EVANSTON, Ill. _ After a dreadful 0-2 start to the season, Northwestern finished strong enough to earn a second-straight bowl bid with a 42-21 victory on Saturday against Illinois.
Wildcats cornerback Montre Hartage intercepted Illinois quarterback Wes Lunt and returned it 64 yards, setting up a four-yard touchdown run by Justin Jackson in the fourth quarter to seal the win.
It was Northwestern's fourth takeaway of the day and third touchdown of the day for Jackson. The victory secured bowl eligibility for the second straight season for the Wildcats (6-6, 5-4 Big Ten).
Jackson finished with 173 yards on 21 carries, while John Moten IV added another 121 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries.
The Wildcats are likely headed to either the Pinstripe Bowl or Foster Farms Bowl.
Illinois (3-9, 2-7) was on the verge of tying the game in the third quarter at the 5-yard line.
A fumble by Reggie Corbin snuffed out the chance of a comeback. Three plays later _ including a targeting call and ejection on Illinois safety Stanley Green _ and the Wildcats were in the end zone after a 54-yard touchdown run by Jackson.
Illinois' linebacker Hardy Nickerson recovered a fumble after Northwestern quarterback Clayton Thorson coughed it up on a hit in the third quarter. Lunt connected with Malik Turner to pull within 28-21.
Darius Mosley fumbled on a punt return, giving Northwestern the ball on the Illinois 40-yard line. Thorson connected with Garrett Dickerson for a 9-yard touchdown pass to edge the Illini 35-21.
Illinois had fought back to a one-touchdown deficit after falling behind 21-0.
Lunt threw his first touchdown pass since Sept. 17 when he connected with Turner for a 19-yard pass on fourth-and-2 and pull within 21-7. Corgin ran the ball in from eight yards out shortly before the half to pull within a touchdown.
Illinois running back Kendrick Foster left the game in the first quarter with an apparent knee injury. He collapsed to the field untouched after a handoff.
The Illini finished their first season under new coach Lovie Smith with their worst win total since 2012, former coach Tim Beckman's first season.
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