Northwestern University Athletics
Saturday, November 29
Urbana-Champaign, Ill.
6:30 p.m. CT
Northwestern
at
Illinois
Photo by: Mary Grace Grabill/Northwestern Athletics
Northwestern Closes Regular Season at In-State Rival Illinois
11/28/2025 2:28:00 PM | Football
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Following a two-game stretch at Wrigley Field, Northwestern will close regular-season play on Saturday, Nov. 29, at Illinois. Kickoff from Gies Memorial Stadium is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT.
"Really looking forward to this in-state rivalry game, playing for the hat against not only a really good football team but just a really good program," Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach David Braun said. "We know the task that's in front of us."
Last time out, the Wildcats (6-5, 4-4 Big Ten) came back from a 15-point second-half deficit to take down Minnesota 38-35 on Saturday, Nov. 22. With the win, Braun became the first coach in Northwestern history to secure bowl eligibility in two of his first three seasons.
Graduate student quarterback Preston Stone completed 25-of-30 passes for 305 yards and two touchdown passes, earning Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors. Stone was a perfect 15-for-15 on second-half throws, tossing both of his touchdowns in the latter two quarters.
Redshirt sophomore running back Caleb Komolafe continued his breakout campaign with 22 carries for 129 yards and two scores.
Through the air, junior Griffin Wilde and sophomore Hayden Eligon II became the first Wildcat teammates to each eclipse 100 receiving yards in a single game since 2013, with Wilde hauling in 11 receptions for 111 yards and a touchdown and Eligon snaring seven receptions for a career-high 127 yards.
The Fighting Illini (7-4, 4-4 Big Ten) dropped their penultimate regular-season bout 27-10 to Wisconsin at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 22. Illinois enters Saturday's tilt having won two straight at home.
The game will air on FOX. Connor Onion (play-by-play) and Mark Helfrich (color) will be on the call.
It can be heard on WGN 720 AM with The Voice of the Wildcats, Dave Eanet, who is in his 36th season calling Northwestern football, and 32nd-year analyst Ted Albrecht. Former Wildcat defensive lineman Jake Saunders (2016-2020) is in his first season as the duo's sideline reporter.
Stay tuned to Northwestern football's Twitter and Instagram channels for live highlights, photos and reactions throughout the Wildcats' rivalry clash.
As NU looks to reclaim the Land of Lincoln Trophy, here are five things to know.
Thrust into a marquee role after graduate student running back Cam Porter's season-ending injury in Week 2, Komolafe has quickly emerged as one of the conference's most potent rushers.
The redshirt sophomore has recorded 886 yards and 10 touchdowns on 175 carries (5.1 yards per carry) while adding 51 receiving yards and a touchdown reception. He ranks fourth in the Big Ten in rushing yards and is tied for eighth in the conference in rushing touchdowns.
Komolafe is just 114 yards away from hitting the 1,000-yard mark. The Katy, Texas, native would be the first Wildcat to hit this figure since Evan Hull did so in 2021.
In Northwestern's bowl-clinching win over the Golden Gophers, Stone put forth his most prolific performance as a Wildcat.
The graduate student became the first Northwestern quarterback to throw for at least 300 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions on an 80-plus % completion percentage since Brett Basanez did so against Michigan State on Oct. 22, 2005.
"Preston played fearless," Braun said in his postgame press conference. "He wasn't pressing, but he wasn't anxious, either. He was just fearless, let the game come to him. It was just the command. He had the urgency."
After securing a crucial sixth win as the Wildcats' starter, Stone will turn his sights to the team's rivals to the south.
Northwestern's past two weeks have proven a whirlwind for Braun, his coaching staff and the players. In back-to-back games, they've faced double-digit second-half deficits. In both games, they battled back to take the lead.
Walk-off field goals concluded both contests, with Michigan prevailing on its late kick and Minnesota's attempt sailing wide of the mark. For Braun, both late-game rallies were revelatory of the group's character.
