CHICAGO, IL (Chambana Today) – No. 22 Illinois finished the regular season with a 38-28 win over Northwestern at Wrigley Field on Saturday, securing the Land of Lincoln Trophy. The Illini, now 9-3 and 6-3 in Big Ten play, have won their last three games, marking their first nine-win season since 2007.
Key performances included Aidan Laughery, who rushed for 172 yards and three touchdowns on just 12 carries, averaging an impressive 14.3 yards per rush. Pat Bryant contributed significantly as well, catching a 43-yard touchdown in the third quarter to tie Illinois’ single-season receiving touchdown record with 10. Bryant finished with four catches for 70 yards and a total of 984 receiving yards on the season.
Defensively, Xavier Scott, a Thorpe Award semifinalist, added to his impressive season with his fourth interception of the year, a first-quarter pick in the end zone. Illinois turned over Northwestern four times during the game.
Illinois has a chance to match the program’s record of 10 wins. The Illini played one of the nation’s toughest schedules, with the three teams that defeated them (Oregon, Penn State, and another) boasting a combined 28-6 record.