The Illinois Fighting Illini just got a victory that they worked tremendously hard for, forcing fans to mock their opponent and its corresponding conference on social media. On Tuesday, Dec. 30, coach Bret Bielema’s Illini team went head-to-head against coach Josh Heupel’s Tennessee Volunteers for this year’s Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl in the latter’s home stadium, Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.
Fortunately for the Fighting Illini, they were able to win by a mere two points, 30-28, in front of a hostile Volunteers crowd. After leading by just three points, 10-7, at halftime, Illinois charged through in the third period with a 14-7 run. While the Volunteers clawed their way back in the fourth quarter with their own 14-6 run, the Volunteers held on to the victory.
ILLINOIS GETS THE VICTORY VS. TENNESSEE IN AN ABSOLUTE THRILLER 🔥 pic.twitter.com/CG9LV5fmfT
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) December 31, 2025
Fans online trolled the Volunteers as well as the SEC.
“It just means more is now 2-5 in bowl season. One of their two wins is against another conference opponent,” one fan pointed out with a GIF of a rubber duck smoking a cigarette.
“‘iT jUsT mEaNs MoRe,’ SEC fans are about to ignore another postseason where their prestigious conference has a losing record,” another user said.
“IT JUST MEANS MORE,” another fan exclaimed.
“Just means more in the Big Ten!” a fan shared.
Other X users continued trolling SEC programs by criticizing their ability to match up against teams from other conferences.
“The NIL > SEC,” one user claimed.
“Overrated SEC team gets exposed. Shocker,” another user wrote.
“Tennessee is supposed to be this big bad SEC team that’s supposed to boost other SEC teams’ strength of schedule. How many wins would Tennessee have in the B1G? 6? 7????,” a user posted.
While the naysayers comment on the SEC and its true power against conferences like the Big Ten, the Fighting Illini are just glad to finish their campaign strong. Nevertheless, both teams will look to qualify for the college football playoffs next year.
The Illinois Fighting Illini Finished As The Seventh-Best Team In The 2025 Big Ten Conference Standings
Following their recent win, the Illinois Fighting Illini find themselves as the No. 7 overall team in the 2025 Big Ten conference standings with an overall record of 9-4 (5-4 Big Ten).
It seems as though they were able to use the momentum gained from their previous seven-point victory, 20-13, over the Northwestern Wildcats on Nov. 29 against the Tennessee Volunteers.
Read More: VIDEO: Bret Bielema Makes Honest Admission About Brawl With Shane Beamer That Led to Massive Change in CFB
Also Read: Calls Mount Online as Bret Bielema Faces Harsh Fan Backlash After Illinois’ 34-16 Loss to Ohio State
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