Social Media Reacts to Illinois Football's Citrus Bowl Upset Over South Carolina

A few of the best reactions from the Illini's 21-17 win over the Gamecocks on New Year's Eve

Dec 31, 2024; Orlando, FL, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini running back Josh McCray (6) celebrates his touchdown against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the fourth quarter at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Reper-Imagn Images / Jeremy Reper-Imagn Images

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, winning 21-17 to put the finishing touches on its best season in decades.

Led by running back Josh McCray’s 114 yards and two scores (on just 13 carries) – which earned him Citrus Bowl MVP honors – the Illini (10-3) ran all over the Gamecocks (9-4) while quarterback Luke Altmyer did just enough through the air (174 yards and one touchdown) to keep South Carolina's defense on its toes.

At the same time, Illinois' defense bottled up South Carolina's rushing attack, holding the Gamecocks to 3.9 yards per carry while all but erasing one side of quarterback LaNorris Sellers' dual-threat ability, as the freshman phenom ran for just 19 yards on 11 carries.

After entering the game as massive underdogs, Illinois (which opened at +10.5) pulled off the upset and seemed to cement its status in what we may look back on as a program-changing season.

Inevitably, there would be a wide array of social media reactions from fans and media personalities across the country. What follows is a selection of the best we found:

Jake Butt, former Michigan tight end

Butt, now an analyst for the Big Ten Network, commented on the minimal expectations the Illini entered the season with, and how impressively they surpassed them, before giving coach Bret Bielema and the entire program a massive compliment:

Great season for @IllinoisOnBTN and @BretBielema Bret Bielema is a top tier head coach in college football. As consistent and steady as they come. Illinois was picked 15th out of 18 teams in the preseason media polls. He told us that Altmeyer would take the step. He told us DC…

— Jake Butt (@Jbooty88) January 1, 2025

Tom Fornelli, CBS sports reporter

Fornelli posted about how long it has been since Illinois' last 10-win season (2001) – and how he expects that Illini Nation won’t have to wait nearly as long for another one to come around:

I need to go to sleep. Long day and a lot of work to do tomorrow.

Instead, I’m sitting here buzzing over a 10-win season from the Illini. The last time this happened I lived in Champaign.

I doubt I’ll have to wait as long for the next one.

— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) January 1, 2025

Illinois governor J.B. Pritzker

Illinois' governor offered congratulatory praise:

What a way to finish the year.

Congrats to the Illini! I-L-L! https://t.co/7aPVF4z9bK

— Governor JB Pritzker (@GovPritzker) January 1, 2025

Matt Leinart, FOX Sports analyst and 2004 Heisman Trophy winner

Illinois fans will like where Leinart's head is at:

Maybe 3 loss Illinois should have gotten more Playoff consideration? Just a thought….

— Matt Leinart (@MattLeinartQB) December 31, 2024

Jeff Rabjohns, 247 sports reporter

Rabjohns chimed in on the SEC’s supposed dominance, which has been tested to the breaking point by the Big Ten this postseason:

Scores of football games played on the field (not in the imagination of paid shills):

Big Ten 7th-place Michigan beat SEC 4th-place Alabama 19-13

Big Ten 4th-place Ohio State crushed SEC 3rd-place Tennessee 42-17

Big Ten 5th-place Illinois beat SEC 5th-place S.Carolina 21-17

— Jeff Rabjohns (@JeffRabjohns) January 1, 2025

Mike Hall, Big Ten Network sportscaster

Hall puts Illinois' recent athletic successes in perspective:

Checking in on @IlliniAD hires-

Bret Bielema: 10 win season now, tied for most in school history.

Brad Underwood: top 25 ranked team now, Elite 8 last year, more Big Ten wins than any program the last 5 years

Shauna Green: instantly turned around a pulse-less program.

Amazing

— Mike Hall (@MikeHallHere) January 1, 2025

Bret Bielema, Illinois coach

And maybe one of the best of all, a good-natured troll from the big man himself:

Happy New Year #ESPN #famILLy #ILL 😇🤷‍♂️😇 https://t.co/TnAvzuQx7q

— Bret Bielema (@BretBielema) January 1, 2025

More From Illinois on Sports Illustrated:

Illinois Football Stuns South Carolina in Program-Shifting Citrus Bowl Upset

Predicting Illinois Football's 2025 Season From Newly Released Schedule

Gesture-Gate: The Ridiculousness of the Shane Beamer-Bret Bielema Clash