Music City Bowl: Last-second field goal gives Illinois the 30-28 victory over Tennessee
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Illinois kicker David Olano watched the football sail through the uprights Tuesday night at Nissan Stadium and raced back toward midfield with his hand raised.
The Illini sideline stormed the field to meet him.
Olano’s 29-yard field goal as time expired lifted Illinois to a 30-28 victory over Tennessee in the Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl.
Illini quarterback Luke Altmyer, named the bowl MVP in his final game with the team, led the offense on the winning drive that took most of the final 4 minutes, 58 seconds. He then turned the game over with three seconds left to Olano, the Naperville native who also made a last-second winner against USC earlier this season.
“I knew coming off my foot that thing was going right down Broadway,” Olano said.
The winner left the many Illini fans among a crowd of 52,815 chanting I-L-L and I-N-I while exiting the stadium.
The Illini entered the season with College Football Playoff hopes behind an experienced group of players that included Altmyer, back for his third season. Those were dashed after losses to No. 1 Indiana, No. 2 Ohio State, Washington and Wisconsin.
Instead, they settled for program history in their second straight bowl win over an SEC team. For the first time, the Illini (9-4) won nine or more games in back-to-back seasons. Bret Bielema became the first coach in program history to win a bowl game in consecutive seasons. Illinois topped South Carolina in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl last season.
“I knew if we got this one tonight it would set all kinds of records, and we don’t have to read about other years anymore,” Bielema said. “People, usually they read about history or they write history, and this group is writing history. I think we’ll continue to do that.”
Olano’s field goal capped a wild final five minutes against the Vols (8-5).
Tennessee’s Joakim Dodson fumbled a kickoff return late in the fourth quarter, but he scooped the ball back up and broke to the left side. Then he kept going.
Dodson returned the kick 94 yards for a touchdown and a 28-27 lead against Illinois.
But Illinois had 4:58 to respond.
“It’s not what happens,” Bielema said. “It’s how you react to what happens. We preach it. We talk it. We live it.”
Photos: Illinois 30, Tennessee 28 in the Music City Bowl
Aidan Laughery, who finished with 13 carries for 77 yards, broke for a 28-yard gain early in the winning drive to get Illinois into Tennessee territory.
On third-and-3 at the Vols 33-yard line, Altmyer completed a 2-yard pass to Hank Beatty that was so close to the line to gain it was reviewed, and the call on the field was upheld — just short. Illinois went for it on fourth-and-1, and Jordan Anderson gained 13 yards up the middle.
Illinois converted a third-and-1 later in the drive on Kaden Feagin’s 3-yard run and then wound the clock down to set up Olano’s field goal. He had made a 28-yard field goal with 5:14 to play to give Illinois a 27-21 lead, but the Vols erased that on the next play with Dodson’s return.
“It’s just trust and confidence in those guys,” Olano said. “I know those 10 other guys are good enough to compete against anyone. (Long snapper Pat Mahoney and holder Keelan Crimmins), I know those guys are going to do their job to get me the best operation possible. And then just confidence, believing in myself. I’ve made those kicks plenty of times. It’s no different being up here.”
Altmyer, who said goodbye to fans by posting a social media highlight reel video two days before the game, completed 20 of 33 passes for 196 yards and an 18-yard touchdown pass to Justin Bowick in the first quarter. He also rushed for 54 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries.
The Tennessee defense, missing a few starters who opted out of the bowl, sacked him once.
“We just chipped away one by one making plays off of their looks,” Altmyer said. “A lot of confidence out there, a lot of trust, unity. We have done it before. We remember moments where we’ve been in those positions. We recall them, and it gives us a lot of confidence we can do it.”
Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar completed 14 of 18 passes for 121 yards.
Illinois was playing the game without all-Big Ten outside linebacker Gabe Jacas, who opted out as he prepares for the NFL draft, and safety Matthew Bailey, who had shoulder surgery.
The defense came through early, holding one of the nation’s most prolific offenses to seven first-half points as the Illini held a 10-7 halftime lead. They then had one of their biggest plays early in the third quarter.
Outside linebacker Joe Barna had a strip-sack of Aguilar, and outside linebacker Leon Lowery recovered the ball in the end zone for an Illinois touchdown and a 17-7 lead.
The Illini defense had four sacks and seven tackles for a loss.
“I think we were able to make them play our game, especially with the offense being able to control the clock,” safety Miles Scott said. “This team wanted to throw the ball down the field and score in three plays and just tempo us to death. But we didn’t allow them to hit deep shots. They couldn’t even attempt any because our D-line was doing so good. And anytime he tried to throw it, he was getting sacks.”
Tennessee responded quickly to its turnover with a nine-play, 75-yard drive, capped by DeSean Bishop’s 1-yard touchdown run on fourth down.
But Illinois put together its own touchdown drive, fueled by Altmyer’s legs. He had runs of 14 and 10 yards — taking down an official on the former — and then scored on a 2-yard touchdown push for a 24-14 Illinois lead.
Bishop’s 12-yard touchdown run then cut Illinois’ lead to 24-21.
In the first half, the Illini twice went for it on fourth down within what looked like field-goal range and failed to convert both times. On fourth-and-7 at the 33-yard line on their first drive, Altmyer’s pass fell incomplete. On fourth-and-2 from the 29 on their third drive, Altmyer’s shovel pass bounced to the ground.
But they turned to Olano for a 30-yarder with 21 seconds to play in the second quarter for a 10-7 halftime lead. And then he made two more in the second half to help close out the win.
The winning drive was the seventh in the final minute of regulation or overtime of Altmyer’s career, a part of the legacy he leaves at Illinois.
“Luke has a lot of confidence, but when Luke shows his confidence through the ways he plays, it makes everybody else around him play very, very well,” Bielema said. “So a very contagious player, and it affects the whole team.”
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