ORLANDO, Fla. – The Fighting Illini are the 2024 Cheez-It Citrus Bowl champions.
For the first time since 2011, the Orange and Blue have secured a bowl victory, with No. 20 Illinois taking down No. 15 South Carolina, 21-17, at Camping World Stadium on Tuesday evening.
With the win, the Orange and Blue picked up their 10th triumph of the 2024 campaign, equaling the program single-season record and securing 10 victories for the first time since 2001.
Mounting their FBS-leading fifth fourth-quarter comeback of the year, the Illini took the lead with 7:29 remaining, forced a turnover on downs with just over three minutes to go, and then ran out the clock on their ensuing possession.
Named the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl MVP, Josh McCray recorded his third multi-touchdown game of the season, finishing with two rushing scores while posting 13 carries for 114 yards. His two touchdowns marked his ninth and 10th such scores during the 2024 campaign, which rank eighth-most in a single season in program history.
Hank Beatty hauled in four catches for 90 yards, both of which were career-best marks. His 59-yard reception in the first quarter was the longest play of his collegiate career.
Luke Altmyer went 13-for-22 for 174 yards and one touchdown, with the lone passing score going to Zakhari Franklin in the first quarter. Franklin finished with four catches for 39 yards.
The Illini defense made one takeaway – a fumble recovery in the third quarter – and forced two turnovers on downs, while Matthew Bailey made a team-most 13 tackles in the win.
The Gamecocks opened the scoring with a field goal on their first possession of the afternoon, but the Illini took their first lead of the game on the final play of the first quarter. Getting the ball back on their own 24-yard line with 5:13 remaining, the Orange and Blue moved past midfield on the second play of the drive.
After converting a third down in the red zone, Illinois found the end zone for the first time via a 15-yard completion from Altmyer to Franklin, giving the Illini a 7-3 advantage after one period of play.
South Carolina found its way into the red zone on its ensuing possession, but a pass breakup from Ryan Meed thwarted a Gamecock trick play on fourth-and-7 to force a turnover on…
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