CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois returns to Memorial Stadium to battle for The Hat in its regular-season finale and Senior Day game against Northwestern. Kickoff is slated for 2:30 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network.
The Fighting Illini enter Saturday's contest needing a win to earn bowl eligibility, which would mark the team's first back-to-back bowl appearances since 2010-11. The Orange and Blue have won two of their last three, most recently falling to Iowa away from home.
Northwestern has already earned a spot in a bowl game after picking up its sixth win of the season in a 23-15 home victory over Purdue last week. The Wildcats sit at 6-5 overall with a 4-4 mark in Big Ten play.
Illinois has won the Land of Lincoln Trophy in each of the last two installments of the rivalry game, including a 41-3 victory over the Wildcats in Evanston last season. The Illini last won three straight games against Northwestern from 1988-90, and they are looking for consecutive victories over the Wildcats in Champaign for the first time since 1999 and 2001.
Cory Provus (play-by-play), Jake Butt (analyst), and Brooke Fletcher (reporter) will be on the call on Big Ten Network. The Busey Bank Illini Sports Network has the radio call with Brian Barnhart, Martin O'Donnell, and Michael Martin.
Press Conference
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Promotions
FamILLy First Ticket Prices – $15 horseshoe and east balcony seats
Unlimited $10 Student Tickets – University of Illinois Students can purchase an unlimited quantity of student section tickets. Purchase student tickets HERE
Senior Day – Come out and honor the Fighting Illini seniors playing their last game at Memorial Stadium. A pregame ceremony, including senior families, will take place.
Illini Hour — Fans are now incentivized more than ever to enter Memorial Stadium during the first hour gates are open. From 90 minutes to 30 minutes before kickoff, all hot dogs, non-alcoholic beverages (excluding souvenir cups), domestic beers, and Trulys are just $3. Fans can visit any stand where items are sold to take advantage of the early bird deals. For the Northwestern game, gates open at 1:00 p.m. CT and Illini Hour runs until 2:00 p.m. CT before the 2:30 p.m. CT kickoff.
Season Ticket Holder Punch Card —
» ILLINI CONCESSIONS: FREE popcorn tub. Deal can be redeemed at all Champaign Classics and UI Grill Zone stands.
» GAMEDAY SPIRIT: The more you buy, the more you save! Save $10 when you spend $50; $25 when you spend $100; and $60 when you spend $200 at Gameday Spirit in in Grange Grove and inside Memorial Stadium (not available at Neil St. and Green St. locations).
Freaky Fast 77 Yard Dash – "The Galloping Ghost" is returning to Memorial Stadium for The Freaky Fast 77 Yard Dash presented by Jimmy John's! This new promotion occurs between the third and fourth quarters of Fighting Illini football games all season long, and will feature a race between Red Grange and a University of Illinois student who will be given a head start inside the hashes of Zuppke Field at Memorial Stadium. The student racing the modern-day version of Red will have a chance to win free Jimmy John's for a year. Fans can interact and take photos with Red Grange inside Grange Grove on game day from three hours prior to kickoff.
For the Northwestern game, our contestant will be joined on the field by Illinois football all-time greats Whitney Mercilus and Rashard Mendenhall.
Need a tailgate spot? — Reserve a tailgate in Grange Grove for FREE or book a fully turnkey tailgate with add-ons such as televisions, tailgate games, BBQs, high-top tables, and speakers. Catering options include; Nelson's Catering, Hickory River BBQ & Friar Tuck Beverages. Make your FREE or turnkey reservation through our official University of Illinois tailgate service provider Tailgater Concierge.
Notes
Illinois Aims for Land of Lincoln Trophy, Bowl Game
- Illinois is looking to beat Northwestern for the third straight time. The Illini have not won three straight over Northwestern since 1988-90, when John Mackovic led the Illini to wins in each of his first three seasons as head coach.
- Illinois is aiming to beat Northwestern in back-to-back meetings in Champaign for the first time since the Illini beat Northwestern at Memorial Stadium in 1999 and 2001.
- Illinois and Northwestern played for the "Sweet Sioux" Tomahawk from 1947-2008. The combined trophy series (Sweet Sioux Tomahawk and Land of Lincoln Trophy) is tied 37-37-2.
