South Carolina will be looking for a happy ending to the season in the home of the “Happiest Place on Earth” when the Gamecocks face Illinois December 31st in the Cheez-It Bowl in Orlando. The game will kickoff at 3:00 PM and will be televised on ABC.
The Gamecocks are 9-3 and finished 15th in the College Football Playoff rankings. The Gamecocks will be looking for the fifth season of at least ten wins in program history. This will be their fourth appearance in a bowl game in Orlando. The Gamecocks dropped a 20-7 decision to Miami (Ohio) in the Tangerine Bowl, played on Dec. 20, 1975, then won twice in the Capital One Bowl, defeating Nebraska by a 30-13 score on Jan. 2, 2012, and topping Wisconsin on Jan. 1, 2014, by a 34-24 score.
Illinois also is 8-3 and finished 6-3 in the Bit Ten. They Illini were ranked 20th in the final CFP ranking. Former USC receivers coach Justin Stepp is the receivers coach with the Illini. This will be the first meeting between the two teams.
This season Illinois is averaging 29 points per game and giving up 22 points per game. Quarterback Luke Altmyer has passed for 2543 yards with 21 touchdowns and five interceptions. Aidan Laughery is the leading rusher with 522 yards and four touchdowns, and Pat Bryant is the top receivers with 54 catches for 984 yards and 10 touchdowns.
The Illini had two wins over teams that were ranked when they played them. They won at 22nd ranked Nebraska and at 19th ranked Kansas.