Illinois Prepares for Music City Bowl with 'Next Man Up' Mentality on Both Sides of the Ball
As Illinois gears up for its Music City Bowl clash with Tennessee, the Illini coaching staff is embracing a familiar postseason challenge: replacing key starters who won’t be suiting up. But while the offensive line has a clear plan in place, the defensive side of the ball is leaning into a more collaborative approach to fill the void left by two major contributors.
Let’s start with the offensive front. With left tackle J.C.
Davis unavailable, head coach Bret Bielema confirmed that Nathan Knapik will get the nod for his first career start. It’s a big moment for the 6-foot-7, 300-pound transfer from Idaho, who joined the program with his older brother Ayden ahead of spring workouts.
Offensive line coach Bart Miller and Bielema are counting on Knapik to hold down the blind side for 60-80 snaps-standard fare for an offensive lineman, where continuity matters and rotations are rare. To help ease the transition, veteran Josh Gesky will line up next to him at left guard, and Bielema emphasized the importance of that pairing.
“I’ve spoken with Josh about playing next to Nathan for the first time and how he can really help him throughout that whole experience,” Bielema said. That kind of mentorship will be key as Knapik steps into a high-pressure role against a fast, physical Tennessee front.
But on defense, there’s no single plug-and-play solution for the losses of outside linebacker Gabe Jacas and safety Matthew Bailey. Instead, defensive coordinator Aaron Henry is turning to a committee approach, trusting a group of players to collectively carry the load.
“You cannot replace a Gabe Jacas with just one person,” Henry said. “That is just impossible, not gonna happen.”
Jacas, who led the Big Ten in sacks this season with 11 and ranked sixth nationally, was a game-wrecker off the edge. His 529 defensive snaps this year were filled with impact plays, and now the Illini will look to second-year player Joe Barna to lead the rotation at outside linebacker. Barna won’t be alone-veterans Alec Bryant and Leon Lowery Jr. are also in the mix, giving Illinois some experienced options to throw at Tennessee’s offense.
And don’t be surprised if third-year player Mason Muragin gets a shot. Bielema highlighted Muragin’s strong showing during bowl practices, and while he only played five defensive snaps all season (all in a win over Rutgers), the staff has seen enough to consider him a potential contributor on Tuesday.
Then there’s Ryan Meed, a special teams standout who made a name for himself in last year’s Citrus Bowl with eight tackles and a crucial fourth-down pass breakup in the end zone. He’s another name to watch as Illinois looks for production from players who’ve mostly been waiting in the wings.
In the secondary, Bailey’s absence after offseason shoulder surgery opens the door for either veteran Mac Resetich or 6-foot-3, 210-pound sophomore Saboor Karriem. Karriem, a former three-star recruit, saw limited action in seven games this season, but he flashed potential during a four-game stretch that included matchups with Indiana, Ohio State, and USC. His size and athleticism could give Illinois a physical presence on the back end, especially against a Tennessee team that likes to push the ball downfield.
There’s a bit of poetic symmetry here for Aaron Henry. In his first game as Illinois’ defensive playcaller, he faced a similar situation when Sydney Brown opted out of the ReliaQuest Bowl.
That opened the door for a then-freshman Matthew Bailey to shine against Mississippi State’s Air Raid attack. Now, Henry’s looking for the next young defender to seize their moment.
“One of the things I give Aaron so much credit for over the past two weeks is the preparation of our scout team to give us a realistic look at the way Tennessee wants to play offensively,” Bielema said. “It’s always the exciting thing with these bowl games-new faces stepping into big roles against quality opponents.”
And speaking of Tennessee, the Illini defense will catch a bit of a break. The Volunteers will be without star wideout Chris Brazzell II, who declared for the 2026 NFL Draft and opted out of the bowl game. That’s no small loss-Brazzell led the SEC in receiving yards (1,017), yards per game (84.8), and touchdowns (9), earning third-team AP All-America honors and a Biletnikoff Award semifinalist nod.
For Illinois (8-4), the stage is set. The Music City Bowl offers a final chance to cap off the season with a statement win-and for a handful of young or lesser-used players, it’s a shot to prove they’re ready for the spotlight. Whether it’s Knapik anchoring the left side of the line or a rotating cast on defense stepping up to replace Jacas and Bailey, the Illini are embracing the “next man up” mentality with confidence and preparation.
Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. CST on ESPN.