Pregame: Illinois vs South Carolina, Tuesday, December 31st, 2:00pm CT, ABC

[Illinifan533]

Great bowl game for the program and good to build on, but going to be the first pessimist of this board. I just don't see us winning this one. South Carolina is making a comeback as a program and will be looking for an exclamation point victory. Considering how we struggled against the two most talented teams on our schedule, I just don't see us being able to pull this one out.....but I wouldn't be mad if I was wrong in the end.

 

[fuddrules]

People are putting way too much stock in Alabama. They are devastated and stunned they won’t be in a 12 team playoff. The citrus got the right match up regardless if it was their choice.

Yep, with the 12 team playoff, bowls will start selecting who is excited to be there. This is an excellent spot for Illinois football!

 

[Dan]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1865866498780037590

https://twitter.com/x/status/1865867011085017149

https://twitter.com/x/status/1865866197352563107

 

[KyBourbon]

Bravo Illinois football. New Year's Eve bowl in Orlando is a heck of a bowl to finish off a great season!

Now go get us a WIN!!!

 

[kyillinifan]

some guys will get a good game experience with bowl game. Who replaces Bryant? Will it be Elzy? I see Valentine getting a lot of carries.

 

[Epsilon]

Fun fact- Illinois Football is 0-6 all time vs the SEC

at Florida 1967 L 0-14
Mississippi St 1980 L 12-28
Alabama 1982 L 15-21 (Liberty Bowl)
Florida 1988 L 10-14 (All-American Bowl)
LSU 2001 L 34-47 (2002 Sugar Bowl)
Mississippi St 2022 L 10-19 (ReliaQuest Bowl)

 

[TheodoreRex]

No Bryant = no win. But I'm ecstatic we are in this game. I hope we can just compete.

 

[Dan]

 

[2X2L]

South Carolina fans sound a lot like Illinois fans.

South Carolina to Citrus Bowl vs. Illinois

South Carolina to Citrus Bowl vs. Illinois

247sports.com

Thanks for posting.

 

[IllianaOne]

I wonder how many opt outs SC will have?

 

[PleaseMakeABowlGame]

Unless for some weird non-game injury situation or transfer entry, their QB will be playing and he's really good.

Outside of that, these are probably their top draft prospects for 2025.

Kyle Kennard - Los Angeles Chargers Linebacker - ESPN

View the profile of Los Angeles Chargers Linebacker Kyle Kennard on ESPN. Get the latest news, live stats and game highlights.

www.espn.com

Nick Emmanwori - Seattle Seahawks Safety - ESPN

View the profile of Seattle Seahawks Safety Nick Emmanwori on ESPN. Get the latest news, live stats and game highlights.

www.espn.com

Raheim Sanders - Cleveland Browns Running Back - ESPN

View the profile of Cleveland Browns Running Back Raheim Sanders on ESPN. Get the latest news, live stats and game highlights.

www.espn.com

T.J. Sanders - Buffalo Bills Defensive Tackle - ESPN

View the profile of Buffalo Bills Defensive Tackle T.J. Sanders on ESPN. Get the latest news, live stats and game highlights.

www.espn.com

 

[illinifan1987]

South Carolina fans sound a lot like Illinois fans.

South Carolina to Citrus Bowl vs. Illinois

South Carolina to Citrus Bowl vs. Illinois

247sports.com

It's so weird seeing people type "Lets go Cocks". That's something you'd expect on a completely different site

 

[PleaseMakeABowlGame]

Unless for some weird non-game injury situation or transfer entry, their QB will be playing and he's really good.

Outside of that, these are probably their top draft prospects for 2025.

