Citrus Bowl: Illinois 21, South Carolina 17 | Sports

ORLANDO, Fla. — Illinois’ defense held fast in the red zone multiple times against South Carolina, Josh McCray scored a pair of touchdowns and the Illini beat the Gamecocks 21-17 to win the Citrus Bowl on Tuesday.

McCray rushed 13 times for 114 yards and his two scores. Outside of finding the end zone, the veteran Illinois running back breaking free for a 60-yard gain in the closing minutes put the finishing touch on the Illini’s bowl win.

While South Carolina out-gained Illinois 390-357, the Illini defense kept the Gamecocks out of the end zone and off the scoreboard on multiple drives that reached the red zone.

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Huge defensive stop

The South Carolina drive: 10 plays, 68 yards, 4:21

The story: Another South Carolina drive that reached the red zone. Another stop by the Illinois defense that kept points off the scoreboard with incompletions from LaNorris Sellers on third and fourth down.

The score: Illini 21, Gamecocks 17; 3:08 left in 4Q. 

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Illini grind out a lengthy scoring drive

The Illinois drive: 12 plays, 75 yards, 7:27

The story: South Carolina has been the team that’s been able to piece together drives that have double-digit plays and eat up a ton of game clock today. Illinois managed one of its own as an answer to the Gamecocks’ go-ahead touchdown to start the fourth quarter. South Carolina couldn’t handle a heavy dose of Josh McCray, and the Illini running back scored his second touchdown of the day by breaking multiple tackles on a 9-yard rush into the end zone. 

The score: Illini 21, Gamecocks 17; 7:29 left in 4Q. 

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Citrus Bowl getting heated

The South Carolina drive: 5 plays, 75 yards, 2:23

The story: Lost in Illinois coach Bret Bielema trolling South Carolina and Gamecocks coach Shane Beamer losing his mind was a rather impressive 60-yard catch by former Illini wide receiver Dalevon Campbell that got USC into scoring position. A big play that ultimately led to a 6-yard touchdown pass from LaNorris Sellers to Joshua Simon that has South Carolina back on top.

The score: Gamecocks 17, Illini 10; 14:56 left in 4Q. 

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Power football pays off

The Illinois drive: 9 plays, 63 yards, 4:36

The story: Did Luke Altmyer intend to under throw Collin Dixon as much as he did? Maybe not. But the Illinois wide receiver made a great play on the ball for a 27-yard reception that put the Illini inside the 5-yard line. Then Bret Bielema went full “Barge” with extra linemen paving the way for a 3-yard Josh McCray touchdown run. 

The score: Illini 14, Gamecocks 10; 2:23 left in 3Q. 

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Giving it away, Part II

The South Carolina drive: 5 plays, 33 yards, 2:26

The story: This continues to be a defense-first type of game. South Carolina’s response to picking off Luke Altmyer was giving the ball right back to Illinois, with Jaheim Clarke recovering a fumble that Ezekiel Holmes forced. 

The score: Gamecocks 10, Illini 7; 6:59 left in 3Q. 

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Giving it away

The Illinois drive: 5 plays, 17 yards, 1:25

The story: Illinois wide receiver Zakhari Franklin falls down. South Carolina defensive back Judge Collier catches the jump ball from Luke Altmyer. Not what the Illini needed after the Gamecocks regained the lead. 

The score: Gamecocks 10, Illini 7; 9:25 left in 3Q. 

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Gamecocks back on top

The South Carolina drive: 5 plays, 59 yards, 1:24

The story: What this game has had little of is big plays. Illinois has four chunk plays. South Carolina now has three after running back Oscar Adaway III — filling in for Rocket Sanders, who opted out — busted a 36-yard touchdown run on fourth down. The analytics said go for it on fourth and short in Illinois territory, and the Gamecocks went for it.

The score: Gamecocks 10, Illini 7; 10:50 left in 3Q. 

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Quick three-and-out for the Illini

The Illinois drive: 3 plays, -1 yards, 0:50

The story: Aidan Laughery was thrown for a 1-yard loss on first down, and a pair of Luke Altmyer incompletions capped a quick, three-and-out for Illinois on its first possession of the second half. 

The score: Illini 7, Gamecocks 3; 12:23 left in 3Q. 

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Illinois stifles USC to start second half

The South Carolina drive: 3 plays, -11 yards, 1:54

The story: Mac Resetich had Illinois’ second half-opening onside kick go right through his hands. South Carolina, though, wasn’t able to take advantage of good field position to start the third quarter. Because of Resetich. The sophomore safety sacked Gamecocks quarterback LaNorris Sellers on third down. 

