NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A first has come.
Tennessee football has never stepped on a variation of grass and played a competitive football game against the University of Illinois. That will change once Dec. 30 ends.
The Vols face off against the Fighting Illini in the Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl at Nissan Stadium. It is a first-time battle between two squads that enter bowl season with an 8-4 mark.
Joey Aguilar and Luke Altmyer both will be active for the game. Aguilar commanded one of the top offenses in the country this season, accounting for 27 total touchdowns to go with an SEC-best 3,444 passing yards. Altmyer managed enough games with efficiency to guide the Illini to their second consecutive bowl game under his command. He’s pushed the ball for 2,811 yards this season, which is the most for an Illinois quarterback in over a decade.
That sets up an ideal battle of premier signal callers, something not seen very often in the current landscape of college football postseasons.
How to watch Tennessee football in Music City Bowl
The Vols and Illini take the ESPN stage at 5:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. Tom Hart will handle play-by-play duties alongside analyst and former Vanderbilt quarterback Jordan Rodgers. They’ll be joined by Cole Cubelic on the sidelines.
Mike Keith will handle radio broadcast duties on the local Vol Network Affiliate. He will be joined by analyst Ramon Foster, alongside co-host Jayson Swain, while Brent Hubbs reports from the sideline.
If you’re looking for a Spanish broadcast, you can follow along with Carlos Lopez on WNML AM 990, or the Sports Animal App, as well as the Tennessee Athletics app. A stream can also be found on UTSports.com.
Music City Bowl opt-outs
Though the big-name quarterbacks will be active, there are plenty of faces that will not be participating on Tuesday.
Tennessee is hit the hardest, featuring five opt-outs. They’ll be without a member at all three levels of the defense, as cornerback Colton Hood, linebacker Arion Carter and edge rusher Joshua Josephs opted for the NFL Draft during the month of December. It’ll also be without cornerback Jermod McCoy, who hasn’t participated in a game this season, but also opted for the draft. On the offensive side of the ball, All-SEC wide receiver Chris Brazzell II also elected to head to the draft, ending his collegiate career.
As for the transfer portal, Tennessee has seven members of the 2025 squad announce their intentions to enter the transfer portal. That includes running back Peyton Lewis, quarterback Jake Merklinger, corner Marcus Goree Jr., linebacker Brenden Anes, edge Kellen Lindstrom, defensive lineman Jamal Wallace and defensive back Boo Carter.
For Illinois, its big fish is early-round projected draft pick Gabe Jacas — who earned All-Big Ten First Team honors this season. Jacas, a one-time Tennessee target, recorded 11 sacks this season. They’ll also be without starting left tackle J.C. Davis, who recorded an 86.6 PFF grade across 776 snaps.
Safety Matthew Baily underwent surgery prior to the bowl game, so he will be unavailable, too.
The Illini had corner Vernon Woodward III, wide receiver Mario Sanders II, defensive lineman Jeremiah Warren, linebacker Easton Baker, quarterback Trey Petty and wide receiver Malik Elzy all announce their intentions to enter the portal.
