Luke Altmyer isn’t just playing in the Music City Bowl - he’s living out a full-circle moment. The Illinois quarterback remembers being in the stands back in 2011, watching Mississippi State - his hometown team - take the field in Nashville. Now, over a decade later, he’s stepping onto that same turf, this time as the guy under center.
So when it came to deciding whether to play in Tuesday’s game against Tennessee or opt out to prep for the NFL Draft, Altmyer didn’t hesitate.
“These bowl games are core memories,” he said. “For families, for myself, for the guys.
It’s something I don’t take for granted. It’s going to stick with me forever, so I’m going to give it my best to make it a good one.”
That kind of perspective is becoming increasingly rare in the modern college football landscape, where opt-outs are often the norm for NFL-bound talent. But for Altmyer - and Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar - the opportunity to suit up one last time for their teams still means something.
“You could say it’s important. You could say it’s not,” Aguilar said. “I’m excited to go out there and play one more time for this team.”
Both quarterbacks have been steady hands all season long. Aguilar led the SEC in regular-season passing yards with 3,444 and accounted for 27 total touchdowns. Altmyer, meanwhile, threw for 2,811 yards, 21 touchdowns, and just five interceptions - a model of efficiency in a conference known for defensive muscle.
But Altmyer will have to make some adjustments in this one. His starting left tackle, J.C.
Davis, has declared for the draft and won’t play in the bowl. That leaves Illinois head coach Bret Bielema with a decision to make on who protects Altmyer’s blind side.
Redshirt freshman Nathan Knapik and reserve guard Brandon Hansen are both in the mix.
Tennessee is dealing with its own wave of absences. Wide receiver Chris Brazzell II, linebacker Arion Carter, edge rusher Joshua Josephs, and defensive backs Colton Hood and Jermod McCoy have all opted out. Still, head coach Josh Heupel is confident in the group that’s staying in the fight.
“We feel good about where we’re at,” Heupel said. “Guys that are here are ready to go play.”
This will be the first-ever football meeting between Tennessee and Illinois - a matchup that feels like a bit of a reset for both programs after seasons that started with College Football Playoff hopes but ended with identical 8-4 records.
For Illinois, there’s more than just pride on the line. Bielema is chasing a bit of program history - a bowl win would make him the first Illini coach to notch back-to-back postseason victories. A win would also give Illinois nine wins in consecutive seasons for the first time ever.
On the other sideline, Heupel has already brought consistency to Rocky Top. He’s guided the Vols to at least eight wins in four of his five seasons at the helm - a level of stability Tennessee fans have been craving for years.
So while the stakes might not be playoff-level, don’t mistake this for a meaningless game. For both teams, this is about finishing strong, sending seniors out the right way, and setting the tone for what’s next.
And for Luke Altmyer, it’s a chance to turn a childhood memory into a career-defining moment.