In the 2016 season finale, Illinois couldn’t hold onto the ball, and couldn’t catch up after a slow start.
The Illini (3-9, 2-7 Big Ten) fell behind 21-0 in the first half and turnovers at the worst time derailed any hopes of a comeback. With the 42-21 win, Northwestern (6-6, 5-4) clinches a spot of bowl eligibility and won’t be forced to rely upon its APR score to make postseason play.
The Wildcats rushed for nearly 300 yards and had five touchdowns on the ground. Star Justin Jackson topped 100 yards for the third consecutive year against Illinois.
Here are a couple notes from Saturday’s loss.
1. It was symbolic of this season that there were even more injuries Saturday.
Ke’Shawn Vaughn didn’t even travel with the team with an undisclosed injury, and Kendrick Foster left early in the game with a noncontact leg injury. That left pretty much Reggie Corbin as the only option in the running game. In a season where Illinois’ offense was decimated with ailments, this was a fitting end that symbolized the entire season.
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HIGHLIGHTS: Northwestern Wildcats 42, Illinois Fighting Illini 21
Here are the best plays and photos from the season finale