Tennessee to face Big Ten opponent in Music City Bowl, per report
By Ethan Stone
Published:
Tennessee football is heading back to the Music City Bowl following an 8-4 regular season. The Vols are set to face off against Illinois in Nashville on December 30, according to a report from On3Sports’ Brett McMurphy.
This is the 3rd time across the past 10 years that Tennessee will play in the Music City Bowl. The Vols beat Nebraska in 2016 and lost to Purdue in controversial fashion in 2021. Because of this controversial ending, many Vols fans still hold the Music City Bowl in low regard — and plenty aren’t happy with this draw for the Volunteers.
As far as the matchup is concerned, Tennessee and Illinois are fairly even. The Illini finished 8-4 in the Big Ten, suffering losses to the No. 1 and 2 teams in the country, Indiana and Ohio State. The Illini also fell to Washington and Wisconsin, and their best win of the season remains a 34-32 win over USC back in September.
Tennessee’s resume is similar, but the Vols can’t boast a top 25 win like Illinois can. The Vols don’t have a single win over a team heading to a bowl game this season, but all 4 of the Vols’ losses came to teams ranked in the final CFP Top 25 poll: Georgia, Alabama, Vanderbilt and Oklahoma. Three of those 4 teams are going to play for the College Football Playoff title.
As mentioned above, Tennessee and Illinois will face off on December 30 from Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee at 4:30 CT.
Ethan Stone is a Tennessee graduate and loves all things college football and college basketball. Firm believer in fouling while up 3.
