Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl

Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl Announces 2026 Game Date

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 12:02:13 -0700

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (June 3, 2026) – The Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl, today announced the 2026 Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl will kick off on Wednesday, Dec. 30 at 2 p.m. CT / 3 p.m. ET inside Nashville’s Nissan Stadium, home of the Tennessee Titans, broadcast nationally on ESPN.

“We are thrilled to welcome college football fans to Music City for our 28t^hbowl game,” said Scott Ramsey, President and CEO of the Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl. “The Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl showcases the best of sports—unforgettable moments, meaningful connections and the unmatched hospitality of Nashville. We look forward to the selection of this year’s teams and cannot wait to celebrate postseason college football.”

Liberty Mutual Insurance has returned for its second year as the title sponsor, having first sponsored the 2025 Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl, which generated more than $38.2 million in economic impact throughout Nashville and ranked third in bowl attendance outside the College Football Playoff. In last year’s never-before-seen team encounter, the University of Illinois Fighting Illini defeated the University of Tennessee Volunteers, 30-28.

“Liberty Mutual is excited to return as title sponsor for the 2026 Music City Bowl,” said Jenna Lebel, Liberty Mutual chief marketing officer, U.S....Read More

2025 LIBERTY MUTUAL MUSIC CITY BOWL BRINGS $38.2M ECONOMIC IMPACT TO NASHVILLE

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 09:30:39 -0700

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (March 12, 2026) – Music City Bowl, Inc. today announced that the 2025 Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl generated more than $38.2 million in total economic impact throughout Nashville. Attendees flocked to Nissan Stadium and the surrounding area and watched the University of Illinois Fighting Illini defeat the University of Tennessee Volunteers, 30-28.

This year, Music City Bowl, Inc., in partnership with the Belmont University Department of Sport Administration, developed an enhanced data-collection system to provide more precise measurement of the bowl’s economic impact. This year’s economic impact increased 43.5% over last year’s $26.6 million and reflected strong visitation, with 89% of attendees traveling from outside Nashville, further positioning the city as a premier bowl destination. The upgraded data collection system more precisely captures visitor spending across key categories, including hotel stays, food and beverage and other local purchases.

Attracting 52,815 fans from across the nation, the SEC and Big Ten matchup ranked third in attendance. With nearly 5.4 million viewers, making it the fifth overall in bowl viewership and the top ESPN non-College Football Playoff game, the 2025 Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl marked the bowl’s strongest viewership since 2021 as part of ESPN’s most-watched bowl season in a decade.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Dec. 30, 2025) – The University of Illinois Fighting Illini defeated the University of Tennessee Volunteers, 30-28, in today’s Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl matchup at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium. In a never-before-seen team encounter, the Fighting Illini secured their victory against the Volunteers with a fourth-quarter, 29-yard field goal. The game attracted 52,815 fans from across the country to Nissan Stadium for one of college football’s premier postseason events and a Nashville holiday tradition, broadcast on ESPN.

“First, I want to say thank you to the [Liberty Mutual] Music City Bowl. From the time we got the invitation to where we are today, [they] took care of us, all our families and all our players… These games are always great, but they are also very sad. I had a very tough time in our meeting last night because I knew this was going to be the last time I was with a variety of guys. To give them this moment that they will carry with them… I’m really excited about that,” said University of Illinois head coach Bret Bielema in the post-game press conference.

Tennessee opened strong, making their way down the field on their initial possession with a touchdown scramble from quarterback Joey Aguilar. Illinois tied the game 7-7 with a touchdown catch from wide receiver Justin Bowick. In the second quarter, the...Read More

UNIVERSITY of TENNESSEE AND UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS SELECTED FOR 2025 LIBERTY MUTUAL MUSIC CITY BOWL

Sun, 07 Dec 2025 11:58:23 -0800

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Dec. 7, 2025) – The Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl today announced the University of Tennessee (Tennessee) and University of Illinois (Illinois) will face off in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) versus Big Ten Conference matchup on Dec. 30, 2025, at 4:30 p.m. CT in Nashville’s Nissan Stadium. The teams were announced this afternoon following the College Football Playoff selection show on ESPN.

“We congratulate the University of Tennessee and the University of Illinois on earning their spots in the Music City Bowl,” said Liberty Mutual USRM CMO Jenna Lebel. “Both programs have battled all season to get here, and fans should expect a hard-fought, high-energy game that showcases the talent, teamwork and perseverance of these student‑athletes. Liberty Mutual is proud to support the teams, their coaches and communities as they come together for what promises to be a memorable night in Nashville.”

This year marks the 27th ^playing of the Music City Bowl, which has grown into a Nashville holiday tradition and one of the city’s busiest tourism periods. In last year’s matchup, the Missouri Tigers defeated the Iowa Hawkeyes, 27-24.

“We appreciate the opportunity to send our seniors out with one final game in our home state in the Liberty...Read More

LIBERTY MUTUAL INSURANCE SIGNS AS TITLE SPONSOR OF MUSIC CITY BOWL

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 11:00:44 -0700

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Oct. 21, 2025) – Music City Bowl, Inc. today announced Liberty Mutual Insurance as the new title sponsor of its annual college football bowl game played in Nashville. The newly named Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl will feature a Southeastern Conference versus Big Ten Conference matchup on December 30, 2025, at 4:30 pm CT in Nissan Stadium.

The agreement was announced this morning at Nissan Stadium alongside the bowl’s new logo, which will be implemented immediately.

“With this investment in the Music City Bowl, Liberty Mutual Insurance is demonstrating confidence in Nashville’s growing sports and tourism sector, highlighting the benefit of corporate and community partnership,” said Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell. "I’m happy to welcome Liberty Mutual Insurance to Music City and to celebrate a great game in December.”

Established in 1998, the Music City Bowl has transformed the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day into one of the city’s busiest times of the year for tourism and has become Nashville’s holiday tradition. Since its inception, the Bowl has produced nearly $450 million in direct economic impact to Nashville and has been viewed by over 109.5 million people.

“Liberty Mutual is proud to be the title sponsor of the 2025 Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl. The game...Read More

MUSIC CITY BOWL ANNOUNCES 2025 GAME DATE

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 10:30:03 -0700

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The 28th annual Music City Bowl returns for another exhilarating showdown between the Southeastern Conference and Big Ten this December on ESPN.

This year’s game will kick off on Tuesday, Dec. 30 at 4:30 p.m. CST inside Nissan Stadium, bowl officials announced Thursday.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming fans from the Big Ten and SEC back to Nashville and showcasing the city on national television,” Scott Ramsey, President & CEO of the Music City Bowl, said. “For the past 27 years, our game has featured unforgettable moments and experiences for traveling fanbases against the backdrop of our vibrant city, and we are confident that this year will be no different.”

For more information on the Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl and this year’s game, visit www.MusicCityBowl.comRead More