- Illinois is looking to go bowling in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2010-11.
- Bielema is looking to become the first Illini head coach to lead the program to bowls in two of his first three seasons since Lou Tepper led the Illini to the 1992 Holiday Bowl and 1994 Liberty Bowl.
- Bielema's 12 Big Ten wins through his first three seasons at Illinois are the most since Lou Tepper won 13 in his first three seasons from 1992-94. Bielema has the fourth-most Big Ten wins through three seasons among the Illini's 13 head coaches in modern history (post-1940).
- Illinois has won 3+ Big Ten games in each of Bret Bielema's first three seasons as head coach. It is the first time Illinois has won 3+ Big Ten games in three straight seasons since 1992-94.
Five One-Score Wins, Four Final-Minute/OT Wins
- Illinois has five one-score wins, tied for the most in program history with the 1934 team.
- Illinois is 5-2 in one-score games this season.
- Four of Illinois' five wins this season have come in the final minute or overtime. Caleb Griffin has game-winning field goals to beat Toledo (0:05) and Maryland (0:00), and Isaiah Williams has game-winning touchdown receptions from John Paddock at Minnesota (0:50) and against Indiana (OT) in back-to-back weeks in November.
- Illinois opened its 2023 campaign in dramatic fashion, using a 29-yard K Caleb Griffin field goal with five seconds left to take down Toledo, 30-28, at Memorial Stadium during Week 1.
- Altmyer led his second game-winning drive of the season and Griffin drilled his second lastsecond game-winning field goal to give Illinois a 27-24 upset victory at Maryland (10/14/23).
- Griffin's 43-yard game-winner at Maryland made him the first kicker to have two game-winning field goals (final minute) in a single season in Illinois history.
- Casey Washington has two game-changing catches in the final drive of wins. He had a 33-yard fourth-down catch during Illinois' final drive to beat Toledo, then had a 29-yard catch during Illinois' final drive at Maryland, both setting up Griffin's game-winning field goals.
Johnny Newton's All-American Season
- Illinois DT Jer'Zhan Newton is having one of the all-time great seasons by an Illinois defender.
- Newton is up for four major national awards, most notably being named a finalist for the Nagurski Trophy as one of the top five defensive players in all of college football. Newton is also a semifinalist for the Bednarik Award (top 20, Defensive Player of the Year), a semifinalist for the Outland Trophy (top 7, best interior player), and a semifinalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy (top 9, best defensive player making an impact on and off the field).
The Law Firm of Newton and Randolph
- Defensive tackles Jer'Zhan "Johnny" Newton and Keith Randolph Jr., who go by the nickname "The Law Firm," are one of the top defensive tackle duos in the nation over the last two seasons.
- Newton was named to this year's AP Midseason All-American First Team. He is looking to become the second Illini defender to earn Consensus All-American honors in as many years, following DB Devon Witherspoon last season. Illinois has not had back-to-back years with consensus AllAmericans since linebackers Dana Howard (1994) and Kevin Hardy (1995) from 1994-95.
- Newton is tied for the national lead in QB pressures among interior defenders with 39, according to PFF. Newton leads Big Ten defensive tackles by 13 pressures with the next closest being Nebraska's Ty Robinson (26).
- Newton has been one of the most durable interior defenders in the nation, as he leads all Power-5 defensive tackles in snaps played with 680 (61.8 per game). Newton has played 70 more snaps than any other Power-5 interior defensive lineman and 99 more than any Big Ten defensive tackle.
- Newton's two biggest games have come against two of Illinois' best opponents. He had seven pressures against Wisconsin, the fourth-most by any defensive tackle in the nation this season, and six pressures against #7 Penn State in Illinois' Big Ten opener. Newton was the highestrated Power-5 defensive tackle in the nation during Week 3 vs. Penn State and Week 8 vs. Wisconsin (minimum 30 snaps), according to PFF. His 94.3 grade against Wisconsin was the highest by a Big Ten defender since 2019.
- Newton leads the nation with an Illinois-record four blocked kicks. All four of Newton's blocks have come in Big Ten games: a field goal vs. Penn State (9/16/23), an extra point at Purdue (9/30/23), an extra point vs. Indiana (11/11/23), and a field goal at Iowa (11/18/23).
