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\t\t\t![\"Tennessee](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/ut_logo.png\"){kind=logo}
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\n\t\t\t28
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\n\t\t\t\tTennessee
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\n\t\t\t8-5 , 4-4
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\t\t\t![\"Illinois](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1767157691_822_site.png\")
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\n\t\t\t30
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\n\t\t\t\t\tWinner
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\n\t\t\t\tIllinois
\n\t\t\t\tIll
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\n\t\t\t9-4 , 5-4
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\t\t\t![\"Tennessee](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1767157692_506_ut_logo.png\"){kind=logo}
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\n\t\t\t30
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\t\t\t![\"Illinois](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1767157692_620_site.png\")
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\t\t\tWinner<\/p>\n
\n Score By Quarters
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\n Tennessee
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\n 7
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\n 7
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\n 14
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\n 28
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\n Ill
\n Illinois
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\n 7
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\n 3
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\n 30
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Game Recap: Football | December 30, 2025 <\/p>\n
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\n RECAP
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\n\t\t\tStory Links
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. \u2014\u00a0Illinois is the champions of the\u00a02025 Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl.\u00a0The Illini defeated #23 Tennessee, 30-28, with a field goal from\u00a0David Olano<\/a>\u00a0as time expired to earn their second straight bowl victory.<\/p>\n With the victory, the Illini have captured nine wins in back-to-back seasons for the first time in program history and head coach\u00a0Bret Bielema<\/a>\u00a0becomes the first coach in program history to win a bowl game in consecutive seasons.\u00a0<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Quarterback\u00a0Luke Altmyer<\/a>\u00a0led 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\u00a0Justin Bowick<\/a>\u00a0in the first quarter, Altmyer matched his total from last season (22), which is tied for third in a single season in Illinois history.<\/p>\n 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).<\/p>\n 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,\u00a0Joe Barna<\/a>\u00a0forced a pivotal sack-fumble, which was recovered by\u00a0Leon Lowery Jr.<\/a>\u00a0in the end zone for the\u00a0first touchdown of Lowery’s\u00a0collegiate career.<\/p>\n Olano made three or more field goals for the second time this season, including the game-winner in the final seconds of play.<\/p>\n Bielema is the only head coach in Illinois history to coach two 9+-win Illini teams. He did it in back-to-back seasons.<\/p>\n PRESS CONFERENCE<\/p>\n POSTGAME NOTES<\/p>\n Player Notes<\/p>\n
Team Notes<\/p>\n
\n\tLuke Altmyer<\/a> earned MVP honors with 196 yards and a touchdown through the air, and 54 yards and another score on the ground.
\n\t
\n\t\tAltmyer 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<\/a> game-winning 29-yard field goal.
\n\t\tThe second Illini quarterback in program history to lead the team to two bowl wins, joining Nathan Scheelhaase.
\n\t\tLed 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)
\n\t\tThrew his 22nd TD pass of the year in the first quarter, connecting with Justin Bowick<\/a> to tie the game at 7-7.
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\n\t\t\tMatched his total from last season, which is\u00a0tied for third-most in a single season in Illinois program history.
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\n\t\tScored his fifth rushing TD of the season to give the Illini a 24-14 lead with 2:41 left in the third quarter.
\n\t\tFinished the season with 3,007 yards passing, the ninth 3,000+-yard season in program history.
\n\t\tRecorded 246 completions, the ninth-most in a single season in program history.
\n\t\tFinished his career with a 64.36 completion percentage, the best mark in program history (min. 500 attempts).
\n\t\tFinished his career with 57 passing touchdowns, alone in second on the Illini’s all-time list.
\n\t\tMoved into fifth on the Illinois career passing yardage list, moving past Jason Verduzco (1989-92). Closes career with 7,607 yards as an Illini.
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\n\tDavid Olano<\/a> went 3-for-3 with field goals of 30, 28 and 29 yards, including the game-winner as time expired.
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\n\t\tFirst field goal gave the Illini a 10-7 halftime lead.
\n\t\tFinal 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).
\n\t\tBecame the eighth player in program to score more than 100 points in a single season.
\n\t\tFinished 44-for-44 on extra-points on the year, matching the program record set by Neil Rackers in 1999.
\n\t\tClosed the year with 20 field goals made, tied for the fourth-most in program history. \u00a0
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\n\tJustin Bowick<\/a> caught five passes for 31 yards and the Illini’s first score of the game.
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\n\t\tHauled in his fifth TD reception of the season and his first since scoring in Illinois’ win vs. #21 USC on Sept. 27.
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\n\tJoe Barna’s<\/a> sack-fumble was recovered by Leon Lowery Jr.<\/a> in the end zone to give the Illini a 17-7 lead at the 11:48 mark in the third quarter.
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\n\t\tBarna’s second sack of the season tied his career high, while the forced fumble was the first of his career.
\n\t\tLowery Jr.’s TD marked the first of his collegiate career, coming in his 53rd game.
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\n\tCa’Lil Valentine<\/a> 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.
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\n\t\tSet career highs for receptions (3), receiving yards (28), and longest reception (18).
\n\t
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\n\tJames Thompson Jr.<\/a> tied his career high with a team-leading 7 tackles (2 solo) to go with a half sack.
\n\tDaniel Brown<\/a> recorded a career-high 5 total tackles (2 solo).
\n\tSaboor Karriem<\/a> notched the first tackle for loss of his career.
<\/p>\n
\n\tIllinois set the program record for the most wins over a two-year period with their 19th victory since 2024.
\n\tIllinois secured back-to-back 9+-win seasons for the first time in program history.
\n\tIllinois 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).
\n\tIllinois had 32 wins over the last four seasons (2022-25), tied for its most wins over a four-year period since 1900-03.
\n\tIllinois had 37 wins over the last five seasons (2021-25), tied for its most wins over a five-year period since 1901-05.
\n\tIllinois 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.
\n\tIllinois 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.
\n\tIllinois now has 7 fourth quarter comeback wins over the last two seasons.
\n\tIllinois is a perfect 18-0 when leading at half the last two seasons.
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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