Tennessee football is headed to Nashville to conclude its 2025 season in the Music City Bowl against Illinois according to On3’s Brett McMurphy. It’s the Vols fourth ever time in the Music City Bowl and its second time in the bowl since Josh Heupel took over as head coach.
The Vols have a 1-2 record in their previous three Music City Bowl appearances with appearances against North Carolina, Nebraska and Purdue. Here’s a look at Tennessee’s three trips to the Music City Bowl.
2010: North Carolina 30, Tennessee 27 (2OT)
Derek Dooley’s first season as Tennessee’s head coach came to a disappointing finish when Butch Davis and North Carolina knocked off the Vols in double overtime.
A true freshman Tyler Bray slung the ball around the yard, throwing for 312 yards, four touchdowns but three interceptions including a costly interception in the second overtime. Janzen Jackson intercepted a T.J. Yates pass while the future NFL quarterback threw for 234 yards and one touchdown.
But the game’s real drama came in the final seconds when Yates snapped and downed the ball with far too many North Carolina players on the field. Tennessee’s sideline poured onto the field in celebration but the officials put one second back on the clock and pushed the Tar Heels back five yards. Casey Barth knocked in a 39-yard field goal to tie the game and force overtime.
The chaotic ending led to the NCAA implementing the 10-second runoff the next season. Tennessee finished the year 6-7.
2016: Tennessee 38, Nebraska 24
After starting 5-0, Tennessee flamed out and went 4-4 down the stretch of Butch Jones’ fourth season to end up in the Music City Bowl. The Vols jumped out to a 21-7 halftime lead and Josh Dobbs connected with Josh Malone for a 59-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to put the game away.
Dobbs did it all in his final game as a Vol, completing 23-of-38 passes for 291 yards and one touchdown. He added 118 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.
The biggest moment of the game came in the game’s final minutes when Derek Barnett sacked Ryker Fyfe to break Reggie White’s career sack record. Tennessee ended Jones’ fourth season with a 9-4 record. The Vols fired Jones less than a year later.
2021: Purdue 48, Tennessee 45 (OT)
Josh Heupel’s first Tennessee team played an absolute shootout against Purdue in the Music City Bowl to conclude the season. Hendon Hooker totaled 437 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions. Jabari Small ran for 180 yards. Cedric Tillman caught seven passes for 150 yards and three touchdowns.
Tennessee’s defense struggled horribly as Purdue totaled 534 passing yards and 627 total yards of offense.
Once again, drama affected the game in overtime. Tennessee rolled the dice on fourth-and-goal at the one-yard line. Jaylen Wright scored on his second effort but the officials ruled him down by forward progress. It was an incredibly controversial call. Purdue kicked a field goal to win a few moments later.
