Tennessee Volunteers Aim for Ninth Win in Music City Bowl Showdown
UT Volunteers Look to Extend Winning Streak in Nashville
The No. 23 Tennessee Volunteers are set to square off against the Illinois Fighting Illini in the Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl on Tuesday, December 24, at Nissan Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. ET, with the game being broadcast on ESPN.
Tennessee’s Nashville History and Bowl Facts
The Vols, coached by Josh Heupel, will be appearing in their sixth consecutive game in Nashville, with an impressive 6-2 record at Nissan Stadium. This marks Tennessee’s ninth all-time game at the venue, with the Volunteers aiming to improve their bowl record to 31-26 and 3-2 under Heupel.
Need to Know
- Tennessee’s recent bowl history: 2-2, with wins over Iowa in the 2024 Citrus Bowl and Clemson in the 2022 Orange Bowl.
- Illinois’ history: 8-4, with a 5-4 record in Big Ten play and receiving votes in both the AP and Coaches polls.
Volunteers’ Key Players and Achievements
Defensive Success: UT leads the Power Four and ranks second in the FBS with six defensive touchdowns.
Freshman Phenoms: The Volunteers produced an impressive five Freshman All-Americans this season, with Braylon Staley, Jesse Perry, Edwin Spillman, and Ty Redmond named to The Athletic Freshman All-America Team. David Sanders Jr. also received recognition from 247Sports and On3.
Milestone Watch: Redshirt sophomore running back DeSean Bishop needs 17 rushing yards to eclipse 1,000 for the season. Additionally, Staley is one reception and one touchdown catch away from setting freshman records for UT.
Series History and The First Meeting
This year’s Music City Bowl will mark the first meeting on the gridiron between Tennessee and Illinois. The Volunteers look to even their record to 2-2 against Big Ten foes under Heupel with a win.
Illinois’ Record and Key Players
Illinois, led by head coach Bret Bielema, features senior quarterback Luke Altmyer, who has 2,811 passing yards and 21 touchdowns. Senior wide receiver Hank Beatty is Altmyer’s top target, with 64 receptions for 826 yards and three touchdowns. Defensively, junior safety Matthew Bailey leads the team with 76 total tackles, while senior outside linebacker Gabe Jacas has 11.0 sacks, tied for second-most in the Big Ten.
Broadcast and Ticket Information
Coverage of the 2025 Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl begins at 5:30 p.m. ET on ESPN, with Tom Hart on play-by-play, Jordan Rodgers as analyst, and Cole Cubelic as field analyst. UT fans can listen to the official radio broadcast on the Vol Network, available locally on WIVK-FM 107.7 and WNML-FM 99.1, as well as nationally on SiriusXM channel 374. For ticket information, visit musiccitybowl.com.
Did You Know?
Q: Which Tennessee player is one reception away from breaking UT’s freshman record for receptions?
A: Braylon Staley
Pro Tips for Enjoying the Music City Bowl
Tip: Arrive early at Nissan Stadium to participate in fan-friendly activities and grab a bite from local food trucks. Dress warm and cheer loud for the Big Orange!
Call to Action
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