Live scoreboard
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Tennessee | - | - | - | - | 0 |
 Illinois | - | - | - | - | 0 |
Scoring by quarter
| Tennessee | Qtr | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Q1 | 7 |
| 0 | Q2 | 3 |
| 7 | Q3 | 14 |
| 14 | Q4 | 6 |
| 28 | Final | 30 |
Live play by play
Scoring plays: this game · Updating as the game goes.
Touchdown Interception Fumble Sack Penalty
Play by play
Scoring plays: this game · Saved from the official gamebook.
Q1 0:36 Touchdown Illinois Shotgun #9 L.Altmyer pass complete short middle to #0 J.Bowick caught at Vols00, for 18 yards to the Vols00 TOUCHDOWN. 1ST DOWN #24 D.Olano kick attempt good (H: #40 K.Crimmins, LS: #44 P.Mahoney III) 7-7
Q2 0:21 Field goal Illinois #24 D.Olano field goal attempt from 30 yards GOOD (H: #40 K.Crimmins, LS: #44 P.Mahoney III) 7-10
Q3 11:48 Touchdown Illinois No Huddle-Shotgun #6 J.Aguilar sacked for loss of 20 yards to the Vols00 (#43 J.Barna), fumble by #6 J.Aguilar recovered by Illini #9 L.Lowery Jr. at Vols00 TOUCHDOWN. #24 D.Olano kick attempt good (H: #40 K.Crimmins, LS: #44 P.Mahoney III) 7-17
Q3 7:31 Touchdown Tennessee DeSean Bishop No Huddle #18 D.Bishop rush middle for 1 yard gain to the Illini00 TOUCHDOWN. #90 M.Gilbert kick attempt good (H: #98 J.Ross, LS: #48 B.Brady) 14-17
Q3 2:41 Touchdown Illinois Shotgun #9 L.Altmyer rush middle for 2 yards gain to the Vols00 TOUCHDOWN. #24 D.Olano kick attempt good (H: #40 K.Crimmins, LS: #44 P.Mahoney III) 14-24
Q4 11:40 Touchdown Tennessee DeSean Bishop #18 D.Bishop rush middle for 12 yards gain to the Illini00 TOUCHDOWN. 1ST DOWN #90 M.Gilbert kick attempt good (H: #98 J.Ross, LS: #48 B.Brady) 21-24
Q4 5:14 Field goal Illinois #24 D.Olano field goal attempt from 28 yards GOOD (H: #40 K.Crimmins, LS: #44 P.Mahoney III) 21-27
Q4 4:58 Touchdown Illinois #27 L.Osada kickoff 59 yards to the Vols06 #89 J.Dodson return 94 yards to the Illini00 TOUCHDOWN. #90 M.Gilbert kick attempt good (H: #98 J.Ross, LS: #48 B.Brady) 28-27
Q4 0:03 Field goal Illinois #24 D.Olano field goal attempt from 29 yards GOOD (H: #40 K.Crimmins, LS: #44 P.Mahoney III) 28-30
Rivalry highlights
Series record
0-1
Tennessee first, 1 meeting since 2025
Series leader
Illinois
Illinois lead 0-1 in 1 meeting since 2025
Widest recent margin
2 points
Tennessee 28-30 Illinois, 2025
Tightest recent margin
2 points
Tennessee 28-30 Illinois, 2025
Highest recent total
58 points
Tennessee 28-30 Illinois, 2025
Head to head
Full rivalry page Tennessee 0 1 meeting since 2025 1 Illinois
Illinois lead 0-1 in 1 meeting since 2025 Series leader: Illinois.
Team stats, this game
TennesseeIllinois278Total yards417
121Passing yards196
157Rushing yards221
1Turnovers0
1Sacks4
18First downs27
46Penalty yards20
Key players by position
| Tennessee | Pos | Illinois |
|---|
Each side's leader at the position this season, by real production. Full rosters live on each team hub.
