Who is opting out of the Music City Bowl for Tennessee and Illinois?

3 hours ago 1

Bowl season continues apace, but opt-outs are a reality of life in 2025.

College football teams are rarely at full strength in non-CFP bowl games, and Tuesday evening's Music City Bowl between Illinois and Tennessee is no different. Both teams have several major contributors who have opted not to play in the game, whether it be because they're entering the transfer portal or declaring for the 2026 NFL draft.

Tennessee missed out on the CFP this season with an 8-4 finish after making it last season, while Illinois is also 8-4. Neither team ranks among the top 25.

Here's a full tracker of all the key players who will be sitting out for both teams.