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Illinois vs. No. 7 Maryland Date/Time: January 1, 2026/3pm […]

Illinois delivers another near perfect performance to topple a Southeastern Conference opponent in a late December bowl game for back-to-back postseason wins for the first time since 2011.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

December 31, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Illinois head coach Bret Bielema had repeatedly said how much he loathes when good-natured fans mention to him how long it’s been before the Illini football program accomplished something.

As he’s completed his fifth season leading the football program in Champaign-Urbana, the phrase Bielema dislikes hearing the most is ‘did you know it’s been since (fill in the year) since Illinois has (fill in the accomplishment)’ and Bielema was determined on Tuesday night to slow down that kind of talk by seeing his team create its own history.

“We talked a lot about all different kinds of numbers. (Monday night) I got emotional in a team meeting because I saw them that after the Northwestern win that this group has either tied or surpassed a number of records,” Bielema said Tuesday night after the 30-28 win over Tennessee in the Music City Bowl. “I knew if we got this one that we’d not have to talk about these kind of numbers or read about other years anymore. Usually you either find yourself reading about history or writing history and this group is doing a lot of writing history.”

Run Offense
When asked to describe the game-winning 64-yard drive that led to David Olano’s 29-yard walk-off field goal, Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer shrugged his shoulders before admitting

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Writer/Analyst & Co-Host, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

December 31, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

We are in the midst of the Golden Era of Illinois football

Enjoy it. Take it in. Celebrate. There will be time for fans to worry about next season in the coming weeks, portal opens Jan. 2, and for the next 8 months. For now, know that Illinois football is in good hands and have shown themselves to be a legit football team and program. I don’t think we appreciate enough what has happened at Illinois since Josh Whitman took over 9 years ago and Bret Bielema 5 years ago.

Here are a few thoughts from Nashville as I sit in the airport waiting on my flight.

By Zeno Jo - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

December 31, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – After clinching her 250th career win as a coach, becoming the winningest coach in program history, leading the team to its first win at Purdue in five years, and pushing them to the best 13-game start in program history, Illinois women’s basketball head coach Shauna Green is laser-focused on the task at hand.

That’s a whole lot of different, but when asked about what exactly changed from last year to this year, Green pointed to losing something that many might consider a strength: veterans. After steering the ship with a crew of veterans for the last four years, Green says that an all-new team has been behind the hot start to the 2025-26 season.

Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer had the confidence of his teammates, coaches and fans that one more game-winning drive was coming with four minutes and 58 seconds left in the Music City Bowl.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

December 31, 2025

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Immediately after a 96-yard kick return for a touchdown to give Tennessee a one-point lead, Luke Altmyer’s mother had the same immediate reaction of Illinois players, coaches and fans.

Chad Altmyer, while sitting in Section 238 near the 30 yard line of Nissan Stadium looked up at the ribbon board showing the game clock and turned to his wife, Betsy, who knew and said out load they’d seen the script of this type of game play out before.

“Betsy said it best because she immediately watched the offense trot on the field and said out loud ‘here we go again’ and let it be known that Luke’s mom immediately thought a game-winning drive was going to happen again,” Chad Altmyer said to IlliniGuys.com Tuesday night. “She immediately remembered this is how Luke’s career at Illinois began.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3hG4sxmVe8    

By IlliniGuys Staff December 30, 2025 (Cover photo courtesy […]

Illinois will need to slow down one of the nation’s fastest tempo offenses in order to achieve back-to-back seasons of bowl wins for the first time since 2011.

ILLINOIS vs. TENNESSEE

Records: Illinois 8-4, 4-4 in Big Ten; Tennessee 8-4, 4-4 in Southeastern Conference

Date/Time/Place: Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025: 4:30p.m. CST, Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee

Surface: Matrix Helix Turf

Capacity: 69,143

ODDS: Tennessee by 2

Series notes: Illinois will play in the Music City Bowl for the first time in program history and the Illini will play Tennessee for the first time in program history. Illinois is back in a bowl game in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2010-11. Illinois head coach Bret Bielema is 1-0 all-time against Tennessee after getting a 24-20 victory in 2015 in Knoxville while Bielema was the Arkansas head coach.
Bielema is looking to tie the program record for bowl wins (two) by an Illini head coach, while also trying to become the first coach in program history to win a bowl game in back-to-back seasons. Illinois is bowl eligible three times in a four-year span for the first time since 1991-94.

