NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman has College Football Playoff aspirations for the Illini, but he also doesn’t subscribe to the “CFP or bust” way of thinking, at least at this juncture for the program.
There’s value in the Illini playing Tennessee in the Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at Nissan Stadium, Whitman believes, even if it’s not the ultimate goal.
“It’s a necessary step for our continued evolution as a program,” Whitman said Monday at the bowl news conferences at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center. “And if we want to be seen as a serious football school, then these are the kinds of opportunities that we have to be given year in and year out.”
The worth of bowl games that are not a part of the 12-team CFP has been a hot topic this month after No. 11 Notre Dame (10-2) opted out of a bowl appearance when the Irish were stunned to be left out of the playoff field.
But the Illini (8-4) went through a stretch not that long ago, as part of the Lovie Smith era, during which they played in just one bowl in seven seasons. Now, they are in their third bowl in the last four seasons under coach Bret Bielema. It’s not something they’re taking for granted yet.
“A bowl game is very unique in the fact that you carry it with you for the next six, seven, eight months until you play the next game again,” Bielema said. “It’s a tremendous opportunity for our kids.”
The Illini saw the benefit of a bowl win last season, when they beat South Carolina 21-17 in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl and rode the win into an offseason of rare hype for the football team. They fell short of those expectations, finishing outside of the CFP rankings after losses to No. 1 Indiana, No. 2 Ohio State, Washington and Wisconsin.
But Bielema said a bowl win over an SEC team like Tennessee (8-4) — which had losses this season to No. 3 Georgia in overtime, No. 8 Oklahoma, No. 9 Alabama and No. 14 Vanderbilt — would be another step in the right direction in his fifth season at the helm of the program. If Illinois wins Tuesday, it would mark the first time in program history that the team has had nine or more wins in back-to-back seasons.
Whitman was complimentary of the job Bielema has done to get Illinois to this point, even if the Illini haven’t yet reached their ultimate program goals.
“He just has exceeded our expectations in virtually every way,” Whitman said. “It’s his ability to connect with people on a very personal level, which is really hard to do as a football coach with 100 and some odd football players, all of their families, 50 staff members, their families, all the alumni, all the different stakeholders that are involved in the football program. He has the ability to connect with each of them and make them each feel very included, very important, which I have incredible respect for. He’s a great teacher of the game of football.
“And then just his preparation, the ability to scout, evaluate an opponent, help prepare a game plan. It’s all the things that are necessary in today’s day and age to try and put together a successful program. He’s just very well suited for this environment today.”
Along with being a potential springboard into next season, the Music City Bowl is also an opportunity for the Illini to send out a pivotal senior class on a high note. A few will miss the game, including all-Big Ten outside linebacker Gabe Jacas and left tackle J.C. Davis, who are preparing for the NFL draft. Junior safety Matthew Bailey is also out after undergoing shoulder surgery.
But multiple others, including third-year starting quarterback Luke Altmyer and all-Big Ten third team wide receiver Hank Beatty, will play.
Altmyer, who transferred from Mississippi three seasons ago, is looking to wrap up one of the most successful careers ever by an Illinois quarterback.
He ranks third with 22 career quarterback wins behind Kurt Kittner (24) and Jack Trudeau (23). He is tied for second with Juice Williams with 56 touchdown passes behind Kittner’s 70. And he’s the leader in career completion percentage (64.5%) and passing efficiency (145.1).
Whitman said the Illini owe Altmyer a debt of gratitude for picking them — and staying with them — “when we weren’t the most popular person at the dance.” The Illini’s rise to what they hope is more consistent success has coincided with Altmyer’s development.
“Everybody in that building (at Illinois) has had a hand in his development, and he has given himself to us in that building (and) has trusted our process from a developmental standpoint,” said offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. “We’ve had a lot of great moments, a lot of meeting time together, a lot of laughs, some cries, some disappointments. That’s the way the game works. But I look back on it, and I’m proud to have been a part of his development.
“He has just developed and taken advantage of every opportunity he’s been given and has reached his full potential. And we’re so thankful for his contribution to our program, what he has meant to our program. We would love to be able to send him out on the right note tomorrow. It will be a great challenge, but if he plays well for us, it will give us a chance.”
Here are more bits of news and notes from the Illinois and Tennessee pre-bowl interviews.
• Illinois’ defense has a major challenge ahead against a Tennessee offense that ranked fourth in FBS with 482 yards per game.
Vols quarterback Joey Aguilar is playing after throwing for 3,444 yards and 24 touchdowns with 10 interceptions this season. But his top target is not. All-SEC wide receiver Chris Brazzell II opted out of the game.
“Their scheme is very unique and problematic, but when you have the kind of players they have on top of that,” Illinois defensive coordinator Aaron Henry said. “The quarterback is very dynamic. He can run it and throw it. It’s going to be a game of chess. … We know they are an explosive offense. They’re a top-five offense in the country. We’ve got to limit them. We’ve got to slow them down. And the key thing in this game is going to be trying to take the ball away and give our offense the ball.”
• The Vols defense will be without linebacker Arion Carter, cornerback Colton Hood and edge rusher Joshua Josephs, who opted out.
• Bielema and Tennessee interim defensive coordinator William Inge share a connection from the past — they both played at Iowa.
Inge, who will serve as defensive coordinator for this game before newly hired coordinator Jim Knowles fully takes over, was a freshman in Bielema’s final season.
“What I’m so grateful for from Bret is as a teammate, when he was needed the most, from my perspective, he was there,” Inge said. “You had a young 17-year-old freshman having a tough time, and he was there to make sure you were held accountable to the standard and you still did the things that needed to be done in order for you to be better.”
Inge said he knows what Tennessee will get from Illinois: “Very disciplined, very in tune and physicality is going to be at the forefront of everything they do.”
• Bielema said Nathan Knapik will replace Davis at left tackle. Several players will be counted on to replace Jacas and Bailey.
• Illinois will wear navy uniforms — including navy helmets — Tuesday to differentiate from Tennessee orange. Whitman said orange helmets will remain Illinois’ tradition, but this was a special occasion.
“We wanted to make sure as we walk down the streets here in Nashville that we can instantly identify who’s with us and who’s against us,” Whitman said. “And with the navy we thought it’d be a nice way to make sure it’s visible, not only in the stadium but around the stadium. And it also helps with our players. They like to change things up every once while. Brings little extra juice to them.”
• During bowl practices in Nashville starting Friday, the Illini got the benefit of using Vanderbilt’s facilities because the Commodores’ in-state rival declined.
“It was a neat thing for us,” Bielema said. “Vandy and Tennessee are the same conference, but they don’t necessarily see eye to eye a lot. So we were the first Big Ten team to ever get to use Vandy’s facility because Tennessee didn’t want to use them.”
