The Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl might welcome a record-breaking crowd to Nissan Stadium this year, as the in-state Tennessee Volunteers and their substantial fan base will make the trek to Nashville. The 8-4 Vols, who will face Illinois (also 8-4) out of the Big Ten, have played in the previous two record-setting Music City Bowls, drawing a crowd of 69,143 for a 2010 matchup with North Carolina and 69,489 for a 2021 contest against Purdue (both losses). The outing versus the Fighting Illini will have extra resonance for the Vols — Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer rejected an offer of $2 million to be Tennessee’s starting quarterback this season, opting to close out his career in Champaign, Ill., instead. Sadly, a game with two just-outside-the-Top-25 teams might be the most exciting matchup Nissan Stadium sees this year.Â
4:30 p.m. at Nissan Stadium
1 Titans Way
