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ORLANDO, Fla. — It all comes down to this for South Carolina football.
The No. 14 Gamecocks (9-3) have one final game in the 2024 season as they face Illinois in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl on Tuesday (3 p.m. ET, ABC) at Camping World Stadium. If they defeat the No. 21 Fighting Illini (9-3) they will become the fifth team in South Carolina history to win 10 games in a season.
Coach Shane Beamer finished with his best conference record (5-3) of his career in Columbia and his 29-21 overall record has already passed former coach Steve Spurrier for most wins in the first four seasons as head coach.
Here’s everything to know about the bowl game matchup where both teams look to get win No. 10.
Who is Illinois starting quarterback?
South Carolina will have LaNorris Sellers run the offense. Illinois is led by junior quarterback Luke Altmyer, who began his career at Ole Miss.
The 6-foot-2, 205 pound QB has completed 198 of 325 passes this season for 2,543 yards, 21 touchdowns and five interceptions. He has 219 rushing yards and four touchdowns.
South Carolina opt-outs and replacements for Citrus Bowl
The Gamecocks are without two key players who opted out after declaring for the NFL draft – running back Rocket Sanders and edge rusher Kyle Kennard.
Oscar Adaway III, a sixth-year transfer, will likely start in Sanders’ place with other options at RB being Jawarn Howell, Matthew Fuller and Juju McDowell.
South Carolina beat Akron in Week 4 without Sanders but has yet to play a game without Kennard, who had a team-high 11.5 sacks to go with 20 solo tackles and three forced fumbles. Freshman Dylan Stewart will start with likely a rotation of Bryan Thomas Jr., Gilber Edmond and Desmond Umeozulu in Kennard’s place.
Top receiver Pat Bryant is the only opt-out for Illinois.
Players to watch for Illinois football in Citrus Bowl vs. South…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/south-carolina-football-vs-illinois-100659044.html
Author : Greenville News
Publish date : 2024-12-29 10:06:00
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