Win probability
--10050100
1st2nd3rd4th
Current drive Game leaders
TENN ILL Tennessee vs Illinois player stats
Passing
| Tennessee | C/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joey Aguilar | 14/18 | 121 | 0 | 0 |
| Illinois | C/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luke Altmyer | 20/33 | 196 | 1 | 0 |
| Hank Beatty | 0/1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Rushing
| Tennessee | CAR | YDS | TD | LONG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeSean Bishop | 19 | 93 | 2 | 18 |
| Star Thomas | 9 | 67 | 0 | 21 |
| Joey Aguilar | 9 | -3 | 1 | 15 |
| Illinois | CAR | YDS | TD | LONG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aidan Laughery | 13 | 77 | 0 | 28 |
| Ca'Lil Valentine | 8 | 65 | 0 | 16 |
| Luke Altmyer | 10 | 54 | 1 | 14 |
| Jordan Anderson | 2 | 15 | 0 | 13 |
| Kaden Feagin | 3 | 8 | 0 | 4 |
| Hank Beatty | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Receiving
| Tennessee | REC | YDS | TD | LONG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Matthews | 3 | 43 | 0 | 17 |
| Braylon Staley | 4 | 31 | 0 | 14 |
| Star Thomas | 1 | 18 | 0 | 18 |
| Radarious Jackson | 2 | 18 | 0 | 13 |
| DeSean Bishop | 3 | 8 | 0 | 12 |
| Miles Kitselman | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Illinois | REC | YDS | TD | LONG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hudson Clement | 3 | 48 | 0 | 24 |
| Hank Beatty | 6 | 38 | 0 | 10 |
| Justin Bowick | 3 | 31 | 1 | 18 |
| Ca'Lil Valentine | 3 | 28 | 0 | 18 |
| Tanner Arkin | 2 | 23 | 0 | 15 |
| Ashton Hollins | 1 | 18 | 0 | 18 |
| Collin Dixon | 2 | 10 | 0 | 6 |
Defense
| Tennessee | TOT | SOLO | SACK | TFL | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah Telander | 9 | 4 | 0 | 0.5 | 0 |
| Edwin Spillman | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bryson Eason | 6 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| William Wright | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jordan Ross | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 0 |
| Jadon Perlotte | 6 | 2 | 0.5 | 1 | 0 |
| Edrees Farooq | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Andre Turrentine | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0.5 | 0 |
| Jaedon Harmon | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ty Redmond | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jalen Mcmurray | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dominic Bailey | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Illinois | TOT | SOLO | SACK | TFL | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Thompson Jr. | 7 | 2 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0 |
| Malachi Hood | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Miles Scott | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Daniel Brown | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dylan Rosiek | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Torrie Cox Jr. | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kenenna Odeluga | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Joe Barna | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Eli Coenen | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| James Kreutz | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Saboor Karriem | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Tanner Heckel | 3 | 2 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0 |
Kicking
| Tennessee | FG | LONG | XP | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max Gilbert | 0/1 | 0 | 4/4 | 4 |
| Illinois | FG | LONG | XP | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Olano | 3/3 | 30 | 3/3 | 12 |
Box score from CollegeFootballData via our data hub. Players link to their profiles.
Tennessee: last 15 games before this one
