It took every ounce of blood, sweat, and tears for Illinois to win the Music City Bowl versus Tennessee. It felt like the Fighting Illini were just one step ahead all night, as Josh Heupel and the Vols could never reclaim the lead. That was until a 95-yard kick return by Joakim Dodson put the Vols up 28-27 with 4:58 left to go in the game.
On the ensuing drive, Illinois drove it all the way down the field and eventually kneeled the ball down to set up a game-winning 29-yard chip shot kick for David Olano. It was a painful and fitting way to end the 2025 season. Let's take a look at three instant reactions.
1. Jim Knowles can't come soon enough
The Tennessee defense, to their credit, did a good job of bending but not breaking, but pretty much every Illinois drive was long and clock-consuming. This is precisely what Bielema wanted. It kept Tennessee's high-powered offense off the field and let Illinois slowly wear down a struggling defense. This is not a recipe for success.
The Vols had a tough time slowing down the run all night, as Ca’Lil Valentine and Aidan Laughery repeatedly gashed them up the middle. The defensive backfield, despite being banged up and having opt-outs, played surprisingly well, but the big boys up front really struggled.
The Jim Knowles' era is now underway and he has plenty of work ahead of him.
2. DeSean Bishop is a star
Did we already know this? Sure. But why not reiterate it? Bishop had a big touchdown run on a fourth and goal, and then picked up a huge 4th down in the 4th quarter that led to a touchdown the next play.
The second-team All-SEC running back showed up in a big way all night long. He ran with purpose, fought for every extra yard, and consistently made Illinois defenders work just to get him on the ground. With his 93 rushing yards tonight, Bishop surpassed the 1,000 mark on the 2025 season.
Next fall Bishop can take his game to another level, which is scary, because he's already one of the best tailbacks in the nation.
3. Kicking game struggled once again
I don't mean to kick a guy while he's down, or beat a dead horse, but Max Gilbert missed a huge kick that may have decided the game.
He also missed a crucial kick against eventual SEC champion Georgia, one that Vols fans would rather forget. In 2025, he connected on 74 percent of his attempts, which isn’t terrible on paper, but the timing of those misses will linger with fans throughout the offseason. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Josh Heupel explore options at the kicker position moving forward.
A couple more made kicks this year, and the Tennessee football season could look a whole lot different. Good riddance, 2025.