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.

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.

It will be easy to forget the final score of Tuesday’s Cheez-It Citrus Bowl — 21-17 Illinois over South Carolina. Yes, No. 20 Illinois (10-3) beat No. 15 USC (9-4), keeping the Gamecocks from winning 10 games for only the fifth time in school history.

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,

No. 15 South Carolina faces No. 20 Illinois in the Citrus Bowl in the first all-time meeting between the programs. Illinois is looking for its first bowl win since the 2011 season, while South Carolina seeks its second bowl game win in four seasons under coach Shane Beamer.

No. 15 South Carolina will finish out its 2024 football season on the last day of the year. On Tuesday afternoon, the Gamecocks (9-3) will compete in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl against No. 20 Illinois (9-3).

The Gamecocks lost a tough battle, falling 21-17 to Illinois in the 2024 Cheez-It Citrus Bowl. South Carolina finishes the season with a 9-4 record, leaving ple

See the betting odds, spread and over-under for South Carolina football vs Illinois in 2024 Cheez-It Citrus Bowl

The No. 15 South Carolina Gamecocks square off against the No. 20 Illinois Fighting Illini in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl today. This game is available on multiple streaming services for free.

Citrus Bowl came complete with a dramatic finish, sideline scuffles and even an altercation between the two head coaches.