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Northwestern seeking nine-win season

Nov 22, 2008 - 11:22 AM Illinois (5-6) at (24) Northwestern (8-3), 3:30 pm EST

EVANSTON, Illinois (Ticker) -- Northwestern isn't sure of its bowl destination.

But the 24th-ranked Wildcats do know they will improve their position with a victory over Illinois on Saturday in the regular-season finale for both teams.

With a victory, Northwestern will accomplish two things - clinch fourth place in the Big Ten Conference and reach nine wins for the first time since going 9-3 under Gary Barnett in 1996.

As the Big Ten's No. 4 team, the bowl pecking order for the Wildcats (8-3, 4-3) would be the Alamo Bowl (December 27), the Champs Sports Bowl (December 29) and the Insight Bowl (December 31).

Regardless of where it goes, Northwestern is assured of only its seventh bowl game in school history and first in three years.

Last week, the Wildcats defeated Michigan, 21-14, to reach eight wins for just the fourth time since 1995.

"It's special to have November be a significant month," said Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald, who went 4-8 and 6-6 in his first two seasons in Evanston.

Making his first appearance since suffering an injured hamstring on October 25, senior quarterback C.J. Bacher completed 17-of-29 passes for 198 yards with two touchdown and two interceptions.

Bacher and Mike Kafka shared time in the first quarter, but Kafka was knocked out of the game early in the second quarter with a concussion after three carries for 20 yards and no pass attempts.

Saturday will be the final home appearance for Bacher, who has passed for 1,898 yards this season with 12 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

While Northwestern is preparing for a bowl game, Illinois is at the opposite end of the spectrum.

One of the most disappointing teams in the Big Ten this year, the Fighting Illini need a win just to become bowl eligible.

Unless Illinois wins Saturday, it will become the first team since Michigan in 1964 to finish with a losing record the season after playing in the Rose Bowl.

If the Fighting Illini want to end the season on a high note, they need to do a much better job against the run. In last week's 30-20 loss to Ohio State, they allowed the Buckeyes to rush for 306 yards.

Illinois defeated Northwestern, 41-22, last season as quarterback Juice Williams rushed for 136 yards and two scores. The win snapped the Wildcats' four-game winning streak in the series.