No. 23 Illinois still has some big goals ahead of it.

The Illini can reach their highest win total in 17 years and move within a school record if they beat struggling Northwestern at Wrigley Field on Saturday to close out the regular season.

“There is still a lot of work to be done out there, a lot of things that need to be decided not only by us but also by the people around us,” coach Bret Bielema said. “I’m thrilled to be playing at Wrigley. I grew up a Cubs fan and sang there a few times.”

The Illini (8-3, 5-3 Big Ten) earned a 38-31 win at Rutgers last week when Luke Altmyer connected with Pat Bryant on a 40-yard catch-and-run touchdown pass with four seconds left. Illinois is now on pace for its highest win total since the 2007 Rose Bowl team’s 9-4 finish. The school record is 10, most recently during the 2001 Sugar Bowl season.

Northwestern (4-7, 2-6) has lost four of five games, with the win coming against last-place Purdue. The Wildcats have gone a combined 81-13 in the two games since defeating the Boilermakers. They fell 50-6 at Michigan last week after being beaten 31-7 by No. 2 Ohio State in the first game of the season at Wrigley Field.

Northwestern played its first five home games in a temporary lakefront stadium. A new Ryan Field, being built on the site of the old one, is scheduled to open in 2026.

(Un)friendly borders

Northwestern is 0-4 at Wrigley Field since college football returned to “The Friendly Confines” in 2010 after a more than seven-decade absence.

The Wildcats have been outscored 121-55 overall in those games, starting with a 48-27 loss to Illinois in 2010. That loss is most remembered for the back of the end zone in right field being too close to the Wall was crimes could only go the other way. A comprehensive renovation eliminated this problem.

Illinois will play at Wrigley for the third time. The 1923 national championship team – led by Red Grange – defeated Northwestern 29-0.

Photos: Ohio State 31, Northwestern 7 at Wrigley Field

Begins

Bryant was the Big Ten’s co-offensive player of the week after a great game in which he rushed for a career-high 197 yards on just seven catches. The winning touchdown was his third in the final minute or overtime of the season, a national record. It also gave him 2,025 receiving yards in four seasons at Illinois.

QB switch

Northwestern coach David Braun praised quarterback Jack Lausch and said he was “very confident” in the decision to take Lausch as the starter after Mike Wright struggled in the first two games. Braun wouldn’t say whether he’ll look to add a QB in the transfer portal.

Lausch has more interceptions (six) than touchdown passes (five). He was picked off twice and sacked five times against Michigan while completing 10 of 21 passes for 106 yards.

“It can be very easy to point to issues at the quarterback position when our offense isn’t performing at the level we want it to,” Braun said. “That’s what makes this position so great. You are allowed to touch the ball on every play. It takes a lot to hold this position.”

Comeback kings?

The Rutgers game wasn’t the first time Illinois eked out a win in the fourth quarter. The Illini also did this against Kansas, at Nebraska and against Purdue. They are 4-1 in one-score games.

Switch off

Northwestern kept things close in the early going against Michigan.

The Wildcats’ Luke Akers hit field goals on consecutive drives in the second quarter. Things spiraled out of control after that, with Michigan scoring 40 unanswered points for the rest of the game.

No. 23 Illinois (8-3, 5-3 Big Ten) at Northwestern (4-7, 2-6)

• Time/TV: 11 a.m. Saturday, BTN.
• Line: Illinois at 7½.
• Series: Illinois leads 57-55-5.

Facts & Figures

Illinois QB Luke Altmyer has completed 61% of his passes for 2,373 yards with 20 touchdowns and three interceptions. He is the only quarterback in the country with 20 or more TDs and three or fewer INTs. … Northwestern managed just 10 net rushing yards against Michigan last week, including 33 yards lost on six sacks.