The Illinois Fighting Illini have a shot at back-to-back nine-win seasons-something that hasn’t happened in Champaign in a long time. All that stands in the way is a Music City Bowl matchup against the Tennessee Volunteers on Tuesday afternoon in Nashville.
Kickoff is set for 5:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
For head coach Bret Bielema, this game is more than just a postseason appearance-it’s about building something lasting. Illinois has been working to establish a new standard under Bielema, and another bowl win would go a long way toward showing that this program isn’t just flashing potential-it’s sustaining it.
“I look over and I see Josh [Whitman],” Bielema said Monday, referencing Illinois’ athletic director. “To be on this journey with him, we talked about sustainable success… it’s three [bowl appearances] in four years or however it’s going to play out.
But those two seasons we missed, we were just one win away both times. If we’d gotten one more in each, we’d be five-for-five.
That would be something really special.”
That’s the kind of perspective Bielema brings-he’s not just coaching for the now, he’s coaching with the bigger picture in mind. And that picture includes sending off his senior class the right way while laying the groundwork for the next wave of Illini talent.
There’s a clear sense of pride in how this group has grown together. Bielema mentioned conversations with players like left guard Josh Gesky, who’s stepping in next to Nathan for the first time, learning on the fly and leaning into the moment. On the defensive side, the Illini will be without Matt Bailey, but Bielema’s confident in the depth and leadership that’s stepping up to fill his role.
Make no mistake-Bielema respects what Tennessee brings to the table. The Volunteers are a tough, physical team with SEC pedigree.
But he’s not backing down from the challenge. In fact, he’s been here before.
Back in 2015, when Bielema was at Arkansas, his Razorbacks edged Tennessee 24-20. It’s been nearly a decade since that matchup, but the experience still matters.
Bielema knows how to prepare for a team like this-and more importantly, he knows how to win.
While Illinois fell just short of the College Football Playoff conversation this season-arguably only two wins away-the opportunity to close the year with a bowl victory still carries serious weight. As Bielema put it, “A bowl game is very unique in the fact that you carry it with you for the next six, seven, eight months… until you play that next game again.”
That’s the kind of momentum that can shape an offseason. That’s the kind of win that can set the tone for spring ball, for recruiting, for everything that comes next.
This will be the first-ever meeting between Illinois and Tennessee on the football field, but don’t mistake that for unfamiliarity. These programs may not have shared a sideline before, but there’s a mutual understanding of what’s at stake-and a shared hunger to finish the season on a high note.
For Illinois, it’s not just about winning a bowl game. It’s about proving that this isn’t a one-time thing. It’s about showing that the Illini are here to stay.
Now it’s time to execute.