Illinois loses ReliaQuest Bowl on last-second FG

Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty ImagesTAMPA, Fla. — Unusual setting, but a usual type of game for Illinois.

In its first bowl appearance since the 2019 loss in the Redbox Bowl to Cal, Illini nation showed out to Raymond James Stadium on Monday afternoon, giving the Illini an unexpected neutral field advantage.

A good ol’ fashioned slugfest was certainly not what we expected to see in the ReliaQuest Bowl against a team known for its offensive outbursts — but Illinois was able to play its type of game against SEC foe Mississippi State.

Although, after being up 7-3 at halftime, the Illini only scored three additional points which was not enough to win the game. The Bulldogs were able to hit a…