ORLANDO, Fla. — Illinois is no stranger to late heroics.
The Illini entered Tuesday’s Cheez-It 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 had two touchdowns, including the winner, as No. 20 Illinois outlasted No. 15 South Carolina, 21-17.
Illinois (10-3, 6-3 Big Ten) has won 10 games for the first time since the 2001 season. It’s the fifth time the Illini have finished with 10 wins in a season (1902, ‘83, ‘89 and 2001).
The win snaps 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.
South Carolina (9-4, 5-3 SEC) opened the scoring when quarterback LaNorris Sanders led the Gamecocks to Illinois’ 11-yard line. Unable to convert on a 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 receiver Hank Beatty, who made a 59-yard catch that brought the ball to the South Carolina’s 1. McCray, however, fumbled at the goal line, and South Carolina defensive end Dylan Stewart recovered the ball 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 made another drive into the red zone during its next possession but stalled at Illinois’ 13. Rather than attempting a 30-yard field goal, the Gamecocks faked a field goal, with punter Kai Kroeger attempting 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 3 seconds left in the half hit the right upright and was no good.
South Carolina continued to roll the dice in the second half as the Gamecocks converted fourth-and-1 at 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 South Carolina safety Jalon Kilgore intercepted Altmyer’s pass to Beatty. But the Gamecocks couldn’t convert as running back Jawarn Howell fumbled away the ball.
Illinois took advantage of the turnover and drove 63 yards, highlighted by a 27-yard catch by receiver Collin Dixon that set up a 3-yard touchdown run by McCray, who put the Illini back ahead, 14-10.
During an injury timeout, South Carolina coach Shane Beamer had to be held back by staff members and officials after it appeared Illinois coach Bret Bielema said something in his direction.
The Gamecocks seemed fired up by the fireworks and Sellers found tight end Joshua Simon in the end zone for a 6-yard score and a 17-14 lead.
Illinois put together a 12-play drive that took up close to seven minutes before McCray found the end zone again — this time on a 9-yard run.
South Carolina had one more chance as Seller drove the Gamecocks inside Illinois’ 10, but his pass to Simon on a fourth-and-4 went incomplete.
McCray finished with a season-high 114 yards on 13 carries.