"It's really easy to fall into where your mood is based on the result," Braun said. "What this team has shown is that character is truly revealed in the hard times. The hard time coming off the tough loss against Michigan, or the hard times of in-game play where you're down a couple scores."
"What this team has shown is this unwavering willingness and ability to move on to the next opportunity and continue to focus on what we can control. It showed up in the Michigan game — unfortunately we fell short — and it certainly showed up against Minnesota."
Saturday will mark Braun's third time facing off with Illinois. He took home the Land of Lincoln Trophy in a 45-43 thriller in enemy territory in 2023, but the Wildcats fell short at Wrigley Field last season in a 38-28 defeat.
For Braun, the rivalry consistently presents an extra element in preparation.
"We set the tone after Minnesota about where our focus is shifting," Braun said. "It's a big deal. At the end of the day, it's a matchup in the Big Ten against an in-state opponent, a great opponent. Ultimately it should be something that this program has done in the past and needs to continue to take a great sense of pride in making sure the Hat is here in Evanston."
Despite its recent setback, Illinois enters the matchup on the back of two wins in its past three games.
Fighting Illini quarterback Luke Altmyer has completed 216-of-317 passes for 2,675 yards, 21 touchdowns and five interceptions this season. Hank Beatty, Altmyer's preferred target, leads Illinois with 61 catches for 805 yards and three touchdowns.
The Fighting Illini have the No. 9 rush defense and the No. 17 pass defense in the Big Ten.
"Really good quarterback, veteran offensive line, very good backs, [Beatty] is a very talented football player, tons of production," Braun said of Illinois' strengths. "Brett Bielema is a defensive-minded head coach that certainly understands what it looks like to play really good defense. They're going to challenge us in all three phases."
Illinois leads the all-time series 56-53-5, but Northwestern is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings and is 10-6 since the creation of "The Hat" trophy.
"Really looking forward to this in-state rivalry game, playing for the hat against not only a really good football team but just a really good program," Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach David Braun said. "We know the task that's in front of us."
Last time out, the Wildcats (6-5, 4-4 Big Ten) came back from a 15-point second-half deficit to take down Minnesota 38-35 on Saturday, Nov. 22. With the win, Braun became the first coach in Northwestern history to secure bowl eligibility in two of his first three seasons.
Graduate student quarterback Preston Stone completed 25-of-30 passes for 305 yards and two touchdown passes, earning Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors. Stone was a perfect 15-for-15 on second-half throws, tossing both of his touchdowns in the latter two quarters.
Redshirt sophomore running back Caleb Komolafe continued his breakout campaign with 22 carries for 129 yards and two scores.
Through the air, junior Griffin Wilde and sophomore Hayden Eligon II became the first Wildcat teammates to each eclipse 100 receiving yards in a single game since 2013, with Wilde hauling in 11 receptions for 111 yards and a touchdown and Eligon snaring seven receptions for a career-high 127 yards.
The Fighting Illini (7-4, 4-4 Big Ten) dropped their penultimate regular-season bout 27-10 to Wisconsin at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 22. Illinois enters Saturday's tilt having won two straight at home.
The game will air on FOX. Connor Onion (play-by-play) and Mark Helfrich (color) will be on the call.
It can be heard on WGN 720 AM with The Voice of the Wildcats, Dave Eanet, who is in his 36th season calling Northwestern football, and 32nd-year analyst Ted Albrecht. Former Wildcat defensive lineman Jake Saunders (2016-2020) is in his first season as the duo's sideline reporter.
Stay tuned to Northwestern football's Twitter and Instagram channels for live highlights, photos and reactions throughout the Wildcats' rivalry clash.
As NU looks to reclaim the Land of Lincoln Trophy, here are five things to know.
- Komolafe Rushes Toward History
Thrust into a marquee role after graduate student running back Cam Porter's season-ending injury in Week 2, Komolafe has quickly emerged as one of the conference's most potent rushers.