10-5 in the last 15 · 39.9 scored · 27.3 allowed
WON 56-0 scored 56 · allowed 0 See game WON 36-23 scored 36 · allowed 23 See game LOST 17-42 scored 17 · allowed 42 See game WON 45-26 scored 45 · allowed 26 See game WON 72-17 scored 72 · allowed 17 See game LOST 41-44 scored 41 · allowed 44 See game WON 56-24 scored 56 · allowed 24 See game WON 41-34 scored 41 · allowed 34 See game WON 34-31 scored 34 · allowed 31 See game LOST 20-37 scored 20 · allowed 37 See game WON 56-34 scored 56 · allowed 34 See game LOST 27-33 scored 27 · allowed 33 See game WON 42-9 scored 42 · allowed 9 See game WON 31-11 scored 31 · allowed 11 See game LOST 24-45 scored 24 · allowed 45 See game
Illinois: last 15 games before this one
11-4 in the last 15 · 29.9 scored · 23.7 allowed
WON 38-31 scored 38 · allowed 31 See game WON 38-28 scored 38 · allowed 28 See game WON 21-17 scored 21 · allowed 17 See game WON 52-3 scored 52 · allowed 3 See game WON 45-19 scored 45 · allowed 19 See game WON 38-0 scored 38 · allowed 0 See game LOST 10-63 scored 10 · allowed 63 See game WON 34-32 scored 34 · allowed 32 See game WON 43-27 scored 43 · allowed 27 See game LOST 16-34 scored 16 · allowed 34 See game LOST 25-42 scored 25 · allowed 42 See game WON 35-13 scored 35 · allowed 13 See game WON 24-6 scored 24 · allowed 6 See game LOST 10-27 scored 10 · allowed 27 See game WON 20-13 scored 20 · allowed 13 See game
The matchup
| Tennessee | Split | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| 8-4 | 2025 record entering | 8-4 |
| 489 | Points for | 352 |
| 345 | Points against | 279 |
| L1 | Form | W1 |
Recent meetings
2025
Tennessee 28 : 30 Illinois
28 : 30 Illinois Tennessee · QB Faizon Brandon Pass yards
697
Pass TD
7
Comp-Att
61-101
INT
1
Bishop rush
540 yds
Matthews rec
318 yds
Illinois · QB Katin Houser Pass yards
1246
Pass TD
11
Comp-Att
102-155
INT
3
Laughery rush
321 yds
Dixon rec
546 yds
4 
Jake Merklinger QB 6 
Joey Aguilar QB 12 
George MacIntyre QB 13 
Mason Phillips QB 2 
Peyton Lewis RB 2 
Justin Baker RB 9 
Star Thomas RB 17 
Daune Morris RB 18 
DeSean Bishop RB 24 
Hunter Barnes RB 1 
Travis Smith Jr. WR 3 
Tommy Winton III WR 3 
Radarious Jackson WR 4 
Mike Matthews WR 8 
Trey Weary WR 9 
Joakim Dodson WR 14 
Braylon Staley WR 17 
Chris Brazzell II WR 22 
Braylon Harmon WR 26 Carson Whitehead WR 29 
Jack-Henry Jakobik WR 35 
Ben Petermann WR 36 
Nathan Roberts WR 39 Malcolm Kinzer WR 81 Amari Jefferson WR 88 
Deon Hardin WR 0 
Ethan Davis TE 7 
DaSaahn Brame TE 40 Seamus Meagher TE 80 
Cole Harrison TE 87 
Miles Kitselman TE 88 
Jack Van Dorselaer TE 50 
Max Anderson OL 50 
William Satterwhite II OL 51 
Jeremias Heard OL 53 
Lance Heard OL 55 
Antoni Ogumoro OL 56 
Sam Pendleton OL 58 
Nic Moore OL 59 
Charlie Powell III OL 68 Bennett Warren OL 69 Gus Hill OL 70 
David Sanders Jr. OL 72 
Jesse Perry OL 74 
Shamurad Umarov OL 75 
Wendell Moe Jr. OL 77 Brian Grant OL 78 
Gage Ginther OL 5 
Daevin Hobbs DL 9 
Mariyon Dye DL 17 
Ethan Utley DL 18 
Tyree Weathersby DL 19 
Nathan Robinson DL 19 
Joshua Josephs DL 20 
Bryson Eason DL 35 
Carson Gentle DL 42 
Tyre West DL 44 
Christian Gass DL 47 
Isaiah Campbell DL 51 
Jaxson Moi DL 55 
Mike Bethea II DL 87 Joshua Helsdon DL 90 
Dominic Bailey DL 92 
Herb Gray DL 96 Isaiah Inge DL 99 
Charles House III DL 5 
Kellen Lindstrom DE 29 
Jordan Ross DE 39 
Caleb Herring DE 97 
Josh Schell DT 99 
Jamal Wallace DT 0 
Brenden Anes LB 6 
Emmanuel Okoye LB 7 
Arion Carter LB 11 
Jordan Burns LB 12 
Jaedon Harmon LB 13 
Edwin Spillman LB 22 
Jeremiah Telander LB 27 
Jadon Perlotte LB 33 
Ben Bolton LB 39 Jayden Loftin LB 50 
Ryan Scott LB 57 
Grier Short LB 0 
William Wright DB 2 
Andre Turrentine DB 3 
Tre Poteat III DB 3 
Jermod McCoy DB 4 
Jourdan Thomas DB 4 
Ty Redmond DB 6 
Jalen McMurray DB 6 
Boo Carter DB 8 
Colton Hood DB 10 
