Illinois Fighting Illini: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

How Luke Altmyer Changed Illinois Football for the Long Haul

There was a time not long ago when Illinois football lived in a very specific Big Ten neighborhood. You know the one. The street where bowl eligibility was considered a luxury item, eight wins required divine intervention and optimism was mostly reserved for basketball season.

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Illinois QB Luke Altmyer runs over a referee during Music City Bowl

Luke Altmyer left a referee with tire marks all over his face during Tuesday’s bowl game. The senior quarterback Altmyer and Illinois squared off against Tennessee in the Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / College Football Talk / December 30

Illinois beats Tennessee in the Music City Bowl to keep Big Ten undefeated this bowl season

The Fighting Illini helped the Big Ten stay undefeated this bowl season, improving to 6-0. The Southeastern Conference dropped to 2-5 with this loss.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Big Ten Network / December 30

Watch: Tennessee vs. Illinois | MUSIC CITY BOWL HIGHLIGHTS | 12/30/25

College Football News / Yardbarker / December 30

Illinois staves off Tennessee on walk-off field goal to win Music City Bowl

The win is the second straight bowl win for Bret Bielema and Illinois.

The 25 greatest players in SEC football history

The 'College nicknames that don't end in s' quiz

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / December 30

By the Numbers: Where Illinois Ranks in Key Metrics Entering Big Ten Play

In the present-day era of sports – which is dominated by endless quantitative data – too much stock can be put into the value of analytics, nearly all of which are termed “advanced." At the end of the day, the games must be played, and numbers are reflective but not predictive.

Bret Bielema News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / December 30

Non-CFP Bowls Don't Matter? Tell That to Illinois' Bret Bielema

All that sputtering and moaning you've heard out of places like Tuscaloosa and South Bend is the chorus of college football's interminable soundtrack over

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / December 30

What We've Learned About Illinois Through the End of Non-Conference Play

After knocking off Southern by a score of 90-55 on Monday afternoon, No. 20 Illinois moved to 10-3 and officially completed its non-conference slate. Here

College Football News / Athlon Sports / December 30

Tennessee vs. Illinois Prediction: Music City Bowl Preview

College football’s postseason continues on Tuesday evening with a Big Ten-SEC clash in Nashville, as Tennessee and Illinois meet in the Music City Bowl.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / CFB-HQ on SI / December 29

Tennessee vs. Illinois prediction: Who wins the Music City Bowl, and why?

The latest offering from college football bowl season brings us a notable SEC vs. Big Ten clash from Nashville as Tennessee and Illinois face off in the 2025 Music City Bowl game.

Bret Bielema News / A to Z Sports / December 29

Illinois HC Bret Bielema accidentally told a lie about Tennessee ahead of matchup against the Vols in the Music City Bowl

The Tennessee Vols and the Illinois Fighting Illini will face off on Tuesday in Nashville in the Music City Bowl. Coaches from both programs met with the media on Monday to preview the game.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / December 29

Three Instant Observations From Illinois Basketball's 90-55 Win Over Southern

Illinois was never likely to be threatened in Monday's 90-55 steamrolling of Southern, a non-conference opponent outside the Power 5, but the Illini handled their business in appropriate fashion and got all the right muscles stretched as they prepare for the Big Ten journey ahead, starting Saturday at Penn State (6 p.m.

Watch: Illinois at Purdue | HIGHLIGHTS | Big Ten Women's Basketball | 12/28/2025

Bret Bielema News / A to Z Sports / December 28

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema explains why Tennessee didn't want to practice at Vanderbilt ahead of the Music City Bowl

The Tennessee Vols arrived in Nashville shortly after Christmas to continue preparations for their upcoming matchup against the Illinois Fighting Illini in the Music City Bowl.