Overview
- Kickoff is Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. ET on ESPN at Nissan Stadium in Nashville in the first-ever football meeting between the programs.
- Both teams will be without multiple starters, including Tennessee’s SEC receiving leader Chris Brazzell II and defenders Colton Hood, Joshua Josephs and Arion Carter, plus Illinois’ Big Ten sack leader Gabe Jacas, left tackle J.C. Davis and safety Matthew Bailey.
- Sportsbooks list Tennessee as the favorite and recent previews highlight the over as a popular play with both starting quarterbacks expected to go.
- Vols quarterback Joey Aguilar can threaten Peyton Manning’s UT single-season marks, needing 242 total-offense yards and 376 passing yards, facing an Illinois pass defense that has struggled and is missing Bailey.
- A Tennessee victory would secure a fourth straight nine-win season under Josh Heupel, whereas an Illinois win would deliver back-to-back nine-win campaigns for the first time in program history.