Stock up, stock down for Northwestern’s 20-13 loss against Illinois

Snowy weather and a historic rivalry collided on Saturday night, producing classic Big Ten football at Gies Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. Northwestern moved to 6-6 on the season with a tough 20-13 loss in the Land of Lincoln game, as Illinois claimed “The Hat” for a second straight season.

Stock Up

The Robby Preckel game

As discussed further in the “Stock Down” part of this article, Northwestern was without its four leading running backs for most of this game. Caleb Komolafe was ruled out with an injury just before the game, and Joseph Himon II went down, and was carted off the field, on just his second carry of the game. With just six running backs on the roster, David Braun turned to first-year Robby Preckel, who entered the game with just 12 carries for 49 yards on the season. Preckel is listed as a tight end, but saw some time at running back at high school and has embraced a kind of fullback hybrid role for the ’Cats this season. Playing as the sole running back for the ‘Cats after Himon’s injury, Preckel bested his season statistics in just the first half, rushing 14 times for 63 yards. Listed as 6’3, 230 pounds by ESPN, Preckel lacks the speed of lead backs like Komolafe and Himon. But he ran hard and secure all day long, totaling 22 carries for 82 yards, taking care of the football despite snowy, sloppy weather conditions. Coaches always emphasize a “next man up” mentality at this point in the season, and with Northwestern down its star running backs, Preckel heeded the call for the Wildcats.

Third and fourth down playmaking (First half on offense and second half defensively)

Northwestern’s offense was 7-of-17 converting on third and fourth downs in this game. Two fourth down conversions on Northwestern’s opening drive allowed them to open the game’s scoring with a field goal, while its lone touchdown came on a 3rd-and-12 to Hayden Eligon II in the second quarter. Meanwhile, Northwestern’s defense was just as good in similar situations, holding Illinois to a 2-of-11 conversion rate on these critical downs. In the fourth quarter, the Wildcats’ fourth quarter third down defense kept Northwestern alive amidst Stone’s three turnovers. With 3:45 to play, Braden Turner and Mac Uhlein stuffed Aidan Laughery on 3rd-and-two to hold the Illini to a field goal and keep the score at 20-13, a one possession game. On the next drive, following another Stone interception, the ‘Cats stopped Illinois on 3rd-and-nine, forcing a punt which gave the offense the ball back with just over ninety seconds remaining in the game.

Big play Braydon Brus

I could also talk about Hayden Eligon II, who has been the leading receiver for the Wildcats in back-to-back games. But, with the offense struggling to score and hold onto the ball all second half, Braydon Brus made two massive plays for the ‘Cats defense which kept Northwestern in the game. Driving in the middle of the third quarter deep in ‘Cats territory, Brus was all over an Illini trick play, strip sacking (Illinois recovered) Luke Altmyer for a loss that backed Illinois up to 2nd-and-35 at their own 48-yard line. Later, in the fourth quarter, Brus came up with another huge forced fumble. Backed up inside its own 10-yard line, Brus’ forced fumble was recovered by Anto Saka and returned to the Illini’s one-yard line, setting Northwestern up to put points on the board. A redshirt junior linebacker from Brendora, California, Brus finished the game with eight total tackles, three solo tackles, and two tackles for loss. He finished the regular season with six-straight games totaling five or more tackles, racking up a season high 13 against Michigan. Entering his senior campaign next season, Brus will be one of the ‘Cats’ key defensive playmakers.

Honorable mentions: Robert Fitzgerald (11 total tackles, six solo, one tackle for loss), Hayden Eligon II (eight receptions for 99 yards and a touchdown)

Stock Down

Preston Stone ball security

From 14:19 to 10:17 in the fourth quarter, Preston Stone did everything he could to give the football away to Illinois. Stone threw an interception, but was ruled down before he let go of the ball. On the next play, Stone fumbled on his rush up the middle, and was fortunate that the slippery ball escaped the hands of Illinois defenders and found its way into Northwestern arms. But later in the drive, his luck ran out. Stone dropped the ball under-center at the 10-yard line on 4th-and-one, handing over the ball to the Illini on a crucial red zone drive. Though, this turned out to be just one of three fourth quarter turnovers for Stone. On his second interception, Stone was looking for Eligon over the middle and telegraphed his pass the whole way. Illinois safety Miles Scott caught the pass in stride, and used his momentum to take it back the other way 33 yards; a bad pick for Stone. The ‘Cats next drive ended in another interception. The defense held the score at 20-13, but throwing into a tight window the ball got knocked out of Hunter Welcing’s hands, landing right in Miles Scott’s diving arms once again. Stone also had an interception late in the second quarter, though it wasn’t completely his fault. Looking for Frank Covey IV on a crossing route in the middle of the field, Stone’s pass was broken up in coverage by James Kreutz, and picked off on a diving grab off of the deflection: a great play by the Illini defense. After his performance today, Stone has 12 turnovers on the year — 10 interceptions and two lost fumbles. The ‘Cats have not won a game where Stone has committed multiple turnovers all season.

Big play defense and missed tackles

Though there aren’t any statistics in the box score listing missed tackles, any Northwestern fan watching this game was lamenting the ‘Cats’ tackling miscues all game long. Lots of these missed tackles resulted in big plays for the Illinois offense at crucial points in the game. Late in the second quarter, missed tackles on Ca’Lil Valentine set up the Illini for their first touchdown of the game. On Illinois’ first drive of the second quarter, the ‘Cats had them backed up for a 3rd-and-28 on their own 48-yard line. However, a missed tackle on third down allowed Illinois to gain 16 yards, allowing to convert on a 47-yard field goal and add to their lead. There were also multiple major lapses in the secondary. Notably, the ‘Cats were fooled on a trick play early in the second quarter, surrendering 28 yards on the pass attempt from wide receiver Hank Beatty. As a result of Northwestern’s poor tackling and susceptibility to big plays, Illinois’ rushing game totaled 120 yards on 36 carries. Additionally, the Fighting Illini had nine plays of 10+ yards in the game, with four of those plays going for 20+ yards.

Running back injuries

Northwestern was without its four leading rushers for almost the entire game against the Fighting Illini. The ‘Cats’ running back room has been beaten up all season, but the situation got significantly worse for the ‘Cats today as Caleb Komolafe was ruled out before the game, and Joseph Himon II hobbled off after just two carries on Northwestern’s first drive. Cam Porter, the Wildcats’ sixth-year star running back, who totaled over 500 yards for the ‘Cats in the 2023 and 2024 seasons, suffered a season ending lower-body injury in the second game of the season against Western Illinois. Dashun Reeder, fourth on Northwestern’s depth chart with 222 yards this season, has been out since the Purdue game with an undisclosed injury. Northwestern missed the speed of these top running backs against Illinois. Though Preckel ran hard, the ‘Cats’ 91 rushing yards lagged behind their 174 season average entering the game, which ranked sixth in the Big Ten. Northwestern’s run offense has fueled its offensive attack all season long, and gaining health at the running back position will be critical for the ‘Cats entering bowl season.

Honorable mentions: Red zone offense once again (Stone fumble on Illinois 10-yard line, field goal after starting at 2-yard line off turnover), Northwestern students returning to snowy Illinois for reading week and finals, Pass rush, The Hat (exiled to another year in Champaign)