Will the SEC or Big Ten stand tall when Tennessee and Illinois face off in the Music City Bowl?
The Fighting Illini will look to win back-to-back bowl games after defeating South Carolina in the Citrus Bowl last year. Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer, who threw for 2,811 yards and 21 touchdowns during the regular season, will suit up one more time before he tries to find a spot on an NFL roster.
Tennessee will attempt to bounce back after falling to Vanderbilt in its last conference matchup. The Volunteers will make their first appearance in the Music City Bowl since 2021.
Here is everything you need to know about Illinois vs. Tennessee, including TV and streaming options for the Music City Bowl.
What channel is Illinois vs. Tennessee on?
Illinois vs. Tennessee will air on ESPN. College football fans can stream the game on the ESPN app and Fubo.
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Illinois vs. Tennessee start time
- Date: Tuesday, Dec. 30
- Time: 5:30 p.m. ET | 4:30 p.m. CT
Illinois vs. Tennessee will kick off at 5:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Dec. 30. The game will be played at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn.
Illinois vs. Tennessee radio station
- Radio station: SiriusXM channels 84 (Illinois broadcast), 374 (Tennessee broadcast)
You can listen to Illinois vs. Tennessee live on SiriusXM. Coverage will be available on channels 84 (Illinois broadcast) and 374 (Tennessee broadcast).
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College football bowl schedule 2025-26
Tuesday, Dec. 30
| Bowl | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
|---|---|---|---|
| Independence Bowl | Louisiana Tech vs. Coastal Carolina | 2 p.m. | ESPN, Fubo, ESPN app |
| Music City Bowl | Illinois vs. Tennessee | 5:30 p.m. | ESPN, Fubo, ESPN app |
| Alamo Bowl | TCU vs. USC | 9 p.m. | ESPN, Fubo, ESPN app |
Wednesday, Dec. 31
| Bowl | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReliaQuest Bowl | Vanderbilt vs. Iowa | Noon | ESPN, Fubo, ESPN app |
| Sun Bowl | Duke vs. Arizona State | 2 p.m. | CBS, Fubo, Paramount+ |
| Citrus Bowl | Texas vs. Michigan | 3 p.m. | ABC, Fubo, ESPN app |
| Las Vegas Bowl | Utah vs. Nebraska | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN, Fubo, ESPN app |
| CFP Quarterfinal (Cotton Bowl) | Ohio State vs. Miami (Fla.) | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN, Fubo, ESPN app |
Thursday, Jan. 1
| Bowl | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
|---|---|---|---|
| CFP Quarterfinal (Orange Bowl) | Texas Tech vs. Oregon | Noon | ESPN, Fubo, ESPN app |
| CFP Quarterfinal (Rose Bowl) | Indiana vs. Alabama | 4 p.m. | ESPN, Fubo, ESPN app |
| CFP Quarterfinal (Sugar Bowl) | Georgia vs. Ole Miss | 8 p.m. | ESPN, Fubo, ESPN app |
Friday, Jan. 2
| Bowl | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
|---|---|---|---|
| Armed Forces Bowl | Texas State vs. Rice | 1 p.m. | ESPN, Fubo, ESPN app |
| Liberty Bowl | Cincinnati vs. Navy | 4:30 p.m. | ESPN, Fubo, ESPN app |
| Duke's Mayo Bowl | Mississippi State vs. Wake Forest | 8 p.m. | ESPN, Fubo, ESPN app |
| Holiday Bowl | SMU vs. Arizona | 8 p.m. | Fox, Fubo |
Thursday, Jan. 8
| Bowl | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
|---|---|---|---|
| CFP Semifinal (Fiesta Bowl) | Cotton winner vs. Sugar winner | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN, Fubo, ESPN app |
Friday, Jan. 9
| Bowl | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
|---|---|---|---|
| CFP Semifinal (Peach Bowl) | Rose winner vs. Orange winner | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN, Fubo, ESPN app |
Monday, Jan. 19
| Bowl | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
|---|---|---|---|
| CFP National Championship | TBD vs. TBD | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN, Fubo, ESPN app |
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