Vols Locked In for Music City Bowl Showdown vs. Illinois
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - After a short breather following the end of the regular season, Tennessee is back to business. The 23rd-ranked Volunteers have officially kicked off preparations for their Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl matchup against Illinois on December 30 in Nashville - and the energy around the program feels like a team with something to prove and something to finish.
Tuesday’s practice at Haslam Field wasn’t just another day at the office. It marked a shift into game-week mode as the Vols gear up for a postseason clash that carries meaning well beyond the final score.
For several players, including senior quarterback Joey Aguilar, it could be the last time they suit up in orange and white. And they’re treating it that way.
“Super excited,” Aguilar said. “We didn’t play how we were supposed to play in the second half [against Vanderbilt], but we’re grateful to go out there and play in one more game together.”
Aguilar’s story this season has been anything but conventional. A California native who took a winding road to Knoxville, he seized the starting role in 2025 and never looked back.
His performance was nothing short of electric - leading the SEC in passing yards and tossing 24 touchdown passes in the process. It’s been a breakout year, and now he’s got one more chance to put a stamp on it.
“It’s a blessing to be out here playing for this team,” Aguilar added. “Our main goal right now is Illinois - go out there and execute what we have planned.
We have one more game on our schedule, and that’s a blessing. Everybody is super excited to go out there.”
The Vols aren’t just chasing a bowl win - they’re chasing a piece of program history. A victory over Illinois would give Tennessee its fourth straight season with nine or more wins, a feat the program hasn’t pulled off since the late '90s, when they rattled off five straight from 1995 to 1999. That kind of consistency is hard to come by in today’s SEC, and it’s something this team clearly values.
Junior linebacker Jeremiah Telander echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the dual mission this bowl game represents - honoring the veterans while laying the groundwork for 2026.
“Like I said, the mentality is to finish the season strong, but it’s also the start to a new season, right?” Telander said.
“We still have some veterans that are going to play their last game for us, so finish this strong and send them out the right way, but also build with our young guys and start the season the right way as well. That’s the mindset.”
There’s a sense of purpose in this bowl prep that goes beyond the usual December routine. For Aguilar and the other upperclassmen, it’s one last ride.
For the underclassmen, it’s a springboard. And for the program, it’s a chance to keep momentum rolling into the offseason.
Kickoff for the Music City Bowl is set for 5:30 p.m. ET on ESPN from Nissan Stadium in Nashville.
This one’s more than a bowl game - it’s a bridge between what Tennessee has built and where it’s headed next.