When we last saw Northwestern take the field, it was upset on the road by Michigan State 29-20, just days after being slotted as the eighth-best team in the College Football Playoff rankings. Now, after a COVID-19 outbreak within the Minnesota football program caused the Wildcats’ contest with the Golden Gophers to be canceled — giving them a much-needed bye week in which they formally clinched the Big Ten West title — they’ll close their regular season in Evanston against rival Illinois in the battle for the Land of Lincoln Trophy (or, as it’s known commonly around these parts, HAT).
Three things to know about Illinois
