Illinois defeated South Carolina 21-17 in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl on Tuesday.
The teams exchanged the lead five times in the game. Neither team led by more than one score. Illinois took its final lead on a Josh McCray touchdown run with 7:29 remaining.

With a little more than three minutes remaining, Gamecock quarterback LaNorris Sellers threw behind receiver Joshua Simon in the end zone on a fourth-and-four play at the Illinois 7 yard line. Illinois got the ball back and ran out the clock.

The Gamecocks were ranked No. 15 before the bowl game and finish the season at 9-4. Illinois was ranked No. 21 and finished the year at 10-3.