TV: ESPN; Tom Hart (play-by-play); Jordan Rodgers (color analyst) and Cole Cubelic (sideline reporter)

Radio (Illinois): Brian Barnhart (play-by-play); Carey Davis (color analyst); Kevin Mitchell (color analyst); Michael Martin (sideline) and Steve Kelly (pre/half/post). The broadcast can be heard live on TuneIn online radio, SiriusXM 84, the SiriusXM App, and at FightingIllini.com/live.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

December 30, 2025

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Aaron Henry had two words to describe the matchup against Tennessee’s ‘Veer and Shoot’ offense.

“It’s going to be a chess match,” Henry said.

December 30, 2025 The Illini face a more talented […]

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst & Co-Host, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

December 30, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

The Illinois basketball team did what they needed to do on Monday against an overmatched Southern Squad. In a 90 to 55 win the Illinois had a balanced attack led by five three pointers from Jake Davis and a double-double from Keaton Wagler, but this game was more about getting prepared for the Big Ten season and the NCAA’s down the road.

Here’s a quick notebook:

-Illinois is now shooting 41% from behind three-point arc over their past five games. Since the debacle in Madison Square Garden against UConn when they couldn't hit the broad side of a barn, the Illini have continued to climb up the three-point shooting ranks.

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema and defensive coordinator Aaron Henry don’t believe Illinois can rely on one player to fill the void of inactive defensive starters Gabe Jacas and Matthew Bailey.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

December 29, 2025

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Unlike the Music City Bowl replacement for left tackle J.C. Davis, the Illinois coaching staff realizes it may take more than one person to replace each of the spots for its two lost defensive starters.

When it comes to finding a left tackle replacement for Davis, Illinois head coach Bret Bielema and Illini offensive line coach Bart Miller both know one player is likely to be in that spot for 60-80 plays on Tuesday as offensive linemen aren’t typically subbed out.

Bielema confirmed Monday what he’d been hinting at for several days that Nathan Knapik will get his first career start on Tuesday in the 2025 Music City Bowl.

How this 2025 Music City Bowl matchup will reunite […]

Illinois equipment staff put together the logos, stripes, stickers, facemasks and radio communication for the Illini’s all-navy helmets inside the team hotel in Nashville this week.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

December 29, 2025

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The reviews are in, at least from the Illinois football players, the all-blue uniforms from head to toe that the Illini will debut for the first time in the Bret Bielema era is already a rousing success.

For the first time since Bielema was introduced as the Illinois head coach in Dec. 2020, Illinois players will wear a navy helmet Tuesday afternoon in the 2025 Music City Bowl matchup against Tennessee (4:30 p.m. CST, ESPN). The navy helmet with the orange script ‘Illinois’ logo is a new look for the Illini program and the opposite effect of the orange helmet with the navy script ‘Illinois’ logo they were on New Year’s Eve for the 2024 Citrus Bowl win over South Carolina.

“Those helmets have got to stick around, I think,” Illinois fifth-year linebacker Dylan Rosiek said on Sunday. “Hopefully get the first win here and then continue the momentum next year with the navy helmets.”

The all-blue look is an obvious counter to Tennessee’s shade of orange as Illini fans coming to Nissan Stadium Tuesday for the program’s first ever participation in the Music City Bowl.

By IlliniGuys Staff December 29, 2025 (Cover photo courtesy […]

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst & Co-Host, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

December 29, 2025

After a week off for Christmas break, the Illini are back in action at the State Farm Center against Southern University. This is the last tune up for the Illini head into their final 18 Big Ten contests over the months of January, February and March. Coming off of a dominating win over Missouri, everything is right in Illini land. Now they have an opportunity to show that they can handle success and bottle that offense and defense against the inferior opponent twice in a row

Here's a look at the particulars..

Setting the Stage
#20/19 Illinois (9-3) vs. Southern (4-8)
Monday, Dec. 29, 2025 // 2 p.m. CT // Champaign, Ill // State Farm Center
TV: BTN – Noah Reed (Play-by-Play) & Jordan Taylor (Analyst)
Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Scott Beatty (Play-By-Play) & Deon Thomas (Analyst)

Notable
*Southern is picked to finish 2nd in the SWAC after winning the regular season conference title a year ago.

*Following a week-long holiday break, No. 20 Illinois returns to action for a Monday matinee vs. Southern at State Farm Center (2 p.m. CT / BTN). The matchup between the Illini and the Jaguars closes out Illinois' nonconference slate and the 2025 calendar year.

*The Illini are coming off a dominant 91-48 victory over rival Mizzou to push their Braggin' Rights winning streak to three years in a row. The 43-point win marked the largest margin in the history of the Illinois-Missouri series.