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.

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

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.

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

Illinois had only won 10 football games in four seasons ever, prior to the Illini’s New Year’s Eve victory over the South Carolina Gamecocks. Sporting new script “Illinois” helmets, the Illini were the more physical,

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,