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Williams, Illinois look to follow huge win vs. Northwestern

Nov 17, 2007 - 12:01 PM Northwestern (6-5) at No. 20 Illinois (8-3) 12:00 pm EST

CHAMPAIGN, Illinois (Ticker) -- Juice Williams and Illinois had a coming-out party last week.

Williams and the 20th-ranked Fighting Illini try to follow up a statement victory with a triumph over Northwestern in Big Ten Conference action Saturday.

Last Saturday, the unranked Illini (8-3, 5-2 Big Ten) shocked No. 1 Ohio State in Columbus, 28-21.

Williams tossed four touchdowns for Illinois, which also rushed for 260 yards against the nation's No. 1 defense as it posted its first triumph over a top-ranked team since 1956 and ended the Buckeyes' Big Ten-record 20-game conference winning streak.

With a win in this one, Illinois will finish in a second-place tie with either Ohio State or Michigan in the conference standings. The Illini went 2-10 last year, their second under Zook.

Northwestern (6-5, 3-4) became bowl eligible with a 31-28 home win over Indiana last week.

The Wildcats trailed, 28-24, before C.J. Bacher threw a three-yard TD to Ross Lane with 44 seconds left. Bacher had tossed three interceptions earlier in the game.

Northwestern has won the last four meetings since a 31-24 setback in Evanston in 2002.