NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Illinois coach Bret Bielema had a bit of a history lesson the night before the Music City Bowl on just what his Fighting Illini could accomplish with one more victory.
David Olano kicked a 29-yard field goal as time expired, and Illinois beat Tennessee 30-28 on Tuesday night to finish 9-4. The Illini posted the first back-to-back seasons with at least nine wins in program history after going 10-3 last season, capped by a victory over South Carolina in the Citrus Bowl.
“We don’t have to read about other years anymore,” Bielema said. “I think people usually either read about history or write history, and this group’s writing history and I think we’ll continue to do that.”
Olano’s winning kick was his third field goal of the game. Luke Altmyer threw for 196 yards and a touchdown and ran for another score. Leon Lowery Jr. recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown, and Illinois had four sacks.
Illinois walks it off in the Music City Bowl, 30–28 over Tennessee 🤯🔥 @IlliniFootball pic.twitter.com/02RAdsutju
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) December 31, 2025
Tennessee (8-5) finished the season having lost two straight, held to a season-low 278 yards of total offense in the first game between the programs.
“Obviously, everybody’s disappointed, but this has got to be something that you take with you through the offseason and probably use this as motivation and give us a chance to get better and get stronger,” Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said. “And we’ll be back ready to roll in ’26, I promise you that.”
The Illini ran the Big Ten’s run this bowl season to 6-0, but USC lost to TCU later Tuesday. The SEC dropped to 2-5.
Tennessee trailed by 10 points twice but took a 28-27 lead when Joakim Dodson returned a kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown with 4:58 left.
Illinois never gave the ball back.
“Really cool to end it that way,” Altmyer said.
In fact, the Illini offense was on the field for the final 25 plays of the game. Tennessee’s offense didn’t run a play in the final 11:40.
DeSean Bishop ran for 93 yards and two touchdowns and quarterback Joey Aguilar ran for a TD for the Volunteers.
Illinois smothered a Tennessee offense that ranked in the top 10 nationally for yards per game and averaged 40.8 points. The Vols had scored at least 40 in seven games during the regular season. Illinois finished with 417 yards of total offense.
The Illini went up 17-7 after Joe Barna sacked Aguilar and stripped him of the ball, which bounced into the end zone. Lowery covered it up for the touchdown with 11:48 left in the third quarter.
Altmyer made it 24-14 with a two-yard keeper late in the third quarter.
Illinois didn’t have outside linebacker Gabe Jacas, the Big Ten sack leader, who opted out for the NFL Draft. The defense, ranked 56th nationally, holding opponents to 23.3 points per game, turned in its best performance this season.
Tennessee played without three defensive starters. On offense, the Vols didn’t have lineman Wendell Moe and Chris Brazzell II, the SEC’s leading receiver, who opted out to prepare for the NFL Draft.