No. 22 Illinois looks to carry its momentum from its last-gasp victory over Rutgers last weekend to the Friendly Confines on Saturday, when the Fighting Illini take on Northwestern at Wrigley Field in Chicago. In the team's first game back at the home of the Chicago Cubs since 2010, the Orange and Blue will battle for the Land of Lincoln Trophy in the 2024 regular-season finale.
The Illini head north to the Windy City following a dramatic 38-31 win on the road against the Scarlet Knights in Week 13. Illinois trailed by as many as nine points in the fourth quarter and faced a deficit with 1:08 remaining, but a last-minute 40-yard touchdown to Pat Bryant with four seconds left in the game proved to be the game-winning score.Â
Bryant totaled 140 receiving yards in the fourth quarter alone en route to a career-high 197-yard performance that saw him earn Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors.
Northwestern makes the trip from Evanston to Chicago following a 50-6 road defeat to Michigan on Nov. 23, moving the Wildcats' losing skid to two games. NU totaled 127 total yards of offense and 10 rushing yards in the loss, which saw Northwestern fall to 4-7 overall and 2-6 in conference play this season.
With Illinois looking to secure nine regular-season wins for the first time since 2007 and Northwestern aiming to keep the Hat in its trophy case for the second consecutive season, here are a few things to watch ahead of the 118th iteration of the in-state rivalry game.
The Land of Lincoln Trophy
The Illini look to claim the Land of Lincoln Trophy, known as "The Hat," for the first time since 2022. Illinois won back-to-back meetings with Northwestern in 2021 (47-14 at Memorial Stadium) and 2022 (41-3 in Evanston), but the Orange and Blue are aiming to claim The Hat for the third time under fourth-year head coach Bret Bielema.
"Obviously, this is a trophy game," Bielema said. "It's something we've made a big point of around here since we came. To be an 8-3 football team, there's still a lot out there and a lot of things to be determined, not only by us but by the people around us."
Since the introduction of the Land of Lincoln Trophy, the Illini are 5-10 when playing for The Hat, which was first unveiled in 2009. Holding a narrow 57-55-5 lead in the all-time series, Illinois will look to close the regular season with a win for the first time since 2022.
Playing In A Unique Venue: Wrigley Field
The Illini will make their third appearance at Wrigley Field in program history on Saturday, while the Orange and Blue are 2-0 at the Friendly Confines against the Wildcats.
Illinois' last trip to Wrigley Field came back in 2010 in a game that was played in one direction and featured a 48-27 win. The previous outing took place all the way in 1923, when Red Grange and the Illini claimed a 29-0 shutout at Cubs Park.
Due to the unconventional setting of Saturday's contest, Illinois will visit the venue on Friday evening, something the team only does if "it's something unusual or some place we've never been." Another quirk is halftime will run 23 minutes rather than the typical 20-minute clock due to the trek to the locker rooms.
Given the unique circumstances of playing inside a baseball stadium, Bielema viewed it as essential for his guys to get a lay of the land when they first arrive in Chicago on Friday.
"I do think the walls sneak up on you a little quicker. It's a baseball stadium, so we looked at that extensively," Bielema said. "I'm super excited to play at Wrigley. I grew up a Cubs fan. I've sang there a couple times, so I'm excited to be able to play there against a team I have a lot of respect for."
Opponent Scout: Northwestern Offense
Offensively, the Wildcats are led by quarterback Jack Lausch, who has taken over the starting role under center for Northwestern. Lausch has thrown for 1,427 yards, completed 54% of his pass attempts, and recorded seven total touchdowns (five passing, two rushing). He also provides a threat with his legs, as he has registered 82 carries across his nine appearances. Â
The NU offense has had its fair share of struggles this season, ranking 16th in the Big Ten in passing yards per game (172.9), 17th in rushing yards per game (97.2), last in total offense (270.1 yards per game), and last in scoring offense (16.9 points per game).
Northwestern's ground game features a dynamic running back in graduate student Cam Porter, who leads the team with 114 carries, 448 rushing yards and six rushing scores. RB Joseph Himon II ranks second with 236 yards and two touchdowns.
The Wildcats boast a dangerous duo of wide receivers in AJ Henning and Bryce Kirtz. Though Northwestern has only notched five passing touchdowns this season, three of those scores have been to Henning, who also has a team-high 49 receptions. Kirtz has amassed a team-best 573 yards, and he averages about 15.5 yards per catch, which ranks 10th in the conference among eligible receivers.
"Coach Braun has instilled a certain mentality there of physicality on offense, defense, and special teams. I think it has really shown up throughout the course of the year," Bielema said. "Offensively, they definitely can run the football. Their quarterback is a very accurate and very mobile guy."
Opponent Scout: Northwestern Defense
Northwestern ranks 15th in the Big Ten with 25.3 points allowed per game, while the Wildcats concede an average of 359.9 total yards of offense (13th), 237.4 passing yards (14th), and 122.5 rushing yards (11th).
Linebacker Mac Uihlein is the team's leading tackler (73.0), while defensive linemen Aidan Hubbard and Jaylen Pate lead the Wildcats in tackles for loss with 6.0 and 5.0, respectively.
Defensive back Theran Johnson has made a team-high two interceptions, though seven total Northwestern defenders have been credited with a pick this season. Johnson also ranks first on the team with 10 pass breakups, a mark that also is tied for the best in the Big Ten.
LB Greyson Metz has forced a team-best two fumbles, while six Wildcats have recovered a fumble across NU's 11 games.Â
"Coach Braun, everything that he did last year to become Big Ten Coach of the Year and everything he's embodied since he got there speaks volumes," Bielema said. "They have a lot of really good players. There's a lot of crossover. A lot of our players went to high school together or competed against one another. We have a lot of Chicago-area players on our team, a lot of family, and a lot of fans, so I'm excited to see where we're at from a crowd standpoint.
"It's another great opportunity for us to play and see where we go from there."
No. 22 Illinois and Northwestern will play for the Hat at Wrigley Field on Saturday at 11 a.m. CT on Big Ten Network.
