With Luke Altmyer at the helm, the Illini were able to put together efficient and successful drives that led to victories on several occasions. This has been a rare sight over the past couple of decades, so it was a welcome change.
However, Tuesday’s matchup will be a whole different challenge. South Carolina’s defense has been strong, and they will be ready for the game. The question is: Can the Illini move the ball against a team that gives up just 18.4 points per game?
Illinois Faces a Talented but Battered South Carolina Defense
Strength: Depth in the Bowl Game
In the era of the transfer portal, it’s impressive how few players South Carolina has lost since the season ended. On Tuesday, the Illini will face the Gamecocks’ top eight leading tacklers. South Carolina will also have six of their top seven sack leaders and every player with an interception. This is a loaded defense.
Strength: Stopping the Run
While Illinois has found some success with the running game this season, they might struggle on Tuesday. South Carolina is excellent at defending the run, allowing just 113.5 yards per game on the ground, ranking 15th nationally.
The Gamecocks’ defensive line, including TJ Sanders and Tonka Hemingway, is back, and they combined for 72 tackles, eight sacks, two fumble recoveries, and two pass deflections. Running against this defensive line will be a tough task for the Illini.
Weakness: Missing an All-American
Despite the depth returning to South Carolina’s defense, they’ll be without their best defender. Kyle Kennard, a consensus All-American, opted out of the bowl game to focus on his NFL career.
Kyle Kennard
Kennard finished 2024 with 28 tackles, 11.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles, earning the Bronko Nagurski Award as the nation’s top defensive player. His absence could create opportunities for Illinois to apply pressure and move the ball.
Weakness: Pass Coverage
South Carolina’s front seven can cause plenty of disruption, but their secondary has some vulnerabilities. The Gamecocks are giving up 205.8 passing yards per game this season, ranking 44th in the nation.
While they capitalize on mistakes, the secondary plays a high-risk, high-reward style, which could give Altmyer the chance to exploit their weaknesses and make some big plays through the air.
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