South Carolina didn't make the College Football Playoff, and a lot of people are very unhappy about that, but no one more than Gamecock fans. However, there is one thing that South Carolina fans can hold on to, and that is the fact that they are still 9-3 after starting 3-3 and are heading to a good bowl game against a good opponent.
The Citrus Bowl officially announces that the Illinois Fighting Illini accepted the invite to play the South Carolina Gamecocks in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida, on New Year's Eve.
See you in ORLANDO! https://t.co/yILeNipBSE pic.twitter.com/QlwHVNwvtf
— Gamecock Football (@GamecockFB) December 8, 2024
South Carolina will have a shorter trip than Illinois does and will get to drive down to the Sunshine State to take on a hot Illinois team. The Fighting Illini looked like they would be following in Indiana's lead this season starting undefeated for quote some time, but a few losses left them out of the College Football Playoff as well.
This should be a fairly good game, but it seems like this could easily go the Gamecock's way with how hot of a team they are right now. South Carolina is battle-tested, facing a lot of ranked opponents this season, and playing their best football of the season right now.
Both teams ended their season 9-3, but the Gamecocks had a bit of a reason to be upset they didn't make the playoffs with the resume they accumulated in their six-game win streak to end the regular season.
The Gamecocks and Fighting Illini will kick off in Orlando on December 31, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. EST.