In a result that no one saw coming saw coming – or that at least no major prognosticator admitted to publicly – No. 20 Illinois took down No. 15 South Carolina in a heated battle in the Citrus Bowl on New Year's Eve,

That was it — Illinois had a 10-win football team for the first time since 2001, a bowl win for the first time since 2011 and arguably its biggest win in any game since the 2007 upset at No. 1 Ohio State.

Josh McCray scored his second touchdown of the game on a 9-yard run midway through the fourth quarter to give No. 21 Illinois the lead, and the Illini held on to beat No. 14 South Carolina 21-17 in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl.