Event Details
The Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl announced the University of Tennessee (Tennessee) and University of Illinois (Illinois) will face off in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) versus Big Ten Conference matchup on Dec. 30, 2025, at 4:30 p.m. CT in Nashville’s Nissan Stadium. The teams were announced following the College Football Playoff selection show on ESPN.
This year marks the 27th playing of the Music City Bowl, which has grown into a Nashville holiday tradition and one of the city’s busiest tourism periods.
“We appreciate the opportunity to send our seniors out with one final game in our home state in the Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl,” said Tennessee Head Coach Josh Heupel. “The opportunity to prepare and compete against an outstanding Big Ten opponent of the caliber of Illinois is one we look forward to. Vol Nation has been unwavering in its loyalty and support of our players. It’s something we never take for granted. We are excited to go play in front of them one more time in 2025 in Nashville.”
"Thank you to the Nashville Sports Council and CEO Scott Ramsey for the invitation to this year’s Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl,” stated Illinois Head Coach Bret Bielema. “We are excited to accept the invitation to a first-class bowl game against a quality SEC opponent in Tennessee. This is an outstanding opportunity for our program and our fans to celebrate one of the most accomplished groups of seniors in Illinois history with a national spotlight. We will see all the Illini FamILLy in Nashville.”
“Welcoming Tennessee and Illinois to Nashville is such an exciting way to celebrate this year’s Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl,” said Scott Ramsey, president & CEO of the Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl. “Both programs bring passionate fan bases and strong football traditions, and we look forward to hosting them for the 27th annual Bowl and showcasing the Music City Bowl and our new title sponsor, Liberty Mutual Insurance, on Dec. 30th on national television on ESPN.”
Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl tickets are available now through SeatGeek. Leading up to the ESPN-televised bowl game, the participating teams’ marching bands will face off in an open-to-the-public Battle of the Bands on Monday, Dec. 29. The event begins at 6 p.m. on Broadway, between First and Third Ave.
For more information on the Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl and this year’s game, visit musiccitybowl.com.
