Many of those Illinois fans who made their way to Nashville, Tenn., this weekend to see Brad Underwood’s team against Tennessee, will be happy they know the way.
According to multiple reports, the Illinois football team will be playing an SEC school in the Dec. 30 Music City Bowl. It will be the first appearance for Illinois in the annual game.
It will be the second bowl in two years against the SEC for Bret Bielema’s team, which edged South Carolina in last year’s Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla.
The official announcement will come Sunday after the release of the College Football Playoff bracket.
It will be the third bowl for Bielema in his five seasons. The last time Ilinois won bowls in consecutive years was 2010-11.
Bob Asmussen is a college football reporter and columnist for The News-Gazette. He can be reached at 217-393-8248 or asmussen@news-gazette.com.