Chambana Sun

The Illinois football team has accepted an invitation to participate in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida. The announcement was made on Sunday. Illinois, ranked #20, will face off against #15 South Carolina at Camping World Stadium on December 31st at 2 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast on ABC.

This marks the 21st bowl appearance for the Illinois program and their second New Year's bowl game in Florida within three seasons, following the 2023 ReliaQuest Bowl. The last time Illinois participated in the Citrus Bowl was during the 1989 season when they secured a victory over Virginia.

"The University of Illinois is honored to accept today's invitation to play in the 2024 Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, and we would like to thank Florida Citrus Sports and CEO Steve Hogan for this tremendous opportunity," said Josh Whitman, Director of Athletics at Illinois. He added that this achievement is a testament to Coach Bielema's leadership since his arrival four years ago.

Illinois aims to secure its tenth win of the season, which would tie the program record for most wins in a single season. The Illini have maintained a position within the AP Top 25 for eleven weeks this season.

For some players, this game will serve as a homecoming; seventeen members of the team are from Florida. This number represents the largest contingent from any Big Ten program.

Head coach Bret Bielema expressed gratitude towards Florida Citrus Sports and emphasized his team's excitement about playing against South Carolina. "Our players are excited to experience a first-class bowl game with a national spotlight against a quality SEC opponent," he stated.

Bielema has previously coached in the Citrus Bowl when it was known as the Capital One Bowl. In his career spanning sixteen years as head coach, he has led twelve teams to bowl games.

Tickets for fans are available through FightingIllini.com until December 13th. Official travel packages include accommodations and other amenities for those wishing to attend.