The Illini rallied three times before overcoming the Gamecocks in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl thanks to two touchdowns by Josh McCray.

It’s gameday in the Sunshine State, and there’s a lot on the line for the South Carolina Gamecocks in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl. South Carolina (9-3) is trying to win its 10th football game in a season for the fifth time ever.

Josh McCray scored his second touchdown of the game on a 9-yard run midway through the fourth quarter to give No. 21 Illinois the lead, and the Illini held on to beat No. 14 South Carolina 21-17 in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl.

Josh McCray's two touchdowns and a strong defense led Illinois to a 21-17 victory over South Carolina in the Citrus Bowl.

Considering the Big Ten finish expected of Illinois in the preseason (No. 14 out of 18 teams), a 10-win season culminating in a Citrus Bowl win would seem to make a final-game report card sort of superfluous.

Illinois had a historic 2024 college football season, winning 10 games including the Citrus Bowl. Every story about coach Bret Bielema and the Illini.

In the season finale of his fourth season as South Carolina’s head coach, in what is supposed to be a somewhat light, fun bowl game, Beamer was more irate in a game than he’s ever been. It will be easy to forget the final score of Tuesday’s Cheez-It Citrus Bowl — 21-17 Illinois over South Carolina.

No. 20 Illinois (10-3) took down a heavily favored South Carolina (9-4) squad in a 21-17 battle to secure the program’s second Citrus Bowl victory in as many tries. Behind arguably its best rushing performance of the season and a git-'er-done day from quarterback Luke Altmyer,