Illinois Wins 2025 Music City Bowl, 30-28, Against #23 Tennessee
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 beaten a team from the SEC.
Bielema is the only head coach in Illinois history to coach two 9+-win Illini teams. He did it in back-to-back seasons.
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.
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 is 13-4 in one-score games over the last three years (2023-25). The Illini were an underdog in 8 of its 13 one-score wins over the past three seasons, including 6 as road/neutral dogs.
• 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.
Bret Bielema Notes
• Head coach Bret Bielema is the first coach in program history to win a bowl game in back-to-back seasons.
• Bielema tied the Illinois program record for bowl wins (2) by a head coach.
• Bielema won his 37th game as Illinois’ head coach, adding on to his record for most wins in a head coach’s first five seasons.
• Bielema’s 37 wins are tied for the most over any five-year period by one head coach in Illinois history. Mike White won 37 games from 1981-85.
• Bielema is the only head coach in Illinois history to coach two 9+-win Illini teams.
• Bielema won his 8th game over a ranked team, tied with John Mackovic (1988-91) for the second-most in Illinois history. Only Ray Eliot, who had 23 ranked wins over 18 seasons from 1942-59, has more ranked wins as an Illini head coach.
Luke Altmyer 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 at ate up the final 4 minutes, 58 seconds before David Olano’s game-winning 29-yard field goal.
• Altmyer is the second Illini quarterback in program history to lead the team to two bowl wins, joining Nathan Scheelhaase.
• Altmyer 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).
• Altmyer finished with 3,007 yards passing, the ninth 3,000+-yard season in Illinois program history.
• Altmyer finished his career with a 64.36 completion percentage, the best mark in program history (min. 500 attempts).
• Altmyer finished his career with 57 passing touchdowns, alone in second on the Illini’s all-time list.
• Altmyer moved into fifth on the Illinois career passing yardage list, moving past Jason Verduzco (1989-92). He closed his career with 7,607 yards as an Illini.
Recent Comments