Bob Asmussen | Comeback win in Orlando tops off special week for Illini

ORLANDO, Fla.

Next time the Citrus Bowl calls Illinois with an invitation, it's an immediate and emphatic "YES!" Two trips to Orlando.

Two victories.

All sorts of fun in the sun.

Illinois fans, players, coaches and administrators will always fondly remember New Year's Eve 2024.

Hours before the world rang in '25, Bret Bielema's team of overachievers completed a perfect week in Florida with a 21-17 upset victory against South Carolina.

It was the 10th win of the season and first in a bowl against the powerful SEC.

The Illinois travel party arrived on Christmas Day and stayed busy all week.

The Illini worked out daily at Central Florida's facility while also visiting a theme park, hanging out at their swanky Hyatt Regency headquarters and fulfilling media and team obligations.

On Dec.

30, Bielema had a downright friendly press conferenece appearance with South Carolina's Shane Beamer.

They took turns praising each other's acumen while making sure not to provide any bulletin board material.

If they only knew what was about to happen in the game.

There was plenty to do in Orlando for the thousands of Illinois fans who made the trip.

On Dec.

30, a pep rally was held at Pointe Orlando.

Bielema, Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman and chancellor Robert Jones fired up the throng ...

accompanied by the Marching Illini, who came out in full force.

The energetic pep rally carried over to gameday on a glorious, toasty afternoon.

Not even a brief shower -- turns out thpse are common in Orlando -- could dampen the mood.

The game itself played to Illinois' strength all season: the ability to overcome adversity.

Seemingly ready to score after moving the ball to the South Carolina 1 in the first quarter, Illinois fumbled into the end zone for a touchback.

Josh McCray, who lost the ball, didn't let it drag him down.

He came back to score two touchdowns, gain 114 yards and win game MVP honors.

The Illini played the game without star receiver Pat Bryant, who decided to sit ahead of his shot at the NFL.

But Hank Beatty and Jakhari Franklin picked up the slack, combining for 129 yards and a touchdown.

Late in the game with Illinois trying to keep from giving the ball back to the desperate Gamecocks, McCray zipped 60 yards to seal the deal.

The victory set off a wild celebration for the Illinois players and coaches.

Afterward, they talked not only about what they had accomplished, but also what the win means moving forward.

They saw the '24 Citrus Bowl as a start, not the end.

Good company Before Tuesday, Illinois hadn't won a bowl game in 13 years.

The Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl victory in 2011 came against 6-7 UCLA, which had fired coach Rick Neuheisel.

Illinois also played with an interim head coach.

This year's Citrus Bowl was the 21st postseason game in school history.

The team improved to 9-12 with other wins against UCLA (twice), Stanford, Washington, Virginia (twice), East Carolina and Baylor.

Second verse, same as the first The Citrus Bowl wasn't new to Illinois football.

Thirty-five years ago, John Mackovic's Illini -- led by star quarterback Jeff George, running back Howard Griffith and a loaded defense that included future College Hall of Famer Moe Gardner -- knocked off Virginia 31-21 for its 10th win of the season.

The 1990 team finished No.

10 in the final Associated Press Top 25.

Illinois opened the 1990 season ranked No.

11 and lost at Arizona in the opener.

Illinois entered this year's Citrus Bowl ranked No.

21.

Based on losses by teams ahead of it.

Illinois will climb at least a handful of spots.

And with the bulk of the current team returning in 2025, a preseason Top 10 spot is possible..

This article has been shared from the original article on newsgazette, here is the link to the original article.