This has been one of the most remarkable seasons of South Carolina football. A squad picked to finish 13th in the SEC, counted out after missing a bowl in 2023, left for dead once quarterback Spencer Rattler and wide receiver Xavier Legette turned pro became just the eighth team in USC history to win nine games.

South Carolina scored on three of its nine drives during the bowl game, averaging about 42 yards gained per drive. The defense picked off Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer, but the offense didn’t score from the turnover.

South Carolina football wanted to send its seniors off with historic win No. 10 but instead, the Gamecocks fell to Illinois 21-17 in the Citrus Bowl.

SportsLine's model revealed its college football picks for Illinois Fighting Illini vs. South Carolina Gamecocks in the Citrus Bowl 2024 on Tuesday

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The Fighting Illini earned a spirited victory over South Carolina Tuesday, proving that the non-CFP bowls really do mean something.

In the season finale of his fourth season as South Carolina’s head coach, in what is supposed to be a somewhat light, fun bowl game, Beamer was more irate in a game than he’s ever been. It will be easy to forget the final score of Tuesday’s Cheez-It Citrus Bowl — 21-17 Illinois over South Carolina.

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,