Star wide receiver Pat Bryant and the Illinois Fighting Illini (8-3) meet the Northwestern Wildcats (4-7) on Saturday at 12 p.m. ET, at Wrigley Field.The Fighting Illini head into this matchup

Aidan Laughery rushed for three touchdowns, including one on career-long 64-yard run early in the second half, and No. 22 Illinois topped Northwestern 38-28 on Saturday to reach nine victories

On Saturday, the Illini make the short trek to Chicago’s Wrigley Field, where they’re set to take on in-state rival Northwestern (11 a.m. CT, on Big Ten Network) in a battle for the Land of Lincoln Trophy. The Wildcats (4-7, 2-6 Big Ten) have dropped four of their last five, including last week’s 50-6 thrashing by Michigan.

No. 22 Illinois still has some big goals to achieve. The Illini can match their highest win total in 17 years and move within one of the school record if they beat struggling Northwestern at Wrigley Field to close out the regular season.

No. 23 Illinois can match its highest win total in 17 years and move within one of the school record if it beats struggling Northwestern at Wrigley Field to close out the regular season.

Aidan Laughery rushed for three touchdowns, including one on career-long 64-yard run early in the second half, and No. 22 Illinois topped Northwestern 38-28 on Saturday to reach nine victories for the first time since its 2007 Rose Bowl season.

Pat Bryant dashed in to score on Luke Altmyer’s 43-yard pass early in the third quarter as Illinois (9-3, 6-3 Big Ten) struck for touchdowns just over 4 minutes apart early in t

Aidan Laughery rushed for three touchdowns and No. 23 Illinois topped Northwestern 38-28 on Saturday to reach nine victories.

The Illini await their bowl assignment — almost certainly will the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida, on New Year's Eve.

A 38-28 result in the freezing cold gave Bret Bielema his first nine-win season at Illinois and the seventh in program history. The game was highlighted by the Illinois offense hitting quick and hard.