Wildcats host in-state rival Illinois on Senior Day
The 19th-ranked Northwestern Wildcats improved to 7-1 in Big Ten play this season with their 24-14 win at Minnesota last Saturday, matching their best conference record since 1995.
The victory was also Northwestern’s eighth straight on the road in Big Ten play, tying a program record while improving the Wildcats to 14-1 in their last 15 conference games.
With the West Division title already in hand, the Wildcats have punched their ticket to the Big Ten Championship Game on Dec. 1 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Northwestern will honor the 19 seniors on Saturday as they host Illinois for Senior Day.
A win against the Illini would mark the 40th victory for the 2018 senior class and tie the best five-year stretch in school history and would also complete a four-year sweep of Illinois.
Left guard J.B. Butler is one of the seniors who will be honored during pregame ceremonies Saturday and is as familiar as any with the significance of the rivalry. A former walk-on, Butler graduated from Joliet Catholic Academy in Plainfield, Illinois.
“It means a lot,” Butler said Monday. “Being an in-state guy, Illinois recruits a lot of guys from my area, so I’ve got a lot of friends that play there. It definitely means a lot and I’m excited to have the chance to go 4-0 against them. I think that’s a cool thing, especially when it’s a rivalry game and it means a lot to them and it means a lot to us too.”
Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald echoed Butler’s sentiments, and said this game is one he and his staff emphasize all year long, even during the preseason.
“It’s a big deal,” Fitzgerald said. “Playing for the Land of Lincoln trophy is critically important for us. We’ve been fortune now three in a row, and hopefully we’ll find a way to get it done on Saturday. There’s a lot for us to play for, our guys are very excited for the opportunity, and look forward to sending our seniors out the right way at Ryan Field for one last time.”
Senior quarterback Clayton Thorson will make his final home start Saturday and his 51st-consectuive start for the Wildcats, tying him with Washington’s Jake Browning for the longest active starting streak in the FBS.
Thorson is the winningest quarterback in Northwestern history with 34 victories, and the school’s all-time leader in completions (931), pass attempts (1,605), and passing touchdowns (56).
“I think it has (sunk in),” Thorson said of his final home game. “It’s definitely weird saying it will be my last game at Ryan Field, especially with two more games coming after this. But I’ve got a lot of great memories here, especially this year, so it’ll be a pretty cool day.”
Thorson needs just 467 more passing yards to pass Brett Basanez for the school’s all-time leader.