Northwestern University Athletics
Saturday, November 29
Urbana-Champaign, Ill.
6:30 p.m. CT
Northwestern
6-6 , 4-5
13
at
20
Illinois
8-4 , 5-4
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Northwestern
3
7
0
3
13
Illinois
0
14
3
3
20
Northwestern Concludes Regular Season In 20-13 Loss at Illinois
11/29/2025 10:00:00 PM | Football
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Northwestern fell 20-13 to Illinois in a snowy regular-season finale at Memorial Stadium on Saturday night.
The Wildcats (6-6, 4-5 Big Ten) had a chance to tie the game in the final minutes but ultimately came up short in the battle for the Land of Lincoln Trophy with the Fighting Illini (8-4, 5-4 Big Ten).
Hayden Eligon II hauled in eight catches for 99 yards and a touchdown to lead Northwestern's passing attack. Eligon is the first Wildcat underclassman to post back-to-back 90-plus-yard receiving games since D'Wayne Bates did so in 1996.
First-year running back Robby Preckel recorded a career-high 22 carries for 82 yards.
On defense, Robert Fitzgerald posted a team-high 11 stops and a tackle for loss, while Braydon Brus tallied eight tackles, one sack, two tackles for loss, and two forced fumbles.
Jack Olsen's 38-yard field goal marked the first quarter's lone points as Northwestern held a 3-0 lead after 15 minutes of action. Preston Stone completed his first four passes as he guided the Wildcats to a 15-play, 63-yard scoring drive that chewed more than nine minutes off the clock.
On the hosts' ensuing drive, Ca'Lil Valentine's 6-yard rushing touchdown gave Illinois a 7-3 lead with 11:27 remaining in the first half.
Northwestern put together another surgical scoring drive to regain the upper hand. With 5:50 to play in the second quarter, Stone hit Eligon for a 13-yard score to capture a 10-7 advantage.
But Kaden Feagin punched in a late red zone score to give the Fighting Illini a 14-10 edge heading into halftime.
Midway through the third quarter, a 47-yard field goal stretched the Illinois lead to 17-10. The Fighting Illini carried a 7-point lead into the final frame.
The Wildcats marched deep into Illinois territory early in the fourth quarter, but couldn't turn their red zone trip into points. But the Northwestern defense then secured a crucial takeaway, with Brus forcing a fumble that Anto Saka recovered and returned to the 1-yard line.
Following the turnover, Olsen nailed a 26-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 17-13 with 7:46 remaining.
A 27-yard Fighting Illini field goal extended the Illinois lead back to 20-13 with three minutes to play.
Although the Wildcat defense picked up a pair of pivotal stops to give the offense a chance to extend the game beyond regulation, Northwestern couldn't capitalize late.
Having secured bowl eligibility with its sixth win over Minnesota on Nov. 22, Northwestern will learn its postseason destination on Sunday, Dec. 7.
The Wildcats (6-6, 4-5 Big Ten) had a chance to tie the game in the final minutes but ultimately came up short in the battle for the Land of Lincoln Trophy with the Fighting Illini (8-4, 5-4 Big Ten).
Hayden Eligon II hauled in eight catches for 99 yards and a touchdown to lead Northwestern's passing attack. Eligon is the first Wildcat underclassman to post back-to-back 90-plus-yard receiving games since D'Wayne Bates did so in 1996.
First-year running back Robby Preckel recorded a career-high 22 carries for 82 yards.
On defense, Robert Fitzgerald posted a team-high 11 stops and a tackle for loss, while Braydon Brus tallied eight tackles, one sack, two tackles for loss, and two forced fumbles.
Jack Olsen's 38-yard field goal marked the first quarter's lone points as Northwestern held a 3-0 lead after 15 minutes of action. Preston Stone completed his first four passes as he guided the Wildcats to a 15-play, 63-yard scoring drive that chewed more than nine minutes off the clock.
On the hosts' ensuing drive, Ca'Lil Valentine's 6-yard rushing touchdown gave Illinois a 7-3 lead with 11:27 remaining in the first half.
Northwestern put together another surgical scoring drive to regain the upper hand. With 5:50 to play in the second quarter, Stone hit Eligon for a 13-yard score to capture a 10-7 advantage.
But Kaden Feagin punched in a late red zone score to give the Fighting Illini a 14-10 edge heading into halftime.
Midway through the third quarter, a 47-yard field goal stretched the Illinois lead to 17-10. The Fighting Illini carried a 7-point lead into the final frame.
The Wildcats marched deep into Illinois territory early in the fourth quarter, but couldn't turn their red zone trip into points. But the Northwestern defense then secured a crucial takeaway, with Brus forcing a fumble that Anto Saka recovered and returned to the 1-yard line.
Following the turnover, Olsen nailed a 26-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 17-13 with 7:46 remaining.
A 27-yard Fighting Illini field goal extended the Illinois lead back to 20-13 with three minutes to play.
Although the Wildcat defense picked up a pair of pivotal stops to give the offense a chance to extend the game beyond regulation, Northwestern couldn't capitalize late.
Having secured bowl eligibility with its sixth win over Minnesota on Nov. 22, Northwestern will learn its postseason destination on Sunday, Dec. 7.
Team Stats
NW
ILL
Total Yards
254
284
Pass Yards
163
164
Rushing Yards
91
120
Penalty Yards
35
44
1st Downs
19
14
3rd Downs
5
2
4th Downs
2
0
TOP
30:34
29:26
1st Quarter
NW 3, ILL 0
NW - Olsen,Jack 38 yd field goal 15 plays, 63 yards, TOP 09:18
2nd Quarter
NW 3, ILL 7
ILL - Valentine,Ca'Lil 6 yd run (Olano,David kick), 7 plays, 83 yards, TOP 03:43
NW 10, ILL 7
NW - Eligon II,Hayden 13 yd pass from Stone,Preston (Olsen,Jack kick) 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 05:37
NW 10, ILL 14
ILL - Feagin,Kaden 1 yd run (Olano,David kick), 4 plays, 48 yards, TOP 01:09
3rd Quarter
NW 10, ILL 17
ILL - Olano,David 47 yd field goal 9 plays, 41 yards, TOP 06:02
4th Quarter
NW 13, ILL 17
NW - Olsen,Jack 26 yd field goal 4 plays, -7 yards, TOP 01:36
NW 13, ILL 20
ILL - Olano,David 27 yd field goal 4 plays, 9 yards, TOP 02:19
Game Leaders
CMP
19
TD
1
YDS
163
INT
3
Players Mentioned
LB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
DB
/ Football
K
/ Football
RB
/ Football
QB
/ FootballFootball - Northwestern Falls in Snowy Regular-Season Finale (11/29/25)
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