Kaleb Beasley DB 15 
Edrees Farooq DB 23 
Sidney Walton DB 24 
Dylan Lewis DB 25 
Tim Merritt DB 37 
Montrell Bandy DB 38 Andre Stewart DB 41 Steele Katina DB 43 
Jackson Mathews DB 9 
Rickey Gibson III CB 14 
Colin Brazzell CB 8 
Marcus Goree Jr. S 30 
Max Gilbert PK 93 
Grady Dangerfield PK 94 
Josh Turbyville PK 98 
Jackson Ross P 47 John Rosen LS 48 
Bennett Brady LS
Jake Merklinger QB 6 Joey Aguilar QB 12 George MacIntyre QB 13 Mason Phillips QB 2 Peyton Lewis RB 2 Justin Baker RB 9 Star Thomas RB 17 Daune Morris RB 18 DeSean Bishop RB 24 Hunter Barnes RB 1 Travis Smith Jr. WR 3 Tommy Winton III WR 3 Radarious Jackson WR 4 Mike Matthews WR 8 Trey Weary WR 9 Joakim Dodson WR 14 Braylon Staley WR 17 Chris Brazzell II WR 22 Braylon Harmon WR 26 Carson Whitehead WR 29 Jack-Henry Jakobik WR 35 Ben Petermann WR 36 Nathan Roberts WR 39 Malcolm Kinzer WR 81 Amari Jefferson WR 88 Deon Hardin WR 0 Ethan Davis TE 7 DaSaahn Brame TE 40 Seamus Meagher TE 80 Cole Harrison TE 87 Miles Kitselman TE 88 Jack Van Dorselaer TE 50 Max Anderson OL 50 William Satterwhite II OL 51 Jeremias Heard OL 53 Lance Heard OL 55 Antoni Ogumoro OL 56 Sam Pendleton OL 58 Nic Moore OL 59 Charlie Powell III OL 68 Bennett Warren OL 69 Gus Hill OL 70 David Sanders Jr. OL 72 Jesse Perry OL 74 Shamurad Umarov OL 75 Wendell Moe Jr. OL 77 Brian Grant OL 78 Gage Ginther OL 5 Daevin Hobbs DL 9 Mariyon Dye DL 17 Ethan Utley DL 18 Tyree Weathersby DL 19 Nathan Robinson DL 19 Joshua Josephs DL 20 Bryson Eason DL 35 Carson Gentle DL 42 Tyre West DL 44 Christian Gass DL 47 Isaiah Campbell DL 51 Jaxson Moi DL 55 Mike Bethea II DL 87 Joshua Helsdon DL 90 Dominic Bailey DL 92 Herb Gray DL 96 Isaiah Inge DL 99 Charles House III DL 5 Kellen Lindstrom DE 29 Jordan Ross DE 39 Caleb Herring DE 97 Josh Schell DT 99 Jamal Wallace DT 0 Brenden Anes LB 6 Emmanuel Okoye LB 7 Arion Carter LB 11 Jordan Burns LB 12 Jaedon Harmon LB 13 Edwin Spillman LB 22 Jeremiah Telander LB 27 Jadon Perlotte LB 33 Ben Bolton LB 39 Jayden Loftin LB 50 Ryan Scott LB 57 Grier Short LB 0 William Wright DB 2 Andre Turrentine DB 3 Tre Poteat III DB 3 Jermod McCoy DB 4 Jourdan Thomas DB 4 Ty Redmond DB 6 Jalen McMurray DB 6 Boo Carter DB 8 Colton Hood DB 10 Kaleb Beasley DB 15 Edrees Farooq DB 23 Sidney Walton DB 24 Dylan Lewis DB 25 Tim Merritt DB 37 Montrell Bandy DB 38 Andre Stewart DB 41 Steele Katina DB 43 Jackson Mathews DB 9 Rickey Gibson III CB 14 Colin Brazzell CB 8 Marcus Goree Jr. S 30 Max Gilbert PK 93 Grady Dangerfield PK 94 Josh Turbyville PK 98 Jackson Ross P 47 John Rosen LS 48 Bennett Brady LS 
Furman
Georgia Tech
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Last five games
Completed results from CollegeFootballData via the CFB Data Hub
Tennessee vs Illinois: result and recap
Tennessee Volunteers vs Illinois Fighting Illini finished 28 - 30 on December 30, 2025. This SEC game page carries the final score, team box score, scoring by quarter and scoring plays, alongside the Tennessee and Illinois team hubs, the match center, the schedule and the live standings. For the wider grudge history between these teams, see the SEC rivalry pages.
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Frequently asked questions
What was the final score of Tennessee vs Illinois?
Tennessee Volunteers vs Illinois Fighting Illini finished 28 - 30. The full box score, player stats and play-by-play are on this page.
Who led Tennessee vs Illinois in passing, rushing and receiving?
Luke Altmyer (Illinois) led passers with 196 yards. DeSean Bishop (Tennessee) led rushers with 93 yards. Hudson Clement (Illinois) led receivers with 48 yards on 3 catches. Every player's line is in the player stats above.
When did Tennessee play Illinois?
This Tennessee vs Illinois game was played on December 30, 2025 at Nissan Stadium.