The redshirt sophomore has recorded 886 yards and 10 touchdowns on 175 carries (5.1 yards per carry) while adding 51 receiving yards and a touchdown reception. He ranks fourth in the Big Ten in rushing yards and is tied for eighth in the conference in rushing touchdowns.
Komolafe is just 114 yards away from hitting the 1,000-yard mark. The Katy, Texas, native would be the first Wildcat to hit this figure since Evan Hull did so in 2021.
KING KOMO FOR THE LEAD ??
— Northwestern Football (@NUFBFamily) November 22, 2025
??: @BigTenNetwork pic.twitter.com/OrVyfYbK0d
- Stone Looks to Build on Banner Performance
In Northwestern's bowl-clinching win over the Golden Gophers, Stone put forth his most prolific performance as a Wildcat.
The graduate student became the first Northwestern quarterback to throw for at least 300 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions on an 80-plus % completion percentage since Brett Basanez did so against Michigan State on Oct. 22, 2005.
"Preston played fearless," Braun said in his postgame press conference. "He wasn't pressing, but he wasn't anxious, either. He was just fearless, let the game come to him. It was just the command. He had the urgency."
After securing a crucial sixth win as the Wildcats' starter, Stone will turn his sights to the team's rivals to the south.
GRIFF GETS OPEN ??
— Northwestern Football (@NUFBFamily) November 22, 2025
??: @BigTenNetwork pic.twitter.com/JqJqUhzDhi
- Braun Emphasizes NU's Strength of Character
Northwestern's past two weeks have proven a whirlwind for Braun, his coaching staff and the players. In back-to-back games, they've faced double-digit second-half deficits. In both games, they battled back to take the lead.
Walk-off field goals concluded both contests, with Michigan prevailing on its late kick and Minnesota's attempt sailing wide of the mark. For Braun, both late-game rallies were revelatory of the group's character.
"It's really easy to fall into where your mood is based on the result," Braun said. "What this team has shown is that character is truly revealed in the hard times. The hard time coming off the tough loss against Michigan, or the hard times of in-game play where you're down a couple scores."
"What this team has shown is this unwavering willingness and ability to move on to the next opportunity and continue to focus on what we can control. It showed up in the Michigan game — unfortunately we fell short — and it certainly showed up against Minnesota."
- Embracing the Extra Edge of the Rivalry
Saturday will mark Braun's third time facing off with Illinois. He took home the Land of Lincoln Trophy in a 45-43 thriller in enemy territory in 2023, but the Wildcats fell short at Wrigley Field last season in a 38-28 defeat.
For Braun, the rivalry consistently presents an extra element in preparation.
"We set the tone after Minnesota about where our focus is shifting," Braun said. "It's a big deal. At the end of the day, it's a matchup in the Big Ten against an in-state opponent, a great opponent. Ultimately it should be something that this program has done in the past and needs to continue to take a great sense of pride in making sure the Hat is here in Evanston."
- Scouting the Fighting Illini
Despite its recent setback, Illinois enters the matchup on the back of two wins in its past three games.
Fighting Illini quarterback Luke Altmyer has completed 216-of-317 passes for 2,675 yards, 21 touchdowns and five interceptions this season. Hank Beatty, Altmyer's preferred target, leads Illinois with 61 catches for 805 yards and three touchdowns.
The Fighting Illini have the No. 9 rush defense and the No. 17 pass defense in the Big Ten.
"Really good quarterback, veteran offensive line, very good backs, [Beatty] is a very talented football player, tons of production," Braun said of Illinois' strengths. "Brett Bielema is a defensive-minded head coach that certainly understands what it looks like to play really good defense. They're going to challenge us in all three phases."
Illinois leads the all-time series 56-53-5, but Northwestern is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings and is 10-6 since the creation of "The Hat" trophy.
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