Northern Illinois was the only local FBS team to win Saturday.

While Notre Dame was on a bye week, Illinois and Northwestern suffered Big Ten road losses to drop to 5-3.

Here are a few takeaways from Saturday’s games.

1. Washington trampled Illinois’ playoff hopes on a rainy, windy day at Husky Stadium.

Illinois’ two losses entering Saturday had come against No. 1 Ohio State and No. 2 Indiana. Both were ugly, but the Illini had taken care of business against lesser opponents. Entering the weekend, it was possible the Illini still could earn a College Football Playoff spot if they won their remaining five games.

But a 42-25 loss to Washington in Seattle put a stop to that idea as the Illini dropped to 2-3 in the Big Ten. It’s a major disappointment for a team that entered the season ranked No. 12.

How a trio of small-town, central Illinois players became key forces in the Illini offense

The Illinois defense is under scrutiny after allowing Washington to put up 449 yards of offense.

Huskies quarterback Demond Williams Jr. completed 26 of 33 passes for 280 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions and also rushed for 66 yards. He wasn’t sacked.

“The part we have to understand, if we’re playing zone coverage, then we have to be able to understand where those holes are because they’re finding them,” Illinois coach Bret Bielema told reporters after the game. “And then when we play man coverage, when our eyes are away from the quarterback, to not be able to get him down when he takes off on the scramble is very frustrating, especially for 20 yards.”

The Illini kept it close in the first half and were looking to take a lead into halftime before a Washington trick play put them down 21-17.

Wide receiver Denzel Boston, who had 153 receiving yards, took a backward pass and tossed a 12-yard touchdown pass to Jonah Coleman, who was all alone speeding toward the end zone.

But the Washington offense didn’t need a lot of trick plays to finish off the Illini. The Huskies converted 9 of 12 third downs.

Bielema said one emphasis this week before facing Rutgers at home will be looking at the third-down game plan. He indicated he might be more involved with defensive coordinator Aaron Henry’s unit moving forward, though not necessarily calling plays.

The Illini have given up 39.6 points per game over their last five games.

“If I have to get more involved, I will,” Bielema said. “The part that I really struggle with is sometimes it seems like we fix one thing and something else shows up.

“Aaron’s done a good job in other times. Obviously we’re hitting a struggle. We’ll have to make a really good evaluation of what we’re asking the guys that are out there to do.”

2. Northwestern couldn’t get the stop this time against Nebraska.

Nebraska running back Mekhi Nelson carries the ball past Northwestern defensive lineman Aidan Hubbard during the first half Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, in Lincoln, Neb. (AP Photo/Bonnie Ryan)

The Wildcats had pulled out close games against UCLA and Penn State with big defensive stops, but they couldn’t do it Saturday as their winning streak stopped at four with a 28-21 loss in Lincoln, Neb.

After running back Caleb Komolafe ran 56 yards for a touchdown and the Wildcats converted the 2-point try to tie the score early in the fourth quarter, they were in prime position to seize momentum by taking the lead on the road.

On the first play of Nebraska’s next drive, linebacker Mac Uihlein grabbed his fourth interception of the season to give the Wildcats the ball at the Cornhuskers 34-yard line. But a Martes Lewis holding penalty set back Northwestern on the ensuing drive, and quarterback Preston Stone threw his second interception of the game — and ninth of the season — on the next play on third-and-12.

“What a swing of momentum and emotions there in the fourth quarter,” Northwestern coach David Braun said. “We’re in a position, in field-goal range, worst-case scenario to go kick a field goal. Run play, Martes Lewis is out there battling his butt off, finishes a guy on his back. Subjective call.

“At the end of the day, officials have a hard job. You can’t whine about the call. But you go from (potentially) going up a touchdown to all of a sudden 10 yards back, you’re out of field-goal range.”

The Cornhuskers then marched 64 yards in 12 plays and scored on Emmett Johnson’s 4-yard run for a 28-21 lead. Johnson powered through multiple Northwestern defenders to push into the end zone. Nebraska converted on third-and-7 three times and third-and-5 once on the drive.

The Northwestern offense fizzled on its final drive, and Nebraska held on for the win.

“The last drive was three third-and-longs,” Braun said. “Those are scenarios as a defense that we expect and have to get off the field if we’re going to play winning football.”

3. David Braun continued to support