Vols fall to Illinois on last-second field goal in Music City Bowl

NASHVILLE — On a night where Tennessee's defense was missing key players due to opt-outs, it was tasked with coming up big late for the Vols in the Music City Bowl. After the Vols took a fourth-quarter lead, Illinois ate up the remaining time to win the game on Tuesday night, 30-28. The Fighting Illini (9-4) took a 27-21 lead with 5:14 left in the fourth quarter on a 28-yard field goal. Yet on the ensuing kickoff, Joakim Dodson turned a mistake into the biggest splash of the game for Tennessee (8-5). He bobbled and fumbled the kick, then returned it to the end zone for a 94-yard touchdown. Dodson's return put UT up 28-27 with 4:58 left. The game was then in the hands of a defensive unit missing cornerback Colton Hood, linebacker Arion Carter, and edge rusher Joshua Josephs. They gave up big yardage early in the drive, including a 28-yard rush by Aidan Laughery to get to Tennessee's 40-yard line. Illinois continued to chip away deeper into Vols' territory, including a 13-yard Laughery run on 4th-down to keep the march alive. On 3rd-and-5 from the 13, UT got called for an offsides, which gave the Illini an easy conversion. They then took the ball to the Vols' 10-yard line, where David Olano knocked in a 29-yard field goal as time expired. "Disappointing result," Vols head coach Josh Heupel said. "We didn't play clean enough in any phase in the game to get a win. Give credit to Illinois. Certainly a lot of things that we've got to do better." Tennessee dug itself into a hole early in the third quarter. After both sides traded punts to open the second half, Vols quarterback Joey Aguilar was sacked and stripped of the football, where it rolled into the end zone and was recovered for an Illini touchdown. The play turned a three-point margin into 10 points. The Vols answered back on their following possession with a 75-yard touchdown drive. DeSean Bishop cashed in a 4th-and-goal carry from the 1-yard line to bring UT back within 17-14. Illinois was willing to trade punches, though, as Illini quarterback Luke Altmyer used his legs three times on the next drive. The third was a two-yard scamper into the end zone. Altmyer went 20-of-33 through the air for 196 yards, and also recorded 10 carries for 54 yards. Bishop came up big again for Tennessee on the next drive, converting a fourth-down in the red zone and rushing for a 12-yard score to get the Vols back within 24-21. The Vols allowed Illinois to move the ball down the field to start the game, as the Fighting Illini got down to the UT 33-yard line. But, the Tennessee defense bowed up to force an incompletion. Their offense took advantage of the momentum, going on a 67-yard touchdown drive that took 11 plays and just shy of five minutes. The biggest chunk play was an 18-yard rush by Bishop to get the Vols to the Illinois 6-yard line. The run also moved Bishop past 1,000 yards rushing for the season. He is the 21st 1,000-yard rusher in the history of Tennessee football, and the Karns graduate is the third-straight UT running back to reach the mark. Dylan Sampson (2024) and Jaylen Wright (2023) were the last two backs to do so for the Vols. Bishop finished his day with 19 carries for 93 yards and the two scores. He also caught three passes for eight yards. Also on the scoring drive, Braylon Staley made his 65th catch of the season, the most by a freshman in program history. Staley reeled in four passes for 31 yards. However, from that point, the first half was all Illini. On the ensuing drive, Illinois went on a 75-yard touchdown drive that took 5:40 off the clock. Despite three false start penalties, Altmyer orchestrated a drive that ended in a touchdown pass to Justin Bowick from 18 yards out, tying the game. Following a three-and-out from the Vols, the Illini drove deep into Tennessee territory again, getting inside the 30-yard line. However, they were turned away on 4th-and-2 for a turnover-on-downs. Unlike the first time turning Illinois away, UT couldn't come away with points. The Vols got just outside the red zone, but the drive stalled forcing a 39-yard field goal attempt from Max Gilbert. He pushed it well to the right, though, keeping the contest even at 7-7. The Fighting Illini answered by going 67 yards in 3:07, getting to the Vols' 12-yard line. But, the Vols forced a field goal try, which was good from 30 yards out by Olano. While Tennessee only trailed 10-7 at halftime, its offense had ground to a screeching halt. After getting 67 yards on the opening drive, the Vols could only muster 50 total yards the rest of the first half. "It was a condensed game," Heupel said. "Three possessions in the first half…We (eventually) got the run game going. With what they were doing, there was space to run the football. Took advantage of that better in the second half." Aguilar saw his streak of 36-straight games of throwing for 200 yards in a game come to an end, which was the country's active leader. He passed for 121 yards while going 14-for-18. Up Next The Vols will open the 2026 season on Sept. 5 at home against Furman.