South Carolina 34, Illinois 13. Elijah Campbell: Not many defenses in college football can lose one of the best edge rushers in the sport for the bowl game and still not miss a beat but here we are.

No. 15 South Carolina and No. 20 Illinois went on to identical 9-3 records during the regular season, finishing outside the 12-team field for the College Football Playoff.

If South Carolina can limit opt-outs, especially from its exceptional defense, it should do enough to outlast a very solid Illinois squad." College Football Network : South Carolina 31, Illinois 24 ...