CHAMPAIGN — Don’t count Bret Bielema as one who thinks bowl games have little value.

While Notre Dame, Iowa State and Kansas State opted out of bowl games this season — the Fighting Irish disappointed they missed the College Football Playoff and the Cyclones and Wildcats are going through coaching changes — Bielema and Illini athletics director Josh Whitman see Sunday’s accepted bid to play Tennessee in the Music City Bowl as another opportunity to push this program forward.

Bielema experienced last year what capping a strong season with a bowl win could do. With a statement 21-17 win over South Carolina — a team many argued should’ve been in the CFP — the Illini notched just the program’s fifth 10-win season, which led to increased offseason attention and buzz.

While the Illini didn’t live up to its No. 12 preseason ranking, they see their Dec. 30 matchup against Tennessee as a chance to take another step forward against a national brand.

“Just [helps] the buzz and the energy around our program,” Bielema said. “Obviously the out of season last year, for me in particular, I just had a lot more coming at me about [media] that were interested in doing stories on us, about our guys and what it is. I think it takes people a while to get used to Illinois being good at football. I think because of that, the more we can sustain it, like Josh and I have talked about since I got here, that’s probably the biggest deal.”

“We have a lot to play for,” Whitman said, pointing out that it’s a chance for Illinois to win 9+ games in back-to-back seasons for the first time in program history and set a record for most wins over a two-year period (19).

In a near 15-minute opening statement at the Illini’s bowl announcement press conference, Whitman laid out much of the Illini’s growth during Bielema’s tenure. He pointed toward making three bowl games in four years, something Illinois hasn’t done since 1994. He pointed toward Illinois hosting FOX Big Noon Kickoff twice this season. He pointed toward this season winning two rivalry trophies for a second straight season, toward beating two conference champions (Western Michigan and Duke) and pointed toward beating USC, the No. 16 team in the final CFP rankings. He pointed toward Illinois this season totaling highest attendance since 2009 and notching the most consecutive sellouts since 2008. He pointed toward Illinois signing one of the highest-ranked recruiting classes (No. 23 nationally) in program history.

So while Illinois didn’t reach its ultimate goal of reaching the College Football Playoff, Whitman said that Bielema is accomplishing what he hired him to do: lead Illinois to consistent competitiveness and consistent winning, something that has eluded the program for most of the previous three decades.

“It just all speaks to sustained success,” Whitman said. “…That has been a feature of our conversations from the very first time we had a chance to talk and this is what sustained success looks like. To be able to do the things that we’re doing on the field, away from the field, to be able to prepare the way that our team does and know that every time we kick it off, we’ve got a chance to go out there and win a game. That is something that has really been rewarding to watch and to feel some investment in.”

Whitman and Bielema also see the Music City Bowl as a chance for a sendoff for a special senior class that includes a Class of 2021 that signed three days before Bielema was hired — and includes multi-year starters Josh Gesky, Josh Kreutz, Miles Scott and Dylan Rosiek, the latter three who are two-time team captains — and a Class of 2022 that made up Bielema’s first recruiting class who initially bought into his vision, highlighted by All-Big Ten performers Gabe Jacas, Hank Beatty and Matthew Bailey. The senior group also includes transfers who left indelible marks on the program, particularly quarterback Luke Altmyer and offensive tackles J.C. Davis and Melvin Priestly.

“This has been such a special group, a group that has really changed the trajectory of Illinois football,” Whitman said. “…This is a group of seniors, in particular, that arrived here with a vision for what this program could become, and I’ll be damned if they didn’t make that vision a reality. All of us are beneficiaries of their hard work, their commitment. It’s a group that has left a legacy that will be remembered for a long time, and we’re looking forward to sending them out on a high note and hopefully putting a capstone on their careers down in Nashville.”

On opt-outs and Altmyer vs. Vols

Betsy Altmyer, mother of Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer, texted Bielema just before his bowl press conference on Sunday. Her message: “Half of Mississippi is going to be there in Nashville.”

Bielema’s retort?

“I was just glad that one was going to be there from Mississippi,” said Bielema, perhaps suggesting Altmyer will play against the Vols.

Bielema said he’s talked with some key players, including Altmyer, Jacas and Davis, about whether they will play in the bowl game or opt out and prepare for the NFL Draft. Currently, Jacas is the only Illini widely projected to go in the first three rounds of the draft.

Bielema has experienced opt-outs in the Illini’s last two bowl trips. Devon Witherspoon, Sydney Brown and Chase Brown didn’t play in a 19-10 ReliaQuest Bowl loss to Mississippi State in 2022. Pat Bryant opted out of last year’s Citrus Bowl victory.

Bielema said Sunday wasn’t the day to divulge who will play or who will not play, preferring to let each of those players have their individual moments in the limelight.

Bielema did go into detail about his conversations with players with bowl decisions to make.

“I’ve always just given facts and data and information and let them see how they feel. I know there’s a lot of voices that go into it,” Bielema said. “…For these seniors that got a decision to make, you just don’t get these moments very much anymore. We have a couple guest captains that came in this year and a lot of guys that have played in the NFL and they just always make reference to the friendships they make and bonded while they’re here is more than any time when their college or their NFL career. I really try to get those guys to understand and appreciate that.”

If Altmyer were to play, it provides a juicy storyline. The Vols pushed to get him to enter the transfer portal during the spring after UT starter Nico Iamaleava entered the transfer portal, ultimately ending up at UCLA. Altmyer ultimately passed up a lucrative offer to return to Illinois, where he is now third all-time in quarterback wins in program history.

“I can’t speak for Luke and honestly, I’ve never spoke about that conversation in any way, shape or form with Luke,” Bielema said when asked about Altmyer playing against Tennessee “One of the things that I’ve really appreciated about Luke’s demeanor, his personality is he’s just the same guy every day. To get one more game with him, I think to have an SEC opponent for him is really pretty cool. I know that he has grown up in obviously the SEC world down there and then start his career at Ole Miss and to go out here as one of the most decorated players in Illinois football history. But more than that, he just stands for all these great things here at Illinois. I think to have that moment for him is probably the thing I’ll cherish more than anything.”

No staff changes before the bowl game

Bielema also didn’t divulge whether he thinks any coaching changes will happen or whether he feels the need to force turnover on his staff.

This staff has been part of 18 wins over the last two seasons, tied for the most wins in a two-year period in program history. That means the Illini coaches could be desirable to other programs. But Illinois also didn’t achieve its ultimate goals, struggled to hold up defensively through the first eight games against top-tier opponents and has some inconsistency in the run game.

Bielema said some of his staff members have been approached with other opportunities and that there’s an open line of communication about those processes. But he doesn’t plan any coaching changes before the New Year.

“I haven’t really had many conversations with our staff,” Bielema said. “But I just know that when you hire good coaches, people that there’s going to be things that happen. I know a couple of my guys are involved in conversations now that I’m aware of just to make sure that I’m in the loop. I always tell my staff, I just don’t want any surprises. So I’m sure there’s going to be some transition, but for me right now, nothing will transition before the bowl game.”