Unpacking Tennessee football's history in the Music City Bowl
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No. 23 Tennessee football is set to play in the Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl for the fourth time when the Vols meet Illinois on Dec. 30 at Nissan Stadium (4:30 p.m., ESPN).
Tennessee (8-4) is 1-2 all-time in the Music City Bowl, which was first played in 1998. This will be the first time for Illinois (8-4) to play in the Music City Bowl.
Big crowds, an average of 68,043, have shown up each time Tennessee has played in the Music City Bowl.
Here’s a look at Tennessee football’s history in the Music City Bowl since the Vols’ first appearance in 2010:
2010 Music City Bowl: North Carolina 30, Tennessee 27 2 OTs
In one of the most exciting Music City Bowls, North Carolina defeated Tennessee 30-27 in a game that finished in chaos in the second overtime.
The Tar Heels won the game on a 23-yard Casey Barth field goal after a Quan Sturdivant interception of Vols quarterback Tyler Bray on the second possession in overtime. It was Bray’s third interception in the game.
The controversy came at the end regulation. Tennessee was up 20-17 with 16 seconds left. North Carolina had the ball inside the Tennessee 20-yard line when it ran its field goal unit onto the field, Tar Heels quarterback T.J. Yates took the snap and spiked the ball and time apparently ran out.
Flags were thrown for too many men on the field, but one official announced the game had ended. After a review, however, officials announced there was one second remaining, which was put back on the clock and North Carolina was penalized five yards.
Barth then kicked a 39-yard field goal as time expired to send the game into overtime.
Tennessee cornerback Prentiss Waggner said the bizarre end of regulation made it difficult for the Vols to refocus.
“It was real hard (to play overtime),” Prentiss said. “It breaks you down mentally. You just try to keep the focus and block it out. Unfortunately, we couldn’t do that.”
2016 Music City Bowl: Tennessee 38, Nebraska 24
Josh Dobbs led the Vols to 38-24 win over No. 24-ranked Nebraska before a sold-out crowd mostly decked out in orange in the Tennessee quarterback’s final game as a Vol. Dobbs ran for three touchdowns to help give Tennessee a 31-14 lead.
After Nebraska rallied and made it 31-24 with 10 minutes left to play, Dobbs tossed a 59-yard touchdown pass to former Station Camp High standout Josh Malone to hold off the Cornhuskers. Dobbs finished with 409 total yards − 291 passing and 118 rushing.
“The athleticism of the quarterback gave them a lot of extra opportunities,” Nebraska coach Mike Riley said after the game.
2021 Music City Bowl: Purdue 48, Tennessee 45 OT
Overtime has been played in two Music City Bowls. Tennessee has been the loser in both games.
The Vols lost to Purdue 48-45 in overtime in 2021, which ended Josh Heupel’s first season as Tennessee’s coach.
The Vols made it to the Purdue 1-yard line in overtime, but Jaylen Wright was tackled for no gain on fourth down. Mitchell Fineran kicked a 39-yard field goal to win it for Purdue on the Boilermakers’ possession.
Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker completed 26-of-42 passes for 378 yards and five touchdowns. Jabari Small rushed for 180 yards on 26 carries.
Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on X @MikeOrganWriter.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee football history in Music City Bowl entering 2025 game with Illinois
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