FOR OPENERS
• Kicking Off: The Fighting Illini (5-6, 2-5) will host No. 17/17 Northwestern (9-2, 5-2) at Soldier Field on Saturday (2:30 pm CT, ESPNU). In addition to battling the Wildcats for the Land of Lincoln rivalry trophy, the Illini are looking to clinch bowl eligibility against their in-state rival for the second straight season.
• Sweet Home Chicago: Saturday's game against Northwestern will be Illinois' first in the city of Chicago since a 34-24 loss to Washington at Soldier Field on Sept. 14, 2013, and first against a Big Ten foe since the 48-27 victory over Northwestern at Wrigley Field on Nov. 20, 2010. It also will mark the Illini's third-ever game at Soldier Field and first against a non-Pac-12 opponent. Illinois previously played at Soldier Field in 1994 (10-9 loss to Washington State) and 2013 (34-24 loss to Washington).
• Windy City Series: This year's Soldier Field game is the first of a three-game series at the historic venue, which will see the Fighting Illini and Wildcats match up in Chicago in 2015, 2017 and 2019.
• Bowl Bound? Illinois is one win away from reaching bowl eligibility for the second straight year and fourth time in the last six years. The Fighting Illini won the 2010 Texas Bowl (over Baylor) and 2011 Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl (over UCLA), then endured a two-year bowl drought before returning to postseason play at the 2014 Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl.
• Senior Day: Saturday's game will mark the final regular season game for 21 Illini seniors. Geronimo Allison, V'Angelo Bentley, Chris Boles, Tim Clary, Clayton Fejedelem, Josh Ferguson, Eric Finney, Pat Flavin, Joe Fotu, Ted Karras, Davontay Kwaaning, Mason Monheim, Kenny Nelson, Jim Nudera, Chris O'Connor, Leslie Poole, Eaton Spence, Cameron Tucker, Jihad Ward, Sean White and Taylor Zalewski will be recognized prior to the game at Soldier Field.
• Block Party: Illinois ranks second in FBS with five blocked kicks this season (2 punts, 2 PATs, 1 FG). Junior DT Rob Bain is tied for the individual NCAA lead with three of those blocks (2 PATs, 1 FG).
• D-Fence: The Fighting Illini defense has shown vast improvement since last season.
» The Illini have improved at least 60 spots in the NCAA rankings in eight different categories, including total defense (+75), third down defense (+75), passing efficiency defense (+71), interceptions (+68), blocked kicks (+68), first downs allowed (+68), scoring defense (+65) and rushing defense (+60).
» In 2014, the Illini allowed 456.4 ypg and 34.0 ppg. In 11 games this season, they are allowing 350.9 ypg and 23.2 ppg. The 105.5 ypg improvement is second-best in FBS behind only UNC (-113.7 ypg).
» The Illini rank 13th in the nation and third in the Big Ten in third-down conversion defense, allowing just 52 first downs in 167 third-down attempts this season (.311).
• Senior FS Clayton Fejedelem leads the Big Ten and ranks sixh in in the nation in tackles per game (11.3). He has been dominant in B1G play (12.3 tpg), leading the conference by nearly a full tackle per game.
• Junior QB Wes Lunt leads the Big Ten in completions per game (22.7) and ranks fourth in passing yards per game (229.1). He has thrown just five interceptions in 440 pass attempts in 2015 (88.0 att/int) and has eight career interceptions in 681 attempts (85.1 att/int).
• Senior RB Josh Ferguson returned against Purdue after missing three games due to injury and has rolled up 389 all-purpose yards in the last three games (287 rushing, 102 receiving). Ferguson is one of three active players in the nation with 2,500+ rushing and 1,000+ receiving yards. With 2,546 career rushing yards, Ferguson ranks eighth in UI history and needs only 12 yards to climb up to sixth.
• True freshman WR Desmond Cain has hauled in 22 catches for 218 yards and a touchdown the last three weeks. He scored his first career TD at Purdue Nov. 7, then had career highs in catches (10) and yards (102) against Ohio State Nov. 14. Cain has 49 catches, ranking fourth among FBS true freshmen in receptions, for 440 yards.
• Senior WR Geronimo Allison has 60 catches for 840 yards this season, ranking fourth in the Big Ten in receiving yards per game (76.4) and receptions per game (5.5). A midseason addition to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List, Allison now has 101 career catches in two season with the Illini.
• Tough Sledding: The Illini have faced the 22nd-toughest schedule in the nation based on opponent winning percentage. Illinois' losses have come to teams that are a combined 51-15. Four teams on the schedule are ranked in the latest AP Top 20 (No. 3 Iowa, No. 8 Ohio State, No. 11 North Carolina, No. 17 Northwestern).
• OL Pride: The Fighting Illini offensive line has had the same five starters all season – LT Austin Schmidt, LG Chris Boles, C Joe Spencer, RG Ted Karras and RT Christian DiLauro.