Kyle Kennard - Los Angeles Chargers Linebacker - ESPN

View the profile of Los Angeles Chargers Linebacker Kyle Kennard on ESPN. Get the latest news, live stats and game highlights.

www.espn.com

Nick Emmanwori - Seattle Seahawks Safety - ESPN

View the profile of Seattle Seahawks Safety Nick Emmanwori on ESPN. Get the latest news, live stats and game highlights.

www.espn.com

Raheim Sanders - Cleveland Browns Running Back - ESPN

View the profile of Cleveland Browns Running Back Raheim Sanders on ESPN. Get the latest news, live stats and game highlights.

www.espn.com

T.J. Sanders - Buffalo Bills Defensive Tackle - ESPN

View the profile of Buffalo Bills Defensive Tackle T.J. Sanders on ESPN. Get the latest news, live stats and game highlights.

www.espn.com

Not any opt-out candidate by any means but just as a sidenote: they have a real good true frosh edge rusher. Former five star.

Dylan Stewart - South Carolina Gamecocks Linebacker - ESPN

View the profile of South Carolina Gamecocks Linebacker Dylan Stewart on ESPN. Get the latest news, live stats and game highlights.

www.espn.com

Dylan Stewart, South Carolina Gamecocks, Edge

2024: Totaled a sack, a TFL, a FF, a PBU and a QBH in the Under Armour All-America Game. 2023: Washington Post’s All-Metro Football Player of the Year. Lined...

247sports.com

 

[Fly Illini Fly!]

Wow... 11.5 sacks, 15.5 TFLs for Kennard. He and Dylan Stewart quite the tandem.

 

[ChiTown]

Time to fire up the rotisserie machine for some New Year’s eve game cook appetizers.

 

[MustangWally]

Fun fact- Illinois Football is 0-6 all time vs the SEC

at Florida 1967 L 0-14
Mississippi St 1980 L 12-28
Alabama 1982 L 15-21 (Liberty Bowl)
Florida 1988 L 10-14 (All-American Bowl)
LSU 2001 L 34-47 (2002 Sugar Bowl)
Mississippi St 2022 L 10-19 (ReliaQuest Bowl)

Hard to believe we've never played Kentucky. Border state and all.

 

[IllianaOne]

I can see us have opt outs who don’t get drafted.

 

[New Creation]

Fun fact- Illinois Football is 0-6 all time vs the SEC

at Florida 1967 L 0-14
Mississippi St 1980 L 12-28
Alabama 1982 L 15-21 (Liberty Bowl)
Florida 1988 L 10-14 (All-American Bowl)
LSU 2001 L 34-47 (2002 Sugar Bowl)
Mississippi St 2022 L 10-19 (ReliaQuest Bowl)

Fun fact: I watched "Not another Teen Movie" in the movie theater the same year we played LSU in the Sugar Bowl. I watched the first half of the game at home, as I was a high school Senior at the time. My girlfriend wanted to see the movie so I agreed, especially since we were getting blown out in the first half and I was tired of yelling at my TV. Unfortunately, I missed an incredible second half of the football game. Since then, I make it a point never to leave a game early, regardless of the score, because the comebacks can be so exciting.

Score by Quarters ​	1 ​	2 ​	3 ​	4 ​	Score ​
Illinois ​	0 ​	7 ​	14 ​	13 ​	34​
LSU ​	7 ​	27 ​	7 ​	6 ​	47​

 

[Oracle21]

I think South Carolina is better than Miss St from a couple years ago. This will be a tough game regardless of who plays for either side

 

[Mr. Tibbs]

I think South Carolina is better than Miss St from a couple years ago. This will be a tough game regardless of who plays for either side

I would guess we are 10 pt underdogs

 

[Dan]

Hard to believe we've never played Kentucky. Border state and all.

1 loss (1909) & 1 win (1913) vs Kentucky, all prior to the formation of the SEC (1932).

 

[IllianaOne]

ESPN initially has SC as 10.5 pts favorites. We’re due for a bowl upset win!

 

[OrangeBlue98]

It's so weird seeing people type "Lets go Cocks". That's something you'd expect on a completely different site

Those of us who are a certain age will certainly understand given the popular style of caps in the 1990s…..

https://a.co/d/ixldjcl

 

[CentralILLini]

South Carolina is the 3rd best team we’ll play this year..pending their opt-outs.

 

[Fly Illini Fly!]

South Carolina is the 3rd best team we’ll play this year..pending their opt-outs.

yes, by far ... but opt-outs could have an impact