The heated exchange pitting Bret Bielema and Shane Beamer against each other kept social media buzzing on New Year's Day. Illinois won the Citrus Bowl against South Carolina, 21-17, capping a 10-win season.

Illinois' 21-17 win over South Carolina in the Citrus Bowl -- a historic marker for the Fighting Illini, who for the first time since 2001 eclipsed 10 wins in season -- was overshadowed by a bizarre feud between two of college football's most colorful head coaches.

Bret Bielema and South Carolina HC Shane Beamer had a bit of a moment during the Citrus Bowl on Tuesday evening.

Beamer's anger likely stemmed from a tit-for-tat battle between the two coaches, each of whom were sending in late substitutions all game long. And Bielema's laughter occurred shortly after the heated interaction, when he sent in three defensive players with the play clock winding down, forcing Beamer to burn a timeout.

An Illinois football player was down near the South Carolina sideline at one point in the second half and Bret Bielema went over to check on his player. He then did the T-bar gesture that you will see on kickoffs as he walked away, and Shane Beamer thought that Bielema was taunting him. Bielema explained what happened after the game.

Beamer saw Bielema’s taunt and started charging forward screaming and pointing at the Illinois head coach. A number of staffers held him back and escorted him back to the sideline. “Shane just turned to me and said, ‘You saw what he did,’ ” said ABC sideline reporter Quint Kessenich.

The incident occurred when Bielema walked across the field to check on injured Illini defensive back Jaheim Clarke. Bielema then held up his arms in an apparent signaling of substitution, which caused Beamer to run onto the field incensed. Beamer had to be held back and could be seen telling the game's sideline reporter, "you saw what he did."

All hell broke loose in the third quarter of the Cheez-It Bowl on Tuesday. It wasn’t the players. It was South Carolina coach Shane Beamer going after Illinois’ Bret Bielema. An Illinois DB was injured on a long pass play by South Carolina. Bielema came across the field to check on his player.