South Carolina’s best defensive player — actually, the nation’s best defensive player — won’t play in the Citrus Bowl on New Year’s Eve. Illinois won’t have its all-Big Ten receiver.But aside from the Gamecocks’ Kyle Kennard and the Fighting Illini’s Pat Bryant opting out for NFL Draft purposes, both No. 15 South Carolina and No. 20 Illinois will be loaded and eager to battle for a coveted 10th win Tuesday afternoon in Orlando, Fla.The Gamecocks (9-3) are riding a six-game winning streak — including three victories over Top 25 opponents — as they shoot for their first 10-win season since 2013. The Illini (9-3) have won three in a row as they vie for their first 10-win campaign since the 2001 Big Ten champions.Of course, this clash to end 2024 is also about what can happen for both schools in 2025.”We’re either the first- or second-youngest team coming back in Power 4 football,” Illinois coach Bret Bielema said. “We’re all juniors and sophomores.”That includes junior quarterback Luke Altmyer, who publicly committed for the 2025 season when he addressed the sellout crowd at Illinois’ home basketball game versus top-ranked Tennessee on Dec. 14. Altmyer clicked on 60.9 percent of his passes during the regular season for 2,543 yards, 21 touchdowns and just five interceptions.”In this crazy world that we’re in with the portal and the transfers, he’s the definition of what you’re looking for,” Bielema said.Meanwhile, redshirt freshman quarterback LaNorris Sellers has made a similar agreement to return to South Carolina, signing a deal with the school’s NIL collective. The 6-foot-3, 242-pound dual threat racked up 2,274 yards and 17 touchdowns through the air along with 655 yards and seven scores on the ground.Sellers and the Gamecocks are working with a new offensive coordinator. Former Alabama head coach Mike Shula was upgraded from offensive analyst last week when offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains took the head coaching job at Appalachian State.