Nov. 29--Illinois is well on its way to getting bowl eligible for the first time in Tim Beckman's three seasons, up 26-7 at the half at Ryan Field in Evanston.
And Northwestern is ticketed for its first back-to-back losing seasons since 2002-03.
The Wildcats have played an abysmal game, save for an 89-yard kickoff return by freshman Solomon Vault. It was NU's first such touchdown since Venric Mark took one all the way at Wisconsin in 2010.
Injuries have depleted the Wildcats to the point where they had to start safety Kyle Queiro at cornerback and linebacker Jimmy Hall at safety. Northwestern has lost seven prominent defensive backs to injuries, and it shows.
Illinois gained 255 first-half yards, with Reilly O'Toole completing 13 of 23 throws for 118 yards and two scores. O'Toole also has rushed for 66 yards.
NU's quarterback play has been awful. After losing Trevor Siemian to ACL surgery, NU gave redshirt junior Zack Oliver his first career start. It also could be his last. He has turned it over four times and completed 2 of 6 passes for nine yards.
Not only that, he failed to fight for a first down on a rush, sliding just short of the marker.
Receiver Tony Jones didn't help by dropping a pass that turned into an interception. And the offense is without Kyle Prater, who suffered a lacerated kidney last week at Purdue.
Matt Alviti replaced Oliver and did no better.
Tailback Justin Jackson has 48 of NU's 62 total yards.
tgreenstein@tribpub.com
Twitter @TeddyGreenstein