- Randolph is fourth in the nation in tackles per game among defensive tackles with 5.0, behind only Coastal's Micheal Mason (5.9), Notre Dame's Howard Cross III (5.7), UCF's Lee Hunter (5.3).
- Both Newton and Randolph were named Preseason All-Americans by multiple outlets prior to the start of the 2023 season. Newton was Illinois' first-ever Preseason AP All-American.
- Newton led the nation in QB hits (19) and ranked sixth in the nation in pressures (54) in 2022.
- The Law Firm led the nation in TFLs (27.0) and QB pressures (81) among D-line duos in 2022.
- Newton and Randolph were second and third in the Big Ten in TFLs (14.0, 13.0) and ranked first and second among interior defensive linemen in 2022.
- Newton tied Pitt's Calijah Kancey (14.0) for the most TFLs by any Power-5 interior defensive linemen in 2022, and Randolph was third (13.0). Kancey was the ACC Def. Player of the Year.
#1 Among Nation's Most Reliable
- Isaiah Williams leads the Big Ten in receptions with 76, 12 more than any Big Ten receiver. Williams' 76 catches ranks tied for 11th in the nation.
- Williams ranks second in the Big Ten in receiving yards with 998, trailing only Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr.'s 1,093 receiving yards. Williams' 998 yards ranks 13th in the nation.
- Williams ranks second in the Big Ten in first-down receptions with 45, trailing only Marvin Harrison Jr. by one (46). Williams' 45 first-down receptions ranks 13th in the nation.
- Williams leads the Big Ten and ranks 10th in FBS in yards after catch with 519, per PFF
- Williams is the only player in the nation with two game-winning touchdowns in the final minute or overtime and he did it in back-to-back games. He caught the game-winner with 50 seconds left to win at Minnesota, then had a walk-off winner to beat Indiana one week later.
- Williams has at least one catch in all 36 games since he switched from QB prior to the start of the 2021 season, the longest active streak in the Big Ten and tied for the eighth-longest active streak in the nation.
- Williams has at least three catches in 25 straight games.
- Williams' five 100-yard receiving games this season is fourth-best in Illinois single-season history. He is one 100-yard game away from tying the Illinois record shared by Brandon Lloyd (2001) and David Williams (1984, 1985).
- Williams has three straight 100-yard games. He had a career-best 131 receiving yards at Minnesota (11/4/23), then shattered his career-high mark with 200 receiving yards against Indiana (11/11/23), before totaling 105 receiving yards at Iowa (11/18/23).
- Williams had the game-winning 46-yard TD catch at Minnesota with 50 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter and Illinois trailing by five points, after also keeping the Illini alive earlier in the drive with a 22-yard reception on 4th-and-11 from the Illinois 15-yard line with 1:25 remaining. Then, he had a 21-yard walk-off winner in overtime to beat Indiana the next week.
- Williams' 200 receiving yards against Indiana are the second-most by a player in a Big Ten game this season, behind only Northwestern's Bryce Kirtz's 215 receiving yards against Minnesota (9/23/23). Williams' is among 15 players in the nation to have a 200-yard receiving game this season.
- Williams' 13 receptions at Minnesota are the most by a Big Ten player this season and tied for the sixth-most by any FBS player in 2023. The 13 receptions are tied for the second-most in a single game in Illinois history and the most by an Illini in 35 years.
- Williams is No. 2 in Illinois history in career receptions with 208. In the Illinois record book, Williams trails only College Football Hall of Famer David Williams' 262 receptions (1983-85).
- Williams has 2,247 career receiving yards, seventh all-time in Illinois history.
- Williams is the Power-5 active leader in receptions among players who have eligibility remaining.
True Freshmen Impact
- Illinois' 2023 recruiting class was the program's highest-ranked class since 2009 according to Rivals and highest ranked since 2011 according to 247Sports. Bielema's first two-year stretch of recruiting was Illinois' best since 2008-09 according to 247Sports and Rivals.
- Illinois had three true freshmen play defensive snaps at Iowa: DL Alex Bray, DB Mac Resetich, and DB Zachary Tobe.
