Things are looking up after Music City Bowl win.
The Illini closed out 2025 in historic fashion, when Illinois knocked off Tennessee on Tuesday night in the Music City Bowl in Nashville, 30-28.
Trading blows in the first half
Tennessee opened the scoring on its opening drive after Illinois’ first possession ended in a turnover on downs (failing to convert on 4th and-7). On their second possession, the Illini drove 90 yards in nine plays, ending in a Luke Altmyer to Justin Bowick 18-yard TD. The Vols went 3-and-out on their next possession. The Illini failed on a 4th-and-2 at the Tennessee 29-yard line, giving Tennessee the ball with 8:59 to go in the half. Tennessee then went 50 yards in 12 plays, using 5:31 of the clock, only to miss a 39-yard field goal attempt. Illinois would then take the lead 10-7 on a David Olano 30-yard field goal.
Third quarter defense
The Illinois defense showed up HUGE early in the third quarter, stopping the Vols on the first drive of the second half. After an Illini punt, the defense would show up once again, when Tennessee QB Joey Aguliar would drop back to pass. Joe Barna sacked Aguliar, knocking the ball loose. Leon Lowery recovered the ball in the endzone for the score, putting the Illini up 10. But the Vols would answer on the next possession with a 6:01, 9-play, 75-yard drive to pull within a field goal with 11:40 left on the clock. That made the score 24-21.
The final three possessions!
Illinois would answer with a field goal after a 12-play 65-yard drive that took 6:26 to go up 27-21.
*On the ensuing kickoff, Tennessee’s Joakim Donaldson would bobble the catch, gather himself, and then scramble 95 yards for the score. After the extra point, the Illini found themselves down for the first time since the 6-minute mark in the first quarter, with just 4:58 left on the clock and 75 yards to go.
Altmyer would go to work with his arm and Legs, and after a controversial ruling on a Hank Beatty reception, they faced a 4th-and-1. Jordan Anderson, the seldom-used TE/RB would take the hand-off from Altmyer and go 13 yards for an Illini first down. At the Tennessee 18 with 2:23 seconds left in the game, three rushes and a penalty later, the Illini had the ball at the six-yard line, first and goal. Altmyer would run the ball for a loss but put it in the center of the goalposts. With the Volunteers out of timeouts, it was 4th and goal at the Tennessee 11. THE ICEMAN COMETH! David Olano, would come in and do what he has done before. With 3 seconds left and the game on the line, he calmly stepped up and drilled the ball right down the middle as the final second ticked away, giving the Illini a 31-28 win.
Rewriting the record books
From Illini Stats and Notes on X, there are some milestones that were met:
Luke Altmyer for his career at Illinois
1st — Passer Rating (144.31) 1st — Completion Percentage (64.36) 2nd — QB Wins (23) 2nd — Touchdown Passes (57) 5th — Passing Yards (7,607). He is also one of only TWO Illini QBs with two bowl wins (Nathan Scheelhaase is the other).
The Illini have 19 wins over the last two seasons, which is a program record.
Brett Bielema is the ONLY coach in Illinois history to have back-to-back 9-win seasons, and it is the ONLY time in Illini history that the Illinois football program has had back-to-back 9-win seasons.
Bielema is now tied for second with Mike White for most wins against ranked teams with 8 (Ray Elliot leads with 23 over 16 years).
Bielema is also tied for the most victories in a five-year period (37) with Mike White, who won 37 games between 1981 thru 1985.
Final thoughts
This season was one of high expectations, elation, and even some disappointment. But it has at least to me, and I am sure VAST numbers of Illini fans, that football is BACK at Illinois and at a high level. They still have a way to go to be truly elite and get the recognition that they deserve, but after this season they are on the right track.
Category: General Sports
