College football’s postseason bowls continue to roll on Tuesday night with a Big Ten–SEC matchup in Nashville, where Tennessee and Illinois will face off in the Music City Bowl. Both sides ended their 2025 regular season with identical 8–4 records, making this bowl game at the Nissan Stadium an opportunity to secure a ninth victory and cap off the campaign with momentum.
However, postseason bowl games have often seen innumerable player opt-outs, and this game too will see both sides with several notable absences.
A lot of key contributors will choose to sit out this fixture as they prepare to enter the transfer portal or declare for the 2026 NFL Draft. Injuries have also forced some players to refrain from participating in this game.
Let’s take a look at all the Tennessee and Illinois players who will not be available for Tennessee and Illinois in the Music City Bowl.
Music City Bowl: Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Tennessee Volunteers Opt-Outs And Injury Report
Illinois Fighting Illini
- DB Matthew Bailey: Injured, confirmed out
- DB Xavier Scott: Injured, questionable
- EDGE Gabe Jacas: Opted out, expected to join NFL draft
- OT J.C Davis: Opted out, expected to join NFL draft
A total of four players will miss the Music City Bowl fixture from the Illinois-based program, with defensive back Matthew Bailey touted to miss this game due to a shoulder injury. Gabe Jacas and J.C. Davis have also opted out of this bowl game, with both players touted to be a part of the NFL draft. However, questions around defensive back Xavier Scott continue to mount considering his season-long absence ever since enduring an injury.
Tennessee Volunteers
- TE Miles Kitselman : Injured, questionable
- OL Wendell Moe: Injured, confirmed out
- DL Jaxson Moi: Injured, confirmed out
- CB Rickey Gibson: Injured, confirmed out
- WR Chris Brazzell: Opted out
- EDGE Joshua Josephs: Opted out
- LB Arion Carter: Opted out
- CB Colton Hood: Opted out
- CB Jermod McCoy: Opted out, expected to join NFL draft
- RB Peyton Lewis : Opted out, transfer portal
- QB Jake Merklinger: Opted out, transfer portal
- DB Marcus Goree: Opted out, transfer portal
- LB Brenden Anes: Opted out, transfer portal
- DL Jamal Wallace: Opted out, transfer portal
- DL Kellen Lindstrom: Opted out, transfer portal
Tennessee will wear all white tomorrow in the Music City Bowl, the final time under Nike. Next season the Vols will be back with adidas. Time to bring these back on the road in 2026? pic.twitter.com/BMOarrTB3K
— Section YY8 Podcast (@SectionYY8) December 29, 2025
Speaking of depleted rosters, the Volunteers enter this bowl encounter with 15 players touted to miss the action. With most of them opting out after joining the transfer portal, the likes of OL Wendell Moe, DL Jaxson Moi, & CB Rickey Gibson are confirmed to be out of this encounter after sustaining injury. However, TE Miles Kitselman, who is listed as a questionable player following a leg injury earlier this season, could potentially feature in this bowl game.
Read More:
- Independence Bowl Opt-Outs And Injury Report: Top Players Not Participating In Coastal Carolina vs. LA Tech
- Ole Miss Receive Big Boost as Georgia’s Issues Pile Up Ahead of Sugar Bowl
- “Weirdest Culture Fit”: Fans React As Chip Kelly Joins Northwestern As Offensive Coordinator Weeks After Raiders Firing
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