Illinois snaps 5-year bowl drought with Dec. 30 Redbox Bowl
Northwestern quarterback Andrew Marty (7) scores in the second quarter during a Big Ten Conference college football game between the Northwestern Wildcats and the IIllinois Fighting Illini on November 30, 2019, at Memorial Stadium, Champaign, IL. (Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images / Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Illinois returns to a bowl game for the first time in five years when it faces California in the Redbox Bowl on Dec. 30.
The Illini reeled off four straight wins after a 2-4 start, and the extra practices afforded by a rare bowl trip should only help coach Lovie Smith's rebuilding efforts.
Cal used back-to-back road wins to close the regular season to earn a spot in a bowl game close to campus.
The Golden Bears ranked fourth in the Pac-12 in points allowed.