Nobody, and I mean nobody, who is a Tennessee fan wants to be playing in the Music City Bowl after Christmas. After making the College Football Playoffs in 2024, Tennessee took a step back in 2025, losing winnable games to playoff teams in Georgia and Oklahoma.
There is a lot of work to do in Knoxville before the start of the 2026 campaign. Josh Heupel has already begun shaking up the defensive staff, bringing in veteran coordinator Jim Knowles to run that side of the ball. Heupel has also extended the contracts of two of his best assistants, Joey Halzle and Kelsey Pope.
As we get closer to the Music City Bowl, there will be more opt-outs, but for right now, both Tennessee and Illinois will be missing star players.
What stars have already opted out of the Music City Bowl?
Last Thursday on X, Tennessee wide receiver Chris Brazell II posted his intentions of entering the 2026 NFL Draft. With this decision, he also decided to opt out of the Music City Bowl. Brazell, right now, is projected to be a second-rounder, so it's no surprise he's entering his name into the draft and avoiding injury in a seemingly meaningless bowl game.
It won't just be Tennessee missing star players in the bowl game. Illinois will be missing star linebacker Gabe Jacas, who had 11 sacks, as he has begun to prep for the NFL Draft. Star left tackle JC Davis will also miss the Music City Bowl for Illinois and start his NFL Draft journey.
The one constant for both teams is that their veteran quarterbacks will be playing in the Music City Bowl. Former Ole Miss signal-caller Luke Altmyer will look to cap off his college career on a high note. Altmyer was never an elite college quarterback, but he's a more than respectable player who surely would like to end his career on a high note.
There is no indication whether Joey Aguilar will be back for the Vols in 2026, but we can assume, for now, the Music City Bowl will be the last time he suits up for Tennessee.
Stay tuned to All for Tennessee for the latest developments on future opt-outs.