Illinois unveils brand-new helmets to debut in Citrus Bowl
Illinois will be trying to get to double-digit victories on New Year’s Eve, and it’s going to celebrate the occasion with some history-making helmets.
On Friday, the Fighting Illini unveiled the helmets, which have the Illinois script on the side of them. That might not sound like anything out of the ordinary, but it is. It’ll be the first time in program history that the Fighting Illini wear the Illinois script on their helmets.
Fitted for something special.
For the Cheez-it Citrus Bowl, we will wear the Illinois script for the first time in program history. #Illini // #HTTO // #famILLy pic.twitter.com/QYi2Rm2RHP
— Illinois Football (@IlliniFootball) December 28, 2024
So, when 9-3 Illinois takes the field in Orlando against 9-3 South Carolina for the 3 p.m. ET kickoff on ABC, the Fighting Illini will be in uncharted territory before the ball is even kicked off. Despite wearing those special helmets, there are no guarantees on how that will translate to Illinois’ on-field play against the Gamecocks.
But we will know that the Fighting Illini will look great no matter what the scoreboard says. ESPN’s FPI predictor doesn’t believe Illinois has a great shot to get a season-ending victory though, special helmets and all, giving the Illini just a 27.5% chance to take down the Gamecocks in Orlando.
Illinois fielded its first football team way back in 1890, so if nothing else the Citrus Bowl will provide the proper New Year’s Eve stage for the Fighting Illini to make some history with their attire.