Aidan Laughery rushed for three touchdowns, including one on career-long 64-yard run early in the second half, and No. 22 Illinois topped Northwestern 38-28 on Saturday to reach nine victories for the first time since its 2007 Rose Bowl season.

CHICAGO – Nursing a narrow 14-10 lead over Northwestern fresh out of the halftime break Saturday at Wrigley Field, No. 22 Illinois was facing a second-and-5 on its own 36-yard line. With the first-half struggles of quarterback Luke Altmyer (two interceptions), the Illini had been leaning on the run game for steady offense.

Star wide receiver Pat Bryant and the Illinois Fighting Illini (8-3) meet the Northwestern Wildcats (4-7) on Saturday at 12 p.m. ET, at Wrigley Field.The Fighting Illini head into this matchup

Beat writer Scott Richey previews the Illini’s matchup with Northwestern ahead of Saturday’s 11 a.m. kickoff at Wrigley Field in Chicago (BTN, WDWS 1400-AM, WDWS 93.9-FM, WHMS 97.5-FM):

On Saturday, the Illini make the short trek to Chicago’s Wrigley Field, where they’re set to take on in-state rival Northwestern (11 a.m. CT, on Big Ten Network) in a battle for the Land of Lincoln Trophy. The Wildcats (4-7, 2-6 Big Ten) have dropped four of their last five, including last week’s 50-6 thrashing by Michigan.