Illinois, featuring star defender Gabe Jacas and an improving defense, faces Tennessee in the Music City Bowl. Can coach Bret Bielema's squad elevate its bowl game performance?
Illinois starting quarterback Luke Altmyer was, according to reports, one of the quarterbacks Tennessee coach Josh Heupel was looking at once Nico Iamaleava bailed on the Vols.
While nothing came from the fling, Altmyer and the Fighting Illini now gear up for a bowl-game matchup against none other than the Tennessee Volunteers in the Music City Bowl in Nashville Dec. 30.
Since joining the University of Illinois in 2021, coach Bret Bielema has turned the narrative of the school’s football program in ways that may not appear as noticeable on a national scale, but change is very apparent.
Last season was the most successful to date, with Bielema leading his team to 10 wins for the first time since 2001. While the Illini, with their No. 12 preseason ranking, technically failed their projected mark, they still earned eight wins with a shot at nine.
Altmyer had himself a solid 2025 season, tossing 2,717 yards in the air with a completion percentage of 68.1 through all 12 games played.
Yet the most notable success from the Fighting Illini in the Bielema era stems from the team’s tenacious defense, which led the way to the team’s 8-4 record.
The biggest wins from the season came in the first half, a Week 2 blowout over eventual ACC champion Duke, before defeating USC at home a few weeks later in a close contest.
Five things to know about the Fighting Illini
Gabe Jacas headlines the Illini defense
Gabe Jacas has played all four of his seasons with the University of Illinois, where he has seen consistent playing time throughout the majority of his career. After tallying eight sacks in his first two seasons combined, he matched that total with eight sacks the next season.
Yet his most impressive season to date remains his final year, where Jacas is in the midst of an 11-sack season, which led the Big Ten through the regular season.
He’s also added three forced fumbles this season. Jacas has been a leading force for a tough Illinois defense when healthy.
Illini defense is riding a hot streak entering the bowl week
It’s been an up-and-down ride for the Fighting Illini this season, and the defense has seen its fair share of that as well.
Poised to be a big factor in the season for Illinois, the defense saw rock bottom during two weeks in the season, where in back-to-back contests the Fighting Illini allowed 34 and 42 points, respectively, to Washington and Ohio State.
Despite the rough stretch, Illinois finished the season with stellar defensive play for all but one contest, a road loss to Wisconsin. Despite that game, where Illinois allowed 27 points, it had only allowed 13 on two occasions and six points once.
Bret Bielema bowl history
Bielema has been around the block in his collegiate coaching career, having appeared in what will now be his 12th bowl game as a head coach.
Right now, Bielema has a record of 5-6 with a chance to bring it back even at .500 with a win over Josh Heupel and the Vols.
With Illinois, Bielema has won one and lost just one. After dropping the Reliaquist Bowl in 2022 and missing a game entirely in 2023, Bielema responded with a Citrus Bowl win in 2024.
Inconsistency on Offense
The main drawback with the Fighting Illini’s season was the very haphazard play from the offense. Scoring just 10 points in a late-season matchup to Wisconsin is less than ideal.
Even with the streakiness, the offense has the potential to get down the field and score if a defense like Tennessee’s can’t find its footing.
At the end of the day, it all depends on whether the team can get Altmyer going early. Statistically, he’s one of the school’s most decorated quarterbacks, being the first quarterback to log 20+ passing touchdowns in consecutive seasons.
Against Power-Four teams this season
The Fighting Illini haven’t fared as well with top-25 ranked teams this season compared to their 2024-25 season, which saw them down four ranked opponents.
Bielema is currently 7-9 in ranked games. The only ranked win this season came at home against No. 21 USC in a 34-32 victory. This season, Illinois went 6-4 against other Power Four teams, but began to see more struggles later in the season, even defeating Northwestern by just a possession.
"Tennessee is a very, very gifted football team," Bielema said. "Mirror us a lot, probably in the fact that they have a very dynamic quarterback, playcaller coach Heupel, and his history as a player and coach. I’ve never competed against him. I played Tennessee one time when I was at Arkansas. I was able to play at Tennessee one time. To have this matchup, this moment, is pretty cool."