On New Year’s Eve, when Illinois takes the field in sunny Orlando, Florida, to face South Carolina in the Citrus Bowl (2 p.m. CT, on ESPN), it will be a day of firsts for Illini football.

So, needless to say, the Fighting Illini ... lot Illinois can do with its helmet considering their logo is a block I, but this is certainly better than the word Illini on the side in that slanted ...

Whether Illinois ever dusts off the throwback duds again remains to be seen. But the win over Michigan – the Illini's first in 15 years – was a good omen. And even though we don't imagine ...

However, there will be something distinctly different about the Illini's season finale than ... Game in October against Michigan, the helmet choice could be a perfect beginning to the closing ...