NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Volunteers and Illinois Fighting Illini are set to clash today in the Music City Bowl, a matchup that neither team initially envisioned as part of their season goals. Both squads, each sporting an 8-4 record, are navigating through a season marked by significant player absences due to NFL draft declarations and injuries.
Tennessee”s head coach Josh Heupel acknowledged the disappointment surrounding the team”s journey this year, which included four losses to teams ranked in the top 15 of the final College Football Playoff standings. “There has been some disappointment, obviously, but it”s a group that continued to compete and get better,” Heupel stated. He emphasized the importance of striving for excellence, saying, “We”re not where we want to be, that”s not the standard at Tennessee. It is about going and chasing and winning championships.”
Despite the challenges, the Volunteers have an opportunity to secure their ninth win of the season, which would mark their fourth consecutive season with at least nine victories. This achievement would be the team”s longest streak since the 1995-1999 seasons. On the other hand, Illinois is aiming for its first back-to-back nine-win seasons in program history.
Illinois coach Bret Bielema highlighted the value of bowl games, even in a changing landscape. “The opportunity to get better in this postseason play is really, really huge,” he said. The Fighting Illini are making their debut in the Music City Bowl and have never faced Tennessee before.
Both teams will be missing key players for this matchup. Tennessee will play without four defensive starters and the SEC”s leading receiver, Chris Brazzell II, who accumulated over 1,000 receiving yards this season. Additionally, cornerback Jermod McCoy will not play as he continues to recover from an ACL injury. Other absentees include cornerback Colton Hood, edge rusher Joshua Josephs, and linebacker Arion Carter.
Illinois will also be without three starters, including outside linebacker Gabe Jacas, who led the Big Ten in sacks, and left tackle J.C. Davis, both preparing for the NFL draft. Defensive back Matthew Bailey is recovering from recent surgery.
This game marks Tennessee”s fourth appearance in the Music City Bowl and their first since 2021. The Volunteers have historically performed well at Nissan Stadium, holding a 6-2 record in the venue. Quarterback Joey Aguilar, who joined Tennessee late last spring, leads the Football Bowl Subdivision in passing and total yards per game, averaging over 275 yards passing and nearly 291 total yards of offense.
As both teams take the field, they aim to create lasting memories for their players and fans alike, even amidst the challenges posed by absence and injury.
