Tennessee Falls to Illinois in Heart-Pounding Music City Bowl
Tennessee’s hopes were dashed as they lost to Illinois, 30-28, in the 2025 Music City Bowl at Nissan Stadium. The game came down to the wire, with Illinois scoring a last-second 29-yard field goal to clinch the victory.
Tennessee started strong, initially leading after a kickoff return touchdown by freshman Joakim Dodson. He ran back the kickoff 94 yards, putting the Vols ahead 28-27. However, with less than five minutes left, Illinois methodically worked their way down the field, allowing David Olano to kick the game-winning field goal with just three seconds remaining.
Both teams exchanged blows throughout the match. Tennessee’s Joey Aguilar opened the scoring with a 7-yard touchdown run during their first drive. Illinois quickly responded with Luke Altmyer throwing an 18-yard touchdown pass to Justin Bowick. At halftime, Illinois led 10-7 after Olano successfully kicked a 30-yard field goal.
The Illini extended their lead in the third quarter with a fumble recovery in the end zone for a touchdown. But Tennessee answered back, relying heavily on their ground game. DeSean Bishop capped off a 75-yard drive with a touchdown run, making it a closer 17-14 deficit.
The teams continued trading scores, with Altmyer scoring on a short run. Bishop then added another touchdown for Tennessee, pulling them within a point. In a suspenseful finish, Illinois took the lead again with a 28-yard field goal before Dodson’s explosive return flipped the game back in Tennessee’s favor, if only for a moment.
Bishop had a standout performance, rushing for 93 yards and two touchdowns, surpassing 1,000 rushing yards for the season. His 182 carries for 1,076 yards and 16 touchdowns highlighted his significant role in the season.
Aguilar also made a mark in Tennessee history. He completed 14 of 18 passes for 121 yards in this game, closing the season with 3,665 total offensive yards, which ranks third all-time for the program.
Defensively, linebacker Jeremiah Telander excelled with nine tackles, while senior defensive back Jalen McMurray had two critical pass breakups, helping keep the game competitive.
This loss serves as a reminder of how quickly momentum can shift in college football, as teams battle for victory. The thrill and unpredictability of the game capture the essence of why fans love college sports.
