ORLANDO, FLORIDA – DECEMBER 31: Luke Altmyer #9 of the Illinois Fighting Illini throws a pass in the second quarter against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the 2024 Cheez-It Citrus Bowl at Camping World Stadium on December 31, 2024 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
The University of Illinois is going bowling once again, and for the third straight year they’ll take on an SEC team.
The school announced Sunday that they will take on the Tennessee Volunteers in the Music City Bowl later this month.
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WATCH HEREThat bowl game is played at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, home of the NFL’s Tennessee Titans, and will be contested on Tuesday, December 30 at 4:30 p.m. Central, according to bowl organizers.
The game marks the third straight Illinois has played against an SEC opponent, following up last year’s Citrus Bowl against South Carolina.
That game marked the first time in school history that Illinois had beaten an SEC team, as they knocked off the Gamecocks 21-17 in Orlando last year.
The Illini also played an SEC school in the 2023 ReliaQuest Bowl, falling to Mississippi State.
Illinois has appeared in bowl games in each of the last three seasons, racking up an 8-4 record this season after having College Football Playoff aspirations prior to the season.
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The Volunteers also went 8-4 on the regular season, dropping their final game against Vanderbilt in Nashville.
More information on the game can be found on the Music City Bowl’s website.
