ORLANDO, Fla. — Illinois is no stranger to late heroics. The Illini entered Tuesday’s Citrus Bowl leading the nation with four fourth-quarter comebacks.
Once again things would come down to the final 15 minutes as running back Josh McCray scored two touchdowns, including the winner, and the Illini outlasted South Carolina 21-17.
Illinois (10-3) won 10 games for the first time since 2001 and the fifth time in program history (1902, 1983 and 1989 were the others).
The win snapped a three-game losing streak in bowl games, giving the Illini their first postseason win since defeating UCLA 20-14 in the Fight Hunger Bowl in 2011.
During an injury timeout late in the third quarter, South Carolina coach Shane Beamer had to be held back by staff members and officials after Illinois coach Bret Bielema appeared to taunt Beamer by making the substitution signal while checking on his injured player.
The Gamecocks (9-4) seemed fired up by the fireworks, and quarterback LaNorris Sellers found tight end Joshua Simon in the end zone for a 6-yard score and a 17-14 lead with 14:56 to play.
Illinois put together a 12-play drive that ran off close to seven minutes before McCray found the end zone for the second time on a 9-yard run.
South Carolina had one more chance as Sellers drove the Gamecocks inside the Illinois 10, but he threw behind Simon on fourth-and-4 at the 7.
McCray then sealed the victory for Illinois with a 60-yard run on third-and-2 from the 15. He finished with a season-high 114 yards on 13 carries.
South Carolina opened the scoring when Sanders led the Gamecocks to the Illinois 11. Unable to convert on third-and-7, kicker Alex Herrera kicked a 29-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead.
On Illinois’ next possession, quarterback Luke Altmyer connected with wide receiver Hank Beatty for a 59-yard gain to the 1. McCray, however, fumbled at the goal line, and South Carolina defensive end Dylan Stewart recovered for a touchback.
The Gamecocks could not capitalize and had to punt on their next drive.
Altmyer got Illinois on the scoreboard with a 15-yard touchdown pass to Zakhari Franklin, who just made it into the end zone, putting the Illini ahead 7-3 at the end of the first quarter.
South Carolina drove into the red zone again on its next possession but stalled at the 13. Rather than attempt a 30-yard field goal, the Gamecocks faked a field goal, with punter Kai Kroeger throwing a pass that fell incomplete in the end zone.
South Carolina’s special teams struggles continued as Herrera’s 41-yard field-goal attempt with three seconds left in the first half hit the right upright.
South Carolina continued to roll the dice in the second half, converting on fourth-and-1 at the Illinois 36 as running back Oscar Adaway III busted through the line of scrimmage and ran uncontested for a touchdown and a 10-7 advantage.
The Illini turned it over on their next possession as safety Jalon Kilgore intercepted Altmyer’s pass to Beatty. But the Gamecocks couldn’t convert as running back Jawarn Howell lost a fumble.
Illinois took advantage of the turnover and drove 63 yards, highlighted by Collin Dixon’s 27-yard catch that set up a 3-yard touchdown run by McCray for a 14-10 lead.
Altmeyer threw for 174 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Beatty caught four passes for 90 yards, and running back Aidan Laughery rushed for 67 yards on 16 carries.
Sellers completed 24 of 34 passes for 260 yards and a touchdown for the Gamecocks (9-4), who fell short of the fifth 10-win season in program history. Adaway III rushed for 69 yards on 14 carries and added seven catches for 37 yards.