BATTLE FOR THE LAND OF LINCOLN TROPHY
• Illinois and Northwestern will play for the "Land of Lincoln" trophy on Saturday, the seventh battle for the relatively new rivalry trophy. The series is split 3-3, with the Illini winning the most recent meeting last season in Evanston, 47-33. The Illini also took the trophy in 2011 with a 38-35 come-from-behind win and in 2010 with a 48-27 rout at Wrigley Field.
• The Fighting Illini and Wildcats played for the "Sweet Sioux" Tomahawk from 1947-2008. Illinois led the traditional trophy series by a 32-28-2 mark, but Northwestern won the final meeting for the Tomahawk with its 27-10 win in 2008. The Tomahawk was retired following the 2008 season.
• The Land of Lincoln Trophy, a bronze replica of a stovepipe hat famously worn by Abraham Lincoln, was chosen by fans of both schools in 2009 in an online vote to replace the 62-year-old Tomahawk Trophy.
ILLINOIS-NORTHWESTERN SERIES NOTES
• Saturday's game will be the 109th meeting between Illinois and Northwestern. Illinois leads the series
55-48-5 overall and 2-0 at neutral sites. The Illini have won three of the last five overall and are 27-26-1 when playing the Wildcats in the Illini's Big Ten finale.
• Saturday will mark the third meeting between the two teams outside Evanston and Champaign. Illinois beat Northwestern twice at Wrigley Field, taking down the Wildcats 29-0 at Wrigley in 1923 and 48-27 in 2010.
• Illinois used 291 yards rushing to reclaim the Land of Lincoln Trophy with a 47-33 win over Northwestern in last year's regular-season finale. Illinois forced five turnovers - three interceptions and two fumbles - and held the Wildcats to 62 yards in the first half. The Illini clinched bowl eligibility for the third time in the last five seasons with the win.
• Prior to last year, Illinois' two previous wins over Northwestern came in incredible fashion. In 2011, the Illini rebounded from a 28-10 third-quarter deficit to beat Northwestern 38-35 after Nathan Scheelhaase's one-yard touchdown plunge with 13 seconds left in the game. In 2010, the Illini crushed the Wildcats 48-27 at Wrigley Field in Chicago behind Mikel Leshoure's record-breaking 330 rushing yards. It was the first college game played at Wrigley Field in 40 years and was famously played one way, as all offensive drives went toward the west end zone due to safety concerns with the wall behind the east end zone.
• This will be Bill Cubit's first contest against Northwestern as a head coach, while NU coach Pat Fitzgerald is 5-4 against the Illini in his first nine seasons leading the Wildcats.
• Illinois offensive line coach Tom Brattan coaches at Northwestern from 1992-98 (offensive line from 1992-96 and assistant head coach/offensive line 1997-98).
• Illinois outside linebackers coach Al Seamonson coached with NU defensive line coach Marty Long at The Citadel in 1987. Seamonson was the special teams, linebackers and wide receivers coach for the Bulldogs, while Long was a defensive graduate assistant.
• Northwestern offensive line coach Adam Cushing is the brother of former Illinois tight end Matt Cushing.
HIGHLIGHTS AGAINST THE WILDCATS
• Illinois is averaging 433.3 total yards and 232.7 rushing yards per game in the teams' last seven meetings.
• In the last two meeting with the Wildcats, RB Josh Ferguson has rushed 29 times for 205 yards and four touchdowns and also has five catches for 62 yards for a 133.5 all-purpose yards per game average.
• DB Clayton Fejedelem led the Illini with a then-career-high 12 tackles vs. Northwestern last season in his lone start of the season. It was a preview of this year's Fejedelem, who is currently leading the Big Ten in tackles (11.3 tpg).
• DB Eaton Spence recorded his first interception when he picked Northwestern QB Zack Oliver last season.
• LB Mason Monheim was in on two of the five Illini turnovers vs. Northwestern last year, pouncing on a fumble in the second quarter and then sealing the game with a 49-yard pick-six late in the fourth quarter to put Illinois up three scores. In 2013, Monheim had 11 tackles and a TFL against the Wildcats.
• Mikel Leshoure rushed for a program record 330 yards vs. Northwestern in 2010.
• A.J. Jenkins had 268 receiving yards vs. Northwestern in 2011 to set a program record.
• Two of the three best single-game all-purpose yardage totals in school history have come against the Wildcats. Leshoure totaled 341 all-purpose yards in 2010, while Jenkins racked up 328 in 2011. Those two totals rank second and third, respectively, in UI history, behind only Red Grange's legendary 402-yard performance against Michigan in 1924.
• Nathan Scheelhaase completed 15 straight passes vs. Northwestern in 2013 to set a program record.
