It’s universally recognized that the Southeastern Conference and the Big 10 are the two best conferences in the nation when they took the field at the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl in Orlando, FL. However, on Saturday the #20 Illinois Fighting Illini earned bragging rights on the #15 South Carolina Gamecocks winning 21-17 in the first-ever matchup between the two teams. Five lead changes came in the Illini’s first football win over an SEC Progam to earn them their first bowl victory since 2011.

Illinois quarterback Luke Altmeir was under duress from the first snap of the game. Even without their Nagurksi Award-winning defensive lineman Kyle Kennard South Carolina forced the Illinini to open the game with three-and-out. They drove the ball inside the red zone where the Gamecocks struck first with a 29-yard Alex Herrera field goal.

Altmeir completed 13 of his 22 passes for 174 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.

It looked like the Illini may answer when Altmeir found wide receiver Hank Beatty for a 59-yard streak to the one-yard line. However, South Carolina linebacker Demetrius Knight forced running back Josh Mcray to fumble the ball in the end zone. It was recovered by edge rusher Dylan Stewart for a touchback.

Beatty finished as the game’s most receiving yards turning in 90 on four catches.

On the Illini’s next offensive drive, they took it back to the red zone where wide receiver Zakhari Franklin made an acrobatic pirouette into the end zone on a 15-yard touchdown from Almeir. Illinois took their first lead of the game at the end of the first quarter, 7-3.

The Illini defense kept the Gamecocks out of the endzone with a second red zone stand and a missed field goal from Herrera to close the half. Illinois opened the second half with a failed onside kick that South Carolina recovered. The Illini forced the ensuing Gamecock drive backward by penetrating the quarterback to sack quarterback LaNorris Sellers.

Sellers finished the game with 24 completions on 33 passes with 260 yards and a score.

With 10:50 left in the 3rd quarter, running back Oscar Adaway III to a 36-yard to pay dirt for South Carolina’s first touchdown of the game for the second lead change. Adaway filling in as the top back for opt-out “Rocket” Sanders. He finished with 69 yards and 14 carries with one touchdown while leading his team in catches with seven for 39.

On the next drive, the Gamecocks cornerback Jalen Kilgore got his five interception of the game for their first takeaway of the game. However, Illinois’ defense defense stepped up when defensive lineman Ezekiel Holmes forced wide receiver Jarwarn Howell to fumble.

Defensive back Jaheim Clarke recovered the fumble and gave the Illini a chance to answer. McCray redeemed himself on the goalline with a three-yard run to score capping off a 63-yard drive to regain the lead with 2:23 left in the third quarter, 14-10.

The Gamecocks scored at the start of the fourth quarter. A 60-yard bomb to Dalevon Campbell set up tight end Josh Simon’s six-yard scoring completion. However, Illinois answered back with a 75-yard drive capped off by another McCray score.

Simon led his team in receiving yards with 69 yards on six catches and a touchdown.

Around 3:00 minutes remained in the game when Sellers underthrew a pass to Simons from the Illinois seven-yard line on 4th down that would have given South Carolina the lead. Instead, it turned the ball over on downs. To seal the game for his squad, McCray broke off a 60-yard rumble. The Illini were able to kneel out the clock to secure Ilini history.

McCray was awarded the Cheez-It MVP Belt as the Player of the Game turning in 114 rushing yards on 13 carries with two touchdowns and a fumble lost in addition to four catches for 39 yards and a receiving touchdown. After the game, McCray spoke on bouncing back from the early mistake to earn game honors. “. . . My boys kept me up in there, kept my head on right, and then we just got the job done. But for a running back to get MVP, you don’t really see that a lot, but that’s pretty awesome to me in my world.”