Aidan Laughery rushed for three touchdowns, including one on career-long 64-yard run early in the second half, and No. 22 Illinois topped Northwestern 38-28 on Saturday to reach nine victories for the first time since its 2007 Rose Bowl season.

CHICAGO – On Saturday at Wrigley Field, No. 23 Illinois (9-3, 6-3 Big Ten) took down Northwestern (4-8, 2-7 Big Ten) by a score of 38-28 to secure its first nine-win season since 2007 and all but lock up a trip to Orlando, Florida, where the Illini appear poised to be matched up with a formidable SEC foe in the Citrus Bowl.