The score: Illini 7, Gamecocks 3; 13:02 left in 3Q. 

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Another scoring opportunity snuffed out

The USC drive: 12 plays, 43 yards, 4:42

The story: Icing the kicker worked. Illinois coach Bret Bielema called one last timeout before the end of the second half, and South Carolina’s Alex Herrera couldn’t convert the 41-yard field goal. That’s now two Gamecocks drives that reached the red zone and yielded zero points. Off another lengthy South Carolina drive that chewed clock. But that’s about it. The Illini have successfully limited Gamecocks quarterback LaNorris Sellers on the ground and turns him into a dink-and-dunk passer.

The score: Illini 7, Gamecocks 3. Halftime.

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Low-scoring game continues 

The Illinois drive: 5 plays, 28 yards, 3:17

The story: A 10-yard run by Josh McCray and an 11-yard completion from Luke Altmyer to Malik Elzy had the Illini looking like they might be on their way to bolstering their Citrus Bowl lead. Then the next three plays yielded just 7 yards, and Fabrizio Pinton came on for a … 25-yard punt. 

The score: Illini 7, Gamecocks 3. 4:42 left in 2Q.

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Getting tricky backfires for USC

The USC drive: 16 plays, 62 yards, 7:01

The story: Two South Carolina drives have reached the red zone, and the Gamecocks have managed just three points out of them. That includes getting zero on this drive after opting for a fake with punter Kai Kroeger failing to connect with defensive tackle Alex Huntley on a fourth-down pass. Kind of a waste of a 16-play drive for USC, but one of the best outcomes possible for Illinois.

The score: Illini 7, Gamecocks 3. 7:59 left in 2Q.

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Altmyer + Franklin = Touchdown 

The Illinois drive: 11 plays, 76 yards, 5:13

The story: A scrambling Luke Altmyer only had eyes for Zakhari Franklin. Mostly because it was either that, throw it away or take a sack and put another possession that reached the red zone in peril. The result? A 15-yard touchdown (after the officials took another look at the replay) that saw Franklin pull off a catch and stretch just over the pylon. Lost in the score? Aidan Laughery rushing for 28 yards to keep the drive moving.

The score: Illini 7, Gamecocks 3. 15:00 left in 2Q

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Disaster averted

The USC drive: 3 plays, 5 yards, 1:11

The story: Josh McCray fumbling in the end zone wound up not coming back to haunt Illinois. The Illini forced a three-and-out by South Carolina after Oscar Adaway III failed to gain any traction in the run game and LaNorris Sellers under threw his intended receiver on third-and-medium. 

The score: Gamecocks 3, Illini 0. 5:12 left in 1Q.

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Things definitely not going the Illini’s way

The Illinois drive: 2 plays, 75 yards, 1:00

The story: A 59-yard catch and run by Hank Beatty had Illinois knocking on the door of taking an early lead. Then Josh McCray fumbled in the end zone, South Carolina recover and a promising Illini drive was snuffed out. 

The score: Gamecocks 3, Illini 0. 6:24 left in 1Q.

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Gamecocks on the board

The USC drive: 11 plays, 46 yards, 5:48

The story: Illinois cornerback Kaleb Patterson ripping the ball out South Carolina tight end Joshua Simon’s hands? Good news for the Illini. The ball popping straight up and right into the hands of Gamecocks running back Oscar Adaway III? Less good news. South Carolina could only dink and dunk after that, but Alex Herrera got the Gamecocks on the board with a 29-yard field goal.

The score: Gamecocks 3, Illini 0. 7:24 left in 1Q.

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Underway in Orlando

The Illinois drive: 3 plays, -8 yards, 1:42

The story: Sort of an inauspicious start for Illinois. A holding penalty on the opening kick return didn’t set the Illini up for a ton of success. Then it was three-and-out with a cumulative loss of 8 yards after Luke Altmyer was sacked on third-and-long. 

The score: Illini 0, Gamecocks 0. 13:12 left in 1Q.

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There are actual stakes to today’s Citrus Bowl showdown between Illinois and South Carolina.

While the Gamecocks are out to prove they should have been in the College Football Playoff field (a claim a slew of SEC teams made about themselves earlier this month), the Illini are seeking their 10th win. It’s a mark few teams in program history have met. 

Bret Bielema and Co. are chasing a bit of history. And will do so with most of the team available. Pat Bryant, of course, opted out, but the availability report didn’t include many names.

Follow along all afternoon to find out if Illinois can beat South Carolina, go 10-3 and lay an even stronger foundation for the 2025 season. (A scenario that would generate as lofty a set of preseason expectations in Champaign in recent — and distant — memory).