28
8-5 , 4-4
30
Winner
9-4 , 5-4
28
30
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
7
0
7
14
28
7
3
14
6
30
Game Recap: Football | December 30, 2025
RECAP
Story Links
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Illinois is the champions of the 2025 Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl. The Illini defeated #23 Tennessee, 30-28, with a field goal from David Olano as time expired to earn their second straight bowl victory.
With the victory, the Illini have captured nine wins in back-to-back seasons for the first time in program history and head coach Bret Bielema becomes the first coach in program history to win a bowl game in consecutive seasons.
Illinois (9-4) finished the winningest two-year run in program history with a 19-7 record, including 15 Power-4 wins, 11 Big Ten wins, and wins over teams from every other Power-4 conference. The Illini have beaten two straight SEC opponents in bowl games after previously never have won over a team from the SEC.
Quarterback Luke Altmyer led his seventh game-winning drive in the final minute/OT of his Illinois career with a 13-play, 64-yard drive over the last 4:58 of the fourth quarter. He was named the Music City Bowl MVP after leading the Illini with 196 passing yards, a passing touchdown, 54 rushing yards, and a rushing score. With his touchdown pass of the evening to Justin Bowick in the first quarter, Altmyer matched his total from last season (22), which is tied for third in a single season in Illinois history.
Altmyer concludes one of the greatest careers in Illinois history ranking in the program’s top five in passer rating (144.31, 1st), completion percentage (64.36, 1st), quarterback wins (23, 2nd), touchdown passes (57, 2nd), and passing yards (7,607, 5th).
Defensively, the Illini recorded four sacks, their second-most as a team in any bowl since tallying five during the 2011 Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl. In the third quarter, Joe Barna forced a pivotal sack-fumble, which was recovered by Leon Lowery Jr. in the end zone for the first touchdown of Lowery’s collegiate career.
Olano made three or more field goals for the second time this season, including the game-winner in the final seconds of play.
Bielema is the only head coach in Illinois history to coach two 9+-win Illini teams. He did it in back-to-back seasons.
HIGHLIGHTS
PRESS CONFERENCE
POSTGAME NOTES
Team Notes
- Illinois set the program record for the most wins over a two-year period with their 19th victory since 2024.
- Illinois secured back-to-back 9+-win seasons for the first time in program history.
- Illinois went 19-7 over the last two seasons, including 15 Power-4 wins, 11 Big Ten wins, and wins over teams from every other Power-4 conference: the SEC (vs. Tennessee, 2025; vs. South Carolina, 2024), the ACC (at Duke, 2025), and the Big XII (Kansas, 2024).
- Illinois had 32 wins over the last four seasons (2022-25), tied for its most wins over a four-year period since 1900-03.
- Illinois had 37 wins over the last five seasons (2021-25), tied for its most wins over a five-year period since 1901-05.
- Illinois went 8-0 against nonconference opponents over the last two seasons (2024-25). The Illini have won nine straight nonconference games dating back to 2023.
- Illinois is now 13-4 in one-score games over the last three seasons, with 9 of the 13 wins coming in the final minute of regulation or overtime.
- Illinois now has 7 fourth quarter comeback wins over the last two seasons.
- Illinois is a perfect 18-0 when leading at half the last two seasons.
- Illinois held Tennessee to a season-low 278 total yards. Tennessee entered the game fourth in the nation in total offense with 482.0 yards per game.
- Illinois outgained Tennessee by 139 yards, the second-biggest margin against the Vols this season behind only Vanderbilt (+200 yards).
- Only Vanderbilt (+200), Illinois (+139), Arkansas (+11), and Georgia (+6) outgained Tennessee in 2025.
- Illinois held Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar to a career-low 121 passing yards, 53 fewer than any other game in his career. He entered the game on a 36-game streak of throwing for over 200 yards, having not thrown for fewer than 200 yards since his first career FBS game on Sept. 2, 2023 against Gardner-Webb while playing for Appalachian State.
Player Notes
- Luke Altmyer earned MVP honors with 196 yards and a touchdown through the air, and 54 yards and another score on the ground.
- Altmyer led the Illini on a game-winning drive that covered 64 yards in 13 plays and ate up the final 4 minutes, 58 seconds before David Olano’s game-winning 29-yard field goal.
- The second Illini quarterback in program history to lead the team to two bowl wins, joining Nathan Scheelhaase.
- Led the Illini to the 23rd win of his career as a starter, tied with Jack Trudeau (1981-85) for second-most in program history, one behind the record held by Kurt Kittner (1998-2001)
- Threw his 22nd TD pass of the year in the first quarter, connecting with Justin Bowick to tie the game at 7-7.
- Matched his total from last season, which is tied for third-most in a single season in Illinois program history.
- Scored his fifth rushing TD of the season to give the Illini a 24-14 lead with 2:41 left in the third quarter.
- Finished the season with 3,007 yards passing, the ninth 3,000+-yard season in program history.
- Recorded 246 completions, the ninth-most in a single season in program history.
- Finished his career with a 64.36 completion percentage, the best mark in program history (min. 500 attempts).
- Finished his career with 57 passing touchdowns, alone in second on the Illini’s all-time list.
- Moved into fifth on the Illinois career passing yardage list, moving past Jason Verduzco (1989-92). Closes career with 7,607 yards as an Illini.
- David Olano went 3-for-3 with field goals of 30, 28 and 29 yards, including the game-winner as time expired.
- First field goal gave the Illini a 10-7 halftime lead.
- Final field goal earned the Illini the 30-28 victory and was his 37th career make, moving him into a tie for ninth in program history with James McCourt (2018-21).
- Became the eighth player in program to score more than 100 points in a single season.
- Finished 44-for-44 on extra-points on the year, matching the program record set by Neil Rackers in 1999.
- Closed the year with 20 field goals made, tied for the fourth-most in program history.
- Justin Bowick caught five passes for 31 yards and the Illini’s first score of the game.
- Hauled in his fifth TD reception of the season and his first since scoring in Illinois’ win vs. #21 USC on Sept. 27.
- Joe Barna’s sack-fumble was recovered by Leon Lowery Jr. in the end zone to give the Illini a 17-7 lead at the 11:48 mark in the third quarter.
- Barna’s second sack of the season tied his career high, while the forced fumble was the first of his career.
- Lowery Jr.’s TD marked the first of his collegiate career, coming in his 53rd game.
- Ca’Lil Valentine posted a game-high 114 all-purpose yards with 8 carries for 65 yards, 3 receptions for 28 yards, and a kickoff return for 21 yards.
- Set career highs for receptions (3), receiving yards (28), and longest reception (18).
- James Thompson Jr. tied his career high with a team-leading 7 tackles (2 solo) to go with a half sack.
- Daniel Brown recorded a career-high 5 total tackles (2 solo).
- Saboor Karriem notched the first tackle for loss of his career.
