CHAMPAIGN -- The Illinois defense was turnover starved through the first 11 games of the season. Particularly the secondary, which entered Saturday's regular season finale with just three interceptions.
The Illini doubled that total against Northwestern, picking off Wildcats quarterback Preston Stone three times. A fumble by Stone completed the takeaway-heavy rivalry game, with Illinois holding on to the Land of Lincoln Trophy with a 20-13 victory.
Hat secured.
Torrie Cox Jr. had the first Illinois interception, but Miles Scott secured two in the fourth quarter to help fend off Northwestern's comeback attempt. The Illinois secondary had help up front, too, with Gabe Jacas adding two more sacks to his late-season pass rushing surge.
Illinois got a pair of rushing touchdowns from Ca'Lil Valentine and Kaden Feagin in the first half with the snow still coming down in Champaign. With the field clear and weather not quite a blizzard anymore in the second half, the Illini managed just two David Olano field goals.
Valentine led Illinois with 14 carries for 74 yards and his first-half touchdown. Aidan Laughery rushed nine times for 37 yards, and Feagin finished with five carries for 13 yards. Luke Altmyer completed 10 of 15 passes for 136 yards.
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The field was clean to start the second half, with plenty of plow work during halftime. The third quarter play -- from both teams -- wasn't quite so clean. Four total possessions, three punts.
The lone drive that ended in points? Illinois nearly blew it with a fumble on a reverse flea flicker, but managed to keep the ball after Hank Beatty smartly knocked it out of bounds. It cost the Illini yardage, but not points, with David Olano making a 47-yard field goal.
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Takeaway starved Illinois turned its fourth interception of the season (no, that's not typo ... just the fourth) into a go-ahead touchdown heading into halftime against Northwestern.
Illinois linebacker James Kreutz tipped a Preston Stone pass with just more than 90 seconds to play in the second quarter, and cornerback Torrie Cox Jr. took advantage with the ball in the air to grab his first interception of the year. Five plays later -- aided by a late hit on Luke Altmyer -- Illinois retook the lead on a 1-yard touchdown run by Kaden Feagin.
Going to Feagin inside the 5-yard line made a lot of sense given his 6-foot-3, 255-pound frame and ability to just fall forward when he's being tackled. With only 1 yard to cover, he was the smart choice. (A choice the Illini haven't always taken in similar situations the last couple weeks for some reason).
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One quarter down in tonight's snowstorm in Champaign, and it's clear points are going to be at a premium.
Illinois' first -- and only full -- drive of the first quarter ended in a turnover on downs when Bret Bielema opted to not send David Olano out to kick a relatively short field goal into the wind. Northwestern countered with a 15-play drive that saw the Wildcats convert a pair of fourth downs and get on the board with a 38-yard line drive field goal by Jack Olsen (likely aided by the wind at his back).
Both teams have mixed in some passing plays, but are mostly relying on their respective run games. You'd think that would be an advantage for Illinois with a full stable of backs available, but Northwestern has been more effective on the ground with converted tight end (and fifth-string running back) Robby Preckel.
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Good evening from snow-covered Illinois. The News-Gazette crew of Matt Daniels and Bob Asmussen is set up at Gies Memorial Stadium with Illinois and Northwestern set to close out the 2025 regular season on a cold, windy, snowy night in Champaign.
A couple notes ahead of kickoff ...
-- Fans will only be allowed to sit on the west side of the stadium. The east side, north end zone and horseshoe will remain empty.
-- Snow removal has been ongoing through the afternoon, but it's basically been for naught. The snow hasn't stopped, and every time the field is cleared it gets covered again.
How either team will actually play in these conditions is to be determined. It would make sense if Illinois went to its 'Barge' package early and often and just leaned on Kaden Feagin in the run game. Tough way to go out for Luke Altmyer in his last game in Champaign, though, considering his passing talents will likely be wasted.
Conditions aside, this is still kind of a "must win" game for Illinois. Another November swoon wouldn't do much for the program's momentum, which has already taken a hit with a 7-4 record heading into tonight's game.
Which is crazy, because seven wins used to be considered a lot in Champaign. But coming off a 10-win effort in 2024 with College Football Playoff expectations this fall, the floor (at least in fans' opinions) has changed.
Going 8-4 with a shot at a ninth win in a bowl game? That can still be sold as progress. Going 7-5 with losses to Wisconsin and Northwestern to close out the regulars season and land in a so-so bowl? A tougher pitch for Bret Bielema and Co.