ORLANDO, Fla. – The South Carolina Gamecocks will face the Illinois Fighting Illini on New Year’s Eve for the 2024 Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, Florida Citrus Sports announced Sunday.
This year’s Cheez-It Citrus Bowl kicks off at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31, at Camping World Stadium.
No. 15 South Carolina (9-3, 5-3 SEC) will make its fourth appearance at the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl while No. 20 Illinois (9-3, 6-3 Big Ten) appears in the game for the second time.
The Gamecocks and Illini have never met on the gridiron, according to Florida Citrus Sports.
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No. 15 South Carolina (9-3, 5-3 SEC) will be making its fourth all-time appearance in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, and its first since a 34-24 win over Wisconsin to close the 2013-14 season. The Gamecocks also appeared in the Jan. 2, 2012 Citrus Bowl, a 30-13 win over Nebraska, and the 1975 game, a 20-7 defeat to Miami (Ohio).
No. 20 Illinois (9-3, 6-3 Big Ten) will be appearing in the game for the second time and first since quarterback and game MVP Jeff George led the team to a 31-21 win over Virginia on New Year’s Day 1990.
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The 2024 Pop-Tarts Bowl will be the 35th edition of the game, which has been held at Camping World Stadium since 2001 after 11 years in South Florida. Last year, Kansas State defeated NC State 28-19 in the first edition of the bowl to feature Pop-Tarts as a title sponsor.
Florida Citrus Sports
Tickets to the 2024 Cheez-It Citrus Bowl will be available at this link.
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