Illinois Football: 5 most intriguing games of the 2023 season

4. Illinois vs. Northwestern (November 25)

One could argue that the most exciting part of the college football regular season is Rivalry Week. Schools are jockeying for a spot in a conference championship, bowl game, or even the College Football Playoff. Talk about a double positive: defeating your arch-rival while also clinching a spot to play for bigger and better things.

For 2023, the Illini will host Northwestern. Over the past several months, the Wildcats have been at the center of an alleged scandal involving its alumnus and longtime head coach Pat Fitzgerald. Without a doubt, the Wildcats have had plenty of off-field distractions. First-year head coach David Braun has a lot on his plate.

Despite winning the last two matchups versus the Wildcats, Illinois had lost eight out of nine between 2012-20. Last season, the Illini trounced the Wildcats, 41-3. Despite the score, the defense played a vital role, as Illinois recorded both a fumble and interception return for a touchdown.

Speaking of defense, Illinois will return strong starters from last season’s squad. Defensive linemen Jer’Zhan “Johnny” Newton and Keith Randolph Jr. both return. The duo combined for 10 sacks and 27 tackles for loss in 2022. Although the game is during the last week of the regular season, every win matters and Illinois isn’t out of the discussion for representing the West Division in Indianapolis.