PLAYERS TO WATCH
–QB Clayton Thorson is coming off arguably his best performance of the season against Minnesota, completing 15-of-21 passes for 230 yards. Thorson also recorded his seventh rushing touchdown of the season, which leads the team, and his 24th career rushing score, becoming the first quarterback in Big Ten history to reach at least 10,000 passing yards and at least 20 rushing touchdowns. The Wildcats are 16-4 all-time when Thorson finds the end zone with his legs, so keep an eye on his mobility against the Illini.
–LB Nate Hall had a career-high two interceptions against the Golden Gophers but was flagged for targeting in the second half of last Saturday’s 24-14 win and subsequently ejected, meaning he’ll miss the first half against Illinois due to suspension.
–WR Flynn Nagel hauled in his 156th-career reception against Minnesota, tying him with Lee Gissendaner for ninth all-time in program history. However, Nagel suffered an undisclosed lower body injury on the play and did not return. No updates have been given regarding his availability for Illinois. He leads the Wildcats in receptions (64), receiving yards (746), and touchdown catches this season (2).
–DT Jordan Thompson has been a picture of stability among Northwestern’s defensive line throughout his career. He’ll make his 34th-consecutive start at defensive tackle Saturday and is second on the team in sacks (two) and tackles for losses (five) during his senior campaign. Given the elusiveness and dual-threat nature of Illinois’ quarterback AJ Bush, as well as the depth and versatility of its backfield, Thompson’s role Saturday will be among the more pivotal defensively.
SERIES HISTORY: Illinois leads Northwestern 55-51-5 but the Wildcats have won three straight including last year’s 42-7 victory in Champaign.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “I think it’s really challenging to tackle when you’re trying to turn away from hitting a guy. I’m a proponent — I believe in why we’ve gone to the targeting rule. I voted ‘yes’ when we started talking about it as head coaches a number of years ago, but we had serious concerns as coaches that it was going to be overcalled. The whole thing was, ‘well how can you judge intent?’ We can do it in every other sport. We go to the tape and review fouls in basketball. In soccer, there’s a yellow card and a red card. I think it needs to be reevaluated.” — Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald on Nate Hall’s targeting penalty in the second half of last Saturday’s 24-14 win at Minnesota.