ORLANDO, Fla. — Illinois is no stranger to late heroics. The Illini entered Tuesday’s Citrus Bowl leading the nation with four fourth-quarter comebacks.
Once again things would come down to the final 15 minutes as running back Josh McCray scored two touchdowns, including the winner, and the Illini outlasted South Carolina 21-17.
Illinois (10-3) won 10 games for the first time since 2001 and the fifth time in program history (1902, 1983 and 1989 were the others).
The win snapped a three-game losing streak in bowl games, giving the Illini their first postseason win since defeating UCLA 20-14 in the Fight Hunger Bowl in 2011.
“To get 10 wins for us is something very special,” coach Bret Bielema said. “I’m excited and honored to be a part of this one. We have a chance to do something very special. We wanted it to be a sustainable success, and this was a culmination of the 2024 season but we started toward 2025.”
During an injury timeout late in the third quarter, South Carolina coach Shane Beamer had to be held back by staff members and officials after it appeared Bielema said something in his direction. The discussion centered on a special teams situation involving a Gamecocks kickoff return in which they used a lateral in the end zone.
“He felt the need to come over while his player was on the ground and look at me and say something to me,” Beamer said. “That’s what I had an issue with. I’m a competitive guy, and when somebody says that to me, I will respond because I thought it was bush league, to be completely honest.
“I’ve got a ton of respect for Coach Bielema. I’ve enjoyed being around him this week. We’re two competitive guys, but I thought that was uncalled for, especially when his player is on the ground hurt.”
Bielema confirmed he was upset about the return, saying he felt the Gamecocks had signaled they didn’t plan to return it.
“There’s an unwritten philosophy in coaching that when you signal as a college kickoff return guy, what you’re doing is you’re telling everybody else that it’s going to be a fair catch and it’s going to be dead in the end zone when the ball lands,” he said. “The reason we do that is the kickoff return is the highest percentage of injury in the sport.
“I love Shane. He’s a good person. He thought I did it to him. I did it to the whole damn sideline. I just wanted them to understand that I knew what happened. There’s nothing illegal. There’s nothing wrong. I just have never seen it done in any level of football.”
The dust-up seemed to fire up South Carolina (9-4), and quarterback LaNorris Sellers found tight end Joshua Simon in the end zone for a 6-yard score and a 17-14 lead with 14:56 to play.
Illinois put together a 12-play drive that ran off close to seven minutes before McCray found the end zone for the second time on a 9-yard run.
South Carolina had one more chance as Sellers drove the Gamecocks inside the Illinois 10, but he threw behind Simon on fourth-and-4 at the 7.
McCray then sealed the victory for Illinois with a 60-yard run on third-and-2 from the 15. He finished with a season-high 114 yards on 13 carries.
South Carolina opened the scoring when Sanders led the Gamecocks to the Illinois 11. Unable to convert on third-and-7, kicker Alex Herrera kicked a 29-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead.
On Illinois’ next possession, quarterback Luke Altmyer connected with wide receiver Hank Beatty for a 59-yard gain to the 1. McCray, however, fumbled at the goal line, and South Carolina defensive end Dylan Stewart recovered for a touchback.
The Gamecocks could not capitalize and had to punt on their next drive.
Altmyer got Illinois on the scoreboard with a 15-yard touchdown pass to Zakhari Franklin, who just made it into the end zone, putting the Illini ahead 7-3 at the end of the first quarter.
South Carolina drove into the red zone again on its next possession but stalled at the 13. Rather than attempt a 30-yard field goal, the Gamecocks faked a field goal, with punter Kai Kroeger throwing a pass that fell incomplete in the end zone.
“We moved the ball,” Beamer said. “We didn’t convert in critical situations and whatnot, but we did some good stuff.”
South Carolina’s special teams struggles continued as Herrera’s 41-yard field-goal attempt with three seconds left in the first half hit the right upright.
South Carolina continued to roll the dice in the second half, converting on fourth-and-1 at the Illinois 36 as running back Oscar Adaway III busted through the line of scrimmage and ran uncontested for a touchdown and a 10-7 advantage.
The Illini turned it over on their next possession as safety Jalon Kilgore intercepted Altmyer’s pass to Beatty. But the Gamecocks couldn’t convert as running back Jawarn Howell lost a fumble.
Illinois took advantage of the turnover and drove 63 yards, highlighted by Collin Dixon’s 27-yard catch that set up a 3-yard touchdown run by McCray for a 14-10 lead.
Altmeyer threw for 174 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Beatty caught four passes for 90 yards, and running back Aidan Laughery rushed for 67 yards on 16 carries.
Sellers completed 24 of 34 passes for 260 yards and a touchdown for the Gamecocks (9-4), who fell short of the fifth 10-win season in program history. Adaway III rushed for 69 yards on 14 carries and added seven catches for 37 yards.
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