In Chicago, Aidan Laughery made a significant impact in the game against Northwestern, scoring three touchdowns as No. 22 Illinois secured a 38-28 victory on Saturday. This win marked a milestone for Illinois, bringing their season record to nine wins, a feat not accomplished since the 2007 Rose Bowl season.
The Illini took control of the game early in the second half. Pat Bryant caught a 43-yard pass from Luke Altmyer, leading to a touchdown that opened the scoring in the third quarter. Just minutes later, Illinois found the end zone again, extending their lead to 28-10. Altmyer had a productive game, passing for 170 yards and even scoring a touchdown on a one-yard run.
Laughery, who is in his sophomore year, had his best performance yet with a career-high 172 rushing yards, surpassing the 100-yard mark for the first time in his college career. Notably, he also executed a remarkable 64-yard run for a touchdown early in the second half. Despite only having one touchdown this season prior to this game, his contribution proved crucial for Illinois.
The Wildcats showed resilience throughout the match, with Devin Turner intercepting Altmyer twice. One of these interceptions resulted in a 13-yard touchdown return, keeping Northwestern competitive. In the final moments, Thomas Gordon caught a touchdown pass from Jack Lausch, and the Wildcats converted a two-point attempt to complete their scoring for the day.
Northwestern, battling through adversity, hosted their second game of the season at Wrigley Field, enjoying sunny weather despite the chilly 20-degree temperature at kickoff. Although the Illini seemed poised to dominate after Bryant’s touchdown reception early in the third quarter, the Wildcats answered with Luke Akers’ 34-yard field goal and a subsequent touchdown pass from Lausch to A.J. Henning, narrowing the Illini’s lead.
However, Illinois quickly regained control when Mac Resetich intercepted a pass from Lausch. Laughery then extended the Illini’s lead with a powerful 31-yard touchdown run.
Despite losing the time of possession battle — with Northwestern holding the ball for 34:32 compared to Illinois’ 25:28 — the Illini found ways to make their opportunities count. In the first half, Northwestern’s offense managed to convert only one interception into a touchdown, frustrated further by a missed field goal as the half concluded.
Injury setbacks affected both teams’ leading receivers. Northwestern’s Bryce Kirtz was sidelined early in the game due to a lower-body injury. On the other hand, Illinois’ Bryant briefly left the game after a collision but returned to contribute in the second half.
The victory keeps Illinois in contention for a prestigious bowl game and a chance to tie the school record for most wins at ten, a mark last set in the 2001 Sugar Bowl season. Conversely, Northwestern wrapped up their season with a record of 4-8 and will look to regroup after dropping their last three games under second-year coach David Braun.
As the season concludes, Illinois is set to compete in a bowl game, while Northwestern will begin preparations for the 2025 season, starting with a matchup against Tulane on August 30.
