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.

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

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,

SportsLine's model revealed its college football picks for Illinois Fighting Illini vs. South Carolina Gamecocks in the Citrus Bowl 2024 on Tuesday

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

There was plenty of drama during the Illinois Fighting Illini's 21-17 victory over the South Carolina Gamecocks at the Citrus Bowl, but there were also some fireworks pregame in the form of … a wedding on the field. Yes, that's right, a couple got married at the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl.

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.

Josh McCray of the Illinois Fighting Illini ran for 114 yards and 2 TDs and was named Most Valuable Player of the Citrus Bowl on Tuesday in Orlando, Florida.