Overview
- Olano converted from 29 yards as time expired to lift Illinois over Tennessee 30-27 in Nashville.
- The Illini closed 9-4, achieving consecutive nine-win seasons for the first time and a record 19 wins over two seasons, with a second straight bowl win over an SEC opponent reported.
- Tennessee finished 8-5, falling short of a fourth consecutive nine-win campaign under coach Josh Heupel.
- Both rosters were thinned by opt-outs, including Tennessee’s Chris Brazzell II, Joshua Josephs, Arion Carter and Colton Hood, and Illinois’ Gabe Jacas, J.C. Davis and Matthew Bailey.
- The matchup marked the programs’ first-ever meeting; sportsbooks had listed Tennessee as a slight favorite despite the quarterback duel between Joey Aguilar and Luke Altmyer.