Citrus Bowl Preview & Picks: Illinois vs. South Carolina

ORLANDO, Fla. — In the era of the College Football Playoff, transfer portal and postseason opt-outs, bowl games can be viewed as glorified exhibitions — but don’t tell that to the two teams playing in Tuesday’s Citrus Bowl.

See, neither Illinois nor South Carolina was supposed to be here. Both the No. 20-ranked Illini (9-3, 6-3 Big Ten) and No. 15-ranked Gamecocks (9-3, 5-3 SEC) greatly exceeded their 5.5-win over/unders this season, earning bids to one of the premier non-CFP bowl games.

For both teams, Tuesday’s 2 p.m. CT kickoff at Camping World Stadium provides an opportunity to cap one of the best seasons in their respective program’s history.

Both the Illini and South Carolina are looking to notch a 10-win season for just the fifth time in program history and further propel their programs forward under a fourth-year head coach, Illinois led by Bret Bielema (27-22, 18-18 Big Ten) and South Carolina led by Shane Beamer (29-21, 15-17 SEC).

“This game means a lot,” Illinois junior tight end Tanner Arkin said. “I think Coach said something that only four or five teams have had 10-win seasons, so to have a chance to do that and be written into the Illinois history books would be awesome. That 10-win mark, that’s why we’re here and that’s our goal. It would be awesome.”

Added Illinois junior safety Miles Scott: “Honestly, it’s a chance to make history. We’ll be I believe the fourth team to win 10 games in Illinois history. It’s huge in terms of the grand scheme of things. But at the end of the day, it’s just another game. We’ve got to see it as that and not put so much on it. We’re prepared for the moment.”

For the Illini, the game also can help propel the program into an offseason of further fortifying the roster and the future of the program. A 10th win — and the program’s first against the SEC (Illinois is 0-6 against SEC opponents) — could further propel Bielema’s build by increasing interest from ticket buyers, donors and recruits.

Bielema was brought in to sustain success and beating an SEC team some argued was deserving of CFP consideration would further raise expectations for a program that hasn’t had three winning seasons in four years since 1992 and has never had three 8+ win seasons in the span of four seasons. A win over the Gamecocks would give more belief that Illinois can reach those goals, and even be a CFP contender itself, in 2025.

“This is a really fun group overall with the energy they bring. To have a special place in Illinois football history I think is really cool,” Bielema said. “I’ve also been selling — obviously 10 wins is a big deal — the catapult this can be to the 2025 [season] as a team that we would not shy away from as a team that would hopefully be a playoff type team. The chemistry that we have and the unique players that we have, if we get all these guys to come back would be pretty special.”