Illinois @ Northwestern preview

Illinois at Northwestern

Last Meeting ( Nov 14, 2009 ) Northwestern 21, Illinois 16

The venue for Saturday's Northwestern-Illinois game is drawing more attention than the contest itself.

And it's easy to see why. Storied Wrigley Field, the home of the Chicago Cubs, is being transformed into a football field for the game between the Big Ten Conference rivals.

Playing in one of the most revered stadiums in the country has the city of Chicago buzzing and has coaches and players on both teams excited.

As for the game itself, Northwestern (7-3, 3-3) begins life without standout quarterback Dan Persa, who tore his right Achilles’ tendon last week against Iowa after throwing the game-winning touchdown pass to Demetrius Fields with 1:22 remaining in a 21-17 victory.

The junior quarterback was having an outstanding season. He completed 73.5 percent of his passes (222 of 302) for 15 touchdowns while throwing only four interceptions. Persa, who had surgery over the weekend, also led the Wildcats with 519 yards rushing and ran for nine touchdowns.

Persa is expected to make a full recovery and be ready to play his senior season in 2011.

So with 24 touchdowns and their best offensive player suddenly unavailable, the Wildcats will turn to redshirt freshman Evan Watkins, who will make his first start Saturday. At 6-foot-6 and 245 pounds, Watkins cuts a much different figure than the 6-1, 210-pound Persa.

Watkins has seen limited playing time this season, but made a couple of big plays late in the game against Indiana that set up a crucial field goal after Persa left with a concussion.

Watkins has appeared in three games and has completed 3 of 7 passes for 44 yards.

The Wildcats are in line to end up in a decent bowl game. A victory over the Illini would give Northwestern its third consecutive season with at least eight wins. The Wildcats end the season at Wisconsin on Nov. 27.

While on the subject of bowl games, Illinois' postseason outlook has changed considerably in the last two weeks. The Illini (5-5, 3-4) lost in three overtimes at Michigan before an inexcusable home defeat against Minnesota last week.

The Gophers were winless in the Big Ten and had lost nine consecutive games, but rallied from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter for a 38-34 win.

Illinois' problem is easy to pinpoint, but apparently difficult to fix. The Illini's defense, which had shown signs of improvement in midseason, has been shredded the last two games, allowing 105 points.

The skid has put the heat back on the shoulders of head coach Ron Zook, who could use a bowl appearance to quiet his critics. However, Illinois is one win short of being bowl eligible and needs to beat Northwestern in its final Big Ten game or win at Fresno State on Dec. 3.

Illinois linebacker Evan Frierson has been dismissed from the team after he was arrested and charged with aggravated battery. The sophomore, who played in nine games, allegedly punched two men during a fight in the campus bar and restaurant district.