it comes down to a 40-yd FG for the win, keep Gilbert on the sideline and hurl it into the end zone.

What does Inge do here? He knows he's looking for a job after this game, so...

What does Josh do here? Does he keep Aguilar in for 4 quarters and try to get the win, or give GMac the 4th quarter to see what he can do when it counts?

This is UT's game to lose. With any luck, or a strong showing, they won't. Illinois is not Vandy, so if UT loses, it's a bad sign heading into '26. Once you quit being tough the first time, it gets easier every time after that.

Go Vols.
 
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#17
#17
ejb8910 said:
Kind of confused as to why the spread has gone from Tennessee being favored by 8 1/2 to 2 1/2......am I missing something? The weather? Players entered the portal or not playing? Seems like a huge change........but I got VOLS BY FIDDY!!!!!
Click to expand...
How are we even favored?
 
#18
#18
I don't know anything about Illinois football, but if the Vols defense doesn't play well it's going to leave a bad taste over the off season.

Same thing for the offensive line. Don't let Joey get hit. End of discussion.

Do those two things and get out of there with a W.

Go Vols!!!
 
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