CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois running back Aidan Laughery was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week, the conference office announced Monday.Â
Laughery ran for 172 yards and three touchdowns, both career-high marks, to lead Illinois to a 38-28 win over Northwestern at Wrigley Field. He scored on runs of 64, 31, and 30 yards, while averaging over 14 yards per carry.Â
Laughery's first touchdown gave Illinois a 7-3 lead, while his second and third touchdowns each turned a one-possession game into two-possession Illini leads during the second half.
Laughery became the third player to run for 170+ yards and 3+ touchdowns in a Big Ten game this season (Kaleb Johnson, Iowa at Minnesota; Tawee Walker, Wisconsin at Rutgers), and he became the third Power-4 player to rush for 14.0+ yards per carry on 10+ carries this season (Bhayshul Tutten, Virginia Tech vs. Boston College; Jalen Milroe, Alabama at LSU).
Illinois finished the regular season at 9-3 overall and 6-3 in the Big Ten after the win over Northwestern. The Illini are ranked No. 21 in this week's AP Top 25 and Coaches Poll.Â
