NASHVILLE, Tenn. — As Bret Bielema reflected on Luke Altmyer’s Illinois career late Tuesday at Nissan Stadium, he recalled how Altmyer’s parents described the quarterback’s arrival in Champaign in 2023.
It was in the dead of winter in central Illinois, freezing, and they had to leave their son who “was kind of in a tough spot” from the way his first two seasons had gone at Mississippi.
Three years later, Altmyer capped his Illinois tenure as the Music City Bowl MVP — a changed player who helped change the Illini program for the better.
“And now he’s coming out of here confident and full of a very, very bright future,” Bielema said.
Altmyer’s performance in Illinois’ 30-28 victory over Tennessee was a fitting end to one of the best quarterback careers ever in Champaign.
He led the Illini on a 13-play, 64-yard drive that ate up the final 4 minutes, 58 seconds and ended with kicker David Olano nailing a 29-yard field goal. It was Altmyer’s seventh winning drive for Illinois in the final minute of regulation or overtime.
“He would tell you he’s gone through so much as a player and as a person that it has propelled him to where he is, and he’s ice cold in these moments,” running back Aidan Laughery said. “He just went out there and he was Luke Altmyer. That’s who he has become, and that’s what he does week in and week out.”
Altmyer carried Illinois (9-4) in the program’s first meeting with Tennessee.
He completed 20 of 33 passes for 196 yards and an 18-yard touchdown pass to Justin Bowick. He also rushed for 54 yards on 10 carries, taking over a key third-quarter drive with his legs and at one point knocking down an official as he scrambled for more yards. He capped that drive with a 2-yard touchdown run.
“Playing with Luke has been awesome,” center Josh Kreutz said. “Just a competitor, studies his craft. Obviously you’ve seen through this season and last his ability to win big games. And having a guy like that makes you want to block even harder.”
Altmyer leaves Illinois in the top five in the record books in multiple categories.
He’s the all-time leader with a 144.3 passer rating and 64.4% completion percentage. He is second with 57 touchdown passes, tied for second with Jack Trudeau with 23 wins as the starting quarterback and fifth with 7,607 passing yards.
He joins Nathan Scheelhaase as the only quarterbacks to lead Illinois to two bowl wins, having done so last season against South Carolina in the Citrus Bowl.
The Illini had unprecedented success over the last two seasons with Altmyer at the helm, winning 19 games for the first time in a two-year stretch.
“We’re just a bunch of underdogs, man,” Altmyer said. “We do things the right way. We care about each other with love. We wake up every single day wanting to be our best, using the gifts God has given us to be the best we can be.
“That’s just my story, man. Doing things the right way, being tough as nails. Whatever it takes to win, go do it.”
The day before the bowl game, offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. talked about the pride he takes in having been a part of Altmyer’s development as the quarterback gained confidence and grew into the leader he was Tuesday night.
Altmyer arrived at Illinois after playing in nine games with one start in two years at Ole Miss. Both Bielema and athletic director Josh Whitman talked about their gratitude for his picking Illinois in the transfer portal.
He endured some bumps during his first season in 2023 as Illinois finished 5-7, but he blossomed into a consistent winner over the last two years alongside an experienced cast of players. And he chose to stay at Illinois despite transfer possibilities last offseason.
“He took a chance on us,” Bielema said. “He had a million different opportunities. He was a very sought-after player in the portal. I love the fact he stayed for this team because we needed him through the bowl game, which really gave us the chance to have it.”
Bielema sat two seats over from Altmyer as he spoke at the postgame news conference, the large Music City Bowl trophy sitting in front of Altmyer.
Bielema has said multiple times recently how the momentum from such a bowl win can stay with a team for months leading into the next season. But there’s also a moving-on process that needs to begin.
The transfer portal window opens Friday. The Illini have Northern Illinois transfer Ethan Hampton and freshman Carson Boyd in the quarterbacks room, but Bielema and his staff also could look at the portal as they try to find the player who can continue the success Altmyer has led.
Altmyer will begin preparations for the NFL draft, having put himself in the conversation as a prospect with his growth over his time in Champaign.
As he looks toward his next steps, he’ll be able to look back on a proper, memorable ending to his college journey.
“I’m grateful for the program I’ve been in, to be developed as a player obviously but as a human,” Altmyer said. “Just very grateful.”