• Last 100-yard rusher vs. Northwestern: Reilly O'Toole, 147, 11/29/2014
• Last 100-yard receiver vs. Northwestern: Steve Hull, 155, 11/30/2013
• Last 300-yard passer vs. Northwestern: Nathan Scheelhaase, 391, 10/1/2011
ILLINOIS VS. RANKED OPPONENTS
• Illinois faces its third Associated Press Top 25-ranked opponent of the season on Saturday Northwestern is No. 17 in this week's AP poll. The Buckeyes also are No. 17 in the current USA Today Coaches Poll and were No. 20 in the Nov. 17 College Football Playoff rankings.
• Illinois' win over Minnesota last season gave the Illini their first win over a ranked team in either the AP or Coaches poll since 2011, as the Golden Gophers were No. 24 in the USA Today Coaches Poll (they were not ranked in the AP poll).
• The Illini have lost 12 straight and 21 of their last 22 against foes ranked in the AP poll since beating No. 1 Ohio State 28-21 on Nov. 10, 2007. The lone win during that span came on Sept. 17, 2011, over No. 22 Arizona State, 17-14.
• Illinois coach Bill Cubit is 0-6 against AP-ranked opponents in his 8+ years as a Division I head coach.
ILLINI-BEARS CONNECTIONS
The University of Illinois and Chicago Bears have a long-standing tradition dating back to the original Decatur Staleys, who were founded by University of Illinois alums George Halas and Dutch Sternaman. Some of the highlights are below:
• Orange & Blue: The Chicago Bears team colors have always been orange and blue, after those of the University of Illinois, the alma mater of founder George "Papa Bear" Halas.
• George Halas: Chicago Bears founder, player and long-time coach, earned a B.S. degree at Illinois in 1918 while lettering in football, basketball and baseball. A charter member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and Bears Hall of Fame member, Halas selected orange and blue as the team's colors as a nod to his alma mater. Halas passed away in Oct. 1983, and starting in 1984 the Bears added the initials GSH to the left sleeve of their jerseys in honor of the late "Papa Bear." The Bears uniforms still don the initials to this day.
• Red Grange: Illinois All-American was first major signing by Halas and the fledgling National Football League. Halas took Grange and the Bears on a coast-to-coast barnstorming tour in which the club played 16 games in nine weeks. The tour is generally credited with saving the professional game and putting the NFL on the national sports map. Grange is a charter member of the Pro and College Football Halls of Fame. Jersey number 77 retired at Illinois and by the Bears. Also coached for the Bears for eight seasons from 1933-40. Bears Hall of Fame member.
• Dick Butkus: The greatest linebacker in the history of the game. Butkus joined the Bears as a first-round draft pick in 1965 after an All-American career at Illinois. Butkus went on to earn All-Pro honors seven times and is a member of the Pro and College Football Halls of Fame. The Bears Hall of Fame mebmer's jersey number 50 retired is at Illinois and 51 retired by the Bears.
• 2002 Season: The Chicago Bears played all of their home games (eight regular season and two exhibition games) at Memorial Stadium on the University Illinois campus during the 2002 season while Soldier Field was being renovated. The Bears also played their two 2003 home preseason games at Memorial Stadium while the finishing touches were put on the Soldier Field renovation.
ILLINI FACING TOUGH SLATE IN 2015
• Illinois' schedule currently ranks as the 22nd-toughest among FBS institutions in the latest NCAA strength of schedule list as opponents have posted a 55-39 record against FBS opponents (.585), not counting their games against Illinois. The schedule projects to be the 11th-toughest in the nation when the record of future opponent No. 17 Northwestern (9-2) is factored in.
• Illinois' six losses have come against teams that are a combined 51-15 (.785) – including No. 3 Iowa (11-0, 7-0 B1G West), No. 8 Ohio State (10-1, 6-1 B1G East) and No. 11 North Carolina (10-1, 7-0 ACC).
Block Party
• Illinois ranks second in the NCAA, behind only Temple (6), with five blocked kicks in 2015 (2 punts, 2 PATs, 1 FG), the most for an Illinois team since the 2001 Big Ten champs blocked six kicks. Junior DT Rob Bain is tied for the individual NCAA lead with three of those five blocks.
» In week eight at Penn State, Bain blocked two PATs back-to-back following the Nittany Lions' first two scores. It marked the first time the Illini had two blocked kicks in a game since 2003 at Purdue.
» In week four against Middle Tennessee, junior DB Caleb Day blocked a punt and senior FS Clayton Fejedelem recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchdown.
» In week two against Western Illinois, sophomore CB Jaylen Dunlap blocked a punt and sophomore WR Marchie Murdock returned it 12 yards for a touchdown. Prior to that, the last Illinois blocked punt for a touchdown was by Vontae Davis against Missouri on Sept. 1, 2007.
» In week one against Kent State, Bain blocked a field goal in the second quarter. It was the first blocked field goal by an Illini since V'Angelo Bentley on September 9, 2012, against Penn State.
Complete Illinois-Northwestern Game Notes (PDF)
