The 2025 Tennessee football team takes the field for the last time on Tuesday evening as they prepare to face Illinois in the Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl. Both teams enter the game boasting an 8-4 record while Tennessee is trying to earn a ninth win for a fourth straight season— something the Vols did just twice in the decade prior to Josh Heupel’s arrival.
Tennessee is just slight favorites with kickoff a day away. Here’s three keys for Tennessee to earn a bowl game victory against the Fighting Illini.
More From RTI: The Growth of This Young Tennessee Defender Has Jumped Out to Interim DC William Inge
Start Fast
Illinois is a better passing team than a rushing team this season. But the Fighting Illini have their most success passing the ball out of play action and they’re not a super explosive passing offense. All that to say, Illinois is not a team built to play from behind.
Tennessee often excelled at getting out to fast starts this season. Whether it was against Georgia, Kentucky or Florida, many of the Vols’ best performances this season came when they got off to a fast start offensively. Their worst offensive games of the season, see Alabama and Vanderbilt, came with the Vols’ struggling from the jump.
If the Vols can start fast in the first quarter, get out to an early lead and find some offensive rhythm early then they will set themselves up to be in good shape in this game.
Create Negative Plays Defensively
Tennessee’s defense has had no shortage of struggles this season. On paper, life isn’t going to get much easier in the bowl game. The Vols are down a key player on all three phases of the defense as edge Josh Josephs, linebacker Arion Carter and cornerback Colton Hood all opted out to begin preparation for the NFL Draft.
But there’s one area where Illinois has particularly struggled offensively this season— pass protection. The Fighting Illini have allowed 31 sacks this season. Only two Big 10 teams allowed more in the regular season. That’s part of why getting out to a big lead would be so beneficial for Tennessee in this game.
If Tennessee can force negative plays via tackles for loss, holding penalties or sacks then they give their beat up but opportunistic defense a chance to get off the field and have success. Even without Josephs, Tennessee’s defensive front should be able to hold their own. If they make some plays then it’ll make life easier on the Vols’ young defensive backfield.
Find Consistency In The Run Game
Despite all its success this season, Tennessee’s offense has struggled to consistently run the football. That’s plagued them in a number of their losses as they’ve put everything on the back of Joey Aguilar due to an inability to run the ball with any success.
This game could potentially go the same way. Illinois’ run defense ranks just outside the top 30 nationally while its pass defense ranks 80th nationally. The Fighting Illini have been pretty stout stopping the run this season but very susceptible to passing offenses.
If Tennessee can establish the run and lean on that consistently to win on early downs and move the sticks on third-and-short then it will make life all the easier for Aguilar in the passing attack. That could be all the more important with Tennessee’s passing attack trying to find its rhythm without top receiver Chris Brazzell.
