Northwestern Coach Pat Fitzgerald was so hard on himself following last year's loss to in-state rival Illinois that he's vowed to have his team better prepared.
As the Fighting Illini look to become bowl eligible, the 17th-ranked Wildcats will try to take a step toward becoming the winningest team in school history Saturday in Chicago.
Northwestern has won eight of the past 12 meetings, but had a two-game winning streak snapped in a 47-33 home defeat last November. Fitzgerald was troubled by the job he did preparing his banged-up team in that battle for the Land of Lincoln Trophy.