Each week, the two sports editors at The Daily Beacon, Trevor McGee and Alex Sarkis, give their keys and predictions for Tennessee’s upcoming football matchup.
It’s been a while.
A month ago, Tennessee football departed Neyland Stadium for the last time following a humiliating loss to Vanderbilt to end the regular season. Perhaps a month of reflection was needed, a period that brought some heavy doses of change for the Vols. Tim Banks lost his job as defensive coordinator, Jim Knowles quickly took his place, and some notable names entered the transfer portal. Nationally, the opening duels of the College Football Playoff played out on campuses around the country, while the coaching carousel spun at lightning speed.
Now, it’s Tennessee’s turn to leave one final mark on 2025, making the short trip to Nashville for a Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl battle with Illinois.
Keys
Trevor McGee, Sports Editor
- Get home
Tennessee football was pacing the SEC in sacks, and then production fell off a cliff.
The Vols jumped out early as one of the top sacking teams in the country, recording 25 sacks through the first six games. It finished the back half of the year with 10 sacks in the final six games, including a zero-sack effort against Alabama.
Illinois’ offensive line ranks amongst the worst in the Big Ten, allowing 2.58 sacks per game — and 31 for the season. Though leading sack artist Joshua Josephs won’t be playing, it is a prime opportunity for one-time five-star Jordan Ross to step up and contribute to rushing a passer that is one of the strongest that comes as a game manager.
2. Utilize the youth
While Tennessee does not quite have a choice, it will be important to use the youth in this matchup.
Josh Heupel said it himself: it is a disappointment to be in the Music City Bowl when the College Football Playoff is the expectation. With that comes utilizing the key components of next year’s roster.
Opt-outs from the most experienced veterans leave no choice but to play an already young roster. Radarious Jackson and Travis Smith Jr. should each finish with multiple receptions in the game — otherwise, it is a wasted opportunity.
Jordan Ross needs to benefit from playing a weaker offensive line in an expanded role with Joshua Josephs’ absence. His third-year breakout could do dividends for an edge unit that churns out professional talent.
And if the opportunity to get George MacIntyre reps comes: do it. Tennessee’s quarterbacking situation heading into the offseason is odd. The current starter is in an active lawsuit for added eligibility — with no timeline in sight — the former backup is entering the portal, and MacIntyre projects as the only current quarterback on scholarship to be back.
Do not waste a free game to prove the worth of the young guys.
Prediction
For each time I want to pick a high-scoring affair, it has not come. Defense should not be expected in this matchup as it is one of the few in current-day bowl politics that features a pair of top-20 quarterbacks dueling it out.
Joey Aguilar and Luke Altmyer are two of the best at what they do. Aguilar slings the football wherever he wants, and Altmyer manages an offense in one of the most efficient ways. Factor in a premier pass rusher in Gabe Jacas being unavailable, alongside the Vols being without key members at each level of the defense — Colton Hood, Arion Carter and Josephs — and Tennessee’s defense should not stand a competitive chance.
But hey, maybe they’ll get a boost from interim personality William Inge, who has playcalling experience at an elite level.
Tennessee 34, Illinois 28
Keys
Alex Sarkis, Assistant Sports Editor
- Sling it, Joey Aguilar
Yes, the SEC’s leader in passing yards may be without one of his top targets in Chris Brazzell II against the Fighting Illini, but does that even matter?
Aguilar is most likely playing his final collegiate snaps under the lights of Nissan Stadium, and quite possibly some of the last meaningful reps of his football career. What better opportunity to cap off a wild Tennessee quarterback saga that started back in the spring than with a big night through the air?
Illinois finished ranked 16th in the Big Ten against the pass, allowing 226.5 yards per game. Aguilar still has the likes of wideouts Braylon Staley and Mike Matthews to air it out to, making his case to continue his career-spanning streak of 200 passing yards per game alive. The Vols offense is humming at its loudest when Aguilar can comfortably spin it, but he’s got to take care of the football, especially since the turnover bug bit him late in the regular season.
2. Survive the shootout
A pair of veteran signal-callers squaring off against some of the poorer defenses in the Big Ten and SEC seems like the perfect formula for some high-scoring football.
Tennessee will be without breakout corner and NFL Draft prospect Colton Hood, so Fighting Illini quarterback Luke Altmyer will look to have his way with a young Vols’ secondary. Interim defensive coordinator William Inge saw his defense live and die by the turnover at many points throughout the league schedule, and it feels as if the defense that forces that crucial giveaway will give its team the upper hand when all is said and done.
Tennessee finished tied for second in the SEC, generating 1.7 turnovers per outing. Altmyer has kept the interception number down this year, tossing only five picks compared to 21 touchdowns. He’s been accurate with his passes and will provide a tall task for the Vols’ troops.
Prediction
Neither side has anything to lose in this one. I think Tennessee really needs to finish things out with a good taste in its mouth, especially after what happened against Vanderbilt to end the schedule. Defense is going to come at a high premium, with each quarterback making plays to contribute to some big numbers on the scoreboard. I’m fairly confident this will be one of the more entertaining football games inside Nissan Stadium this year. I’m taking the Vols to get a big late turnover and get a little revenge for what happened on the hardwood inside Bridgestone Arena at the beginning of the month. Tennessee gets to nine wins.
Tennessee 52, Illinois 49