- Running back Kaden Feagin has been the headliner of the class. His 438 rushing yards were fourth in the nation among true freshman prior to his season-ending injury in the Indiana game.
- In his first significant playing time against Florida Atlantic, corner Zachary Tobe was the highest-graded true freshman defender in the nation during Week 4 (87.0), according to PFF. Tobe was also the highest-graded freshman in the Big Ten (all positions) during Week 4 (87.0).
- Tobe and fellow true freshman CB Saboor Karriem both had three pass breakups against FAU.
- Wide receiver Malik Elzy has five receptions for 52 yards and a touchdown on the season, all coming in Big Ten games.
- 10 Illinois true freshmen have passed the four-game redshirt limit: DL Alex Bray, DB Jaheim Clarke, WR Malik Elzy, RB Kaden Feagin, OL Brandon Henderson, DB Saboor Karriem, K David Olano, DB Mac Resetich, DB Zachary Tobe, and WR Kenari Wilcher.
Coleman Coming Up B1G
- Seth Coleman leads the Big Ten with 6.0 sacks in conference play.
- All 6.0 sacks by Coleman have come in road games, the most road sacks by any Power-5 player.
Discher Leading Top-Ranked Special Teams
- Illinois leads the nation in blocked kicks/punts (7) under first-year special teams coordinator Robby Discher. Illinois has three more blocked kicks/punts than any other team in the nation.
- PFF ranks Illinois' overall special teams unit at #7 in the nation.
- All-American Johnny Newton has three blocked kicks (vs. Penn State, at Purdue, vs. Indiana), and the Illini have blocked punts by Ashton Hollins (at Purdue) and Ryan Meed (vs. Penn State). Iowa (3) is the only other Big Ten team with more than two blocked kicks/punts.
- Illinois is one of 16 teams in the nation with 2+ blocked punts. The Illini are tied for the Big Ten lead in blocked punts with Iowa, which also has two.
- Illinois' kick coverage unit forced and recovered a fumble on the opening kickoff at Minnesota.
- K Caleb Griffin is the first Illini kicker to have two game-winning field goals in a single season. His 43-yard winner at Maryland was the second walk-off field goal on the road in Illinois history, along with Mike Bass' 46-yard winner as time expired at Wisconsin in 1982.
- Griffin hit a 53-yard field goal to end the first half at Purdue, his career long. It was the 6th-longest in program history and the longest ever by an Illini in a road game.
- P Hugh Robertson's average is up to 42.8 yards/punt, 2.8 better than last season.
Battle for the Land of Lincoln Trophy
- Illinois and Northwestern will play for the "Land of Lincoln" trophy on Saturday, the 15th battle for the relatively new rivalry trophy. Illinois is 5-9 against Northwestern since the beginning of the Land of Lincoln trophy.
- Illinois owns "Land of Lincoln" trophy wins in 2022, 2021, 2014, 2011 and 2010.
- 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 combined trophy series (Sweet Sioux Tomahawk and Land of Lincoln Trophy) is 37-37-2.
- 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.
The Illinois-Northwestern Series
- Saturday's game will be the 117th meeting between Illinois and Northwestern.
- Illinois leads the all-time series 57-54-5 after winning each of the last two games.
- In the two teams' last meeting, Illinois dominated from start to finish, taking down Northwestern, 41-3, in Evanston to finish the 2022 regular season. The Illini defense forced six turnovers, including two defensive TDs from Sydney Brown (scoop and score and pick six), while Devon Witherspoon recorded two interceptions in the 38-point victory, in what ended up being the Brown Brothers' and Witherspoon's final game in the Orange and Blue. The 38-point margin of victory is the fifth-largest by the Illini in series history.
- Illinois' two consecutive wins in the series have come by a margin of 71 points, the largest mark in a two-year span by Illinois over Northwestern since a 73-point margin of victory from 1981-82.
- In Northwestern's last visit to Champaign, Illinois blew out the Wildcats at Memorial Stadium to finish the 2021 season on a high note. The 33-point margin of victory was the biggest margin by the Illini against Northwestern since a 49-point Illinois win (63-14) in Evanston on November 25, 1989.
- Two of Illinois' recent 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.
