Updated Dec. 30, 2025, 8:02 p.m. CT
Tennessee ended the season with a fifth loss, losing to Illinois 30-28 on Dec. 30 at the Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl at Nissan Stadium.
David Olano’s 29-yard field goal as time expired gave Illinois the win in the battle between SEC and Big Ten programs.
Coach Josh Heupel’s Vols (8-5) went 0-5 against FBS programs with a winning record. The Vols dropped to 1-3 in Music City Bowl games. Former Tennessee coach Butch Jones owns the program’s lone Music City Bowl win.
The No. 23-ranked Vols trailed through much of the game before Chattanooga Baylor graduate Joakim Dodson ran a kickoff back 94 yards for a touchdown, the Vols first kickoff return for a TD in a bowl game since the 1984 Sun Bowl.
Dodson had the ball bounce off his chest, he then collected it and ran up the Vols’ sidelines for the win.
However, the Vols couldn’t stop Illinois’ defense. Illinois racked up 417 total yards to Tennessee’s 278.
Fourth quarter
Joakim Dodson returns kickoff for TD
Joakim Dodson returned the ensuing kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown to give the Vols a 28-27 lead with 4:58 left. The kick bounced off his check. He then picked it up and took it up the Vols sideline.
Dodson’s kickoff for TD is the first in a bowl game for the Vols since Pete Penuska’s 100-yard return in the 1984 Sun Bowl. It’s only the third kickoff return for a TD in a bowl game for the Vols.
Illinois extends lead to 27-21
David Olano’s 28-yard field goal with 5:14 left to give the Illini a six-point lead.
Tennessee’s DeSean Bishop trims deficit to 24-21
DeSean Bishop broke free for a 12-yard TD run to help keep the Vols within shouting distance of Illinois. Bishop has 19 carries for 93 yards and two TDs. He’s been the most productive Vol on offense. QB Joey Aguilar is 14-of-18 for 121 yards.
Third quarter
Luke Altmyer answers, puts Illinois football up 24-14 over Tennessee
Illinois QB Luke Altmyer scored on a 2-yard TD run to cap a 68-yard drive to give the Illini a 24-14 lead with 2:41 left in the third quarter.
Altmyer is 15-of-25 passing for 158 yards and a TD so far in the Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl. He has six carries for 34 yards with a TD. Meanwhile, Tennessee QB Joey Aguilar is just 8-of-12 passing for 74 yards.
Back comes Tennessee football, DeSean Bishop with TD run
DeSean Bishop scored on fourth-and-goal from the 2-yard line and Tennessee has trimmed the deficit to 17-14 with 7:31 left in the third quarter.
Bishop has 12 carries for 62 yards and a TD.
Tennessee gave up a defensive touchdown to Illinois when Leon Lowery Jr. recovered a Joey Aguilar fumble in the end zone to take a 17-7 lead with 11:48 left in the third quarter.
Aguilar was sacked on the play by Joe Barna, who also forced a fumble on the play.
For those keeping track, Illinois has outgained Tennessee 224-124 in total yards.
Halftime stats
Illinois holds Joey Aguilar to 57 total yards
Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar has been held to a pedestrian 57 total yards of offense in the first half and the Vols trail Illinois 10-7 at halftime in the Music City Bowl.
Aguilar, who is likely playing his final game as a Vol, is 6-of-9 passing for 53 yards. He has five carries for four yards. Tennessee’s offense has just 127 yards. Aguilar has rushed for Tennessee’s lone score. DeSean Bishop has eight carries for 38 yards for the Vols.
Illinois has 207 yards of offense. Luke Altmyer is 13-of-20 passing for 133 yards with a TD. Hudson Clement has two catches for 35 yards and Justin Bowick has three catches for 31 yards and a TD.
Second quarter
David Olano’s FG gives Illinois lead over Tennessee football
Illinois kicker Davis Olano booted a 30-yard field goal with 21 seconds left in the first half to give the Illini a 10-7 lead over Tennessee.
Max Gilbert misses FG
Max Gilbert missed a 39-yard field goal, missing it wide right with 3:28 left in the first half.
First quarter
Illinois ties Music City Bowl with touchdown pass
Justin Bowick’s 18-yard TD catch from Luke Altmyer tied the game for Illinois at 7-7. The TD catch finished a nine-play, 75-yard drive that ate up 5:40. It came with 36 seconds left in the first quarter.
Joey Aguilar gives Tennessee football lead
Quarterback Joey Aguilar gave the Vols a 7-0 lead with 6:16 left in the first quarter on a 7-yard run.
William Wright makes first start
Ensworth graduate William Wright has made his first start at Tennessee as a sixth-year senior walk-on. Wright started at cornerback for the Vols.
Wright made a tackle on the Vols’ first defensive possession, but was given a personal foul for unnecessary roughness.
- Date: Tuesday, Dec. 30
- Time: 4:30 p.m. CT
- Where: Nissan Stadium in Nashville
What channel is Tennessee vs Illinois on TV today?
- TV: ESPN. Note. The game will start on ESPN2 due to Independence Bowl going late.
- How to watch online: Fubo (subscribe today)
Music City Bowl prediction
Adam Sparks, Tennessee football beat writer: Tennessee 42, Illinois 38
Tennessee football 2025 schedule
Aug. 30: vs. Syracuse (Win 45-26)
Sept. 6: vs. East Tennessee State (Win 72-17)
Sept. 13: vs. Georgia (Loss 44-41, overtime)
Sept. 20: vs. UAB (Win 56-24)
Sept. 27: at Mississippi State (Win 41-34, overtime)
Oct. 11: vs. Arkansas (Win 34-31)
Oct. 18: at Alabama (Loss 37-20)
Oct. 25: at Kentucky (Win 56-34)
Nov. 1: vs. Oklahoma (Loss 33-27)
Nov. 15: vs. New Mexico State (Win 42-9)
Nov. 22: at Florida (Win 31-11)
Nov. 29: vs. Vanderbilt (Loss 45-24)
Illinois football 2025 schedule
Aug. 29: vs. Western Illinois (Win 52-3)
Sept. 6: at Duke (Win 45-19)
Sept. 13: vs. Western Michigan (Win 38-0)
Sept. 20: at Indiana (Loss 63-10)
Sept. 27: vs. Southern Cal (Win 34-32)
Oct. 4: at Purdue (Win 43-27)
Oct. 11: vs. Ohio State (Loss 34-16)
Oct. 25: at Washington (Loss 42-25)
Nov. 1: vs. Rutgers (Win 35-13)
Nov. 8: vs. Maryland (Win 24-6)
Nov. 22: at Wisconsin (Loss 27-10)
Nov. 29: vs. Northwestern (Win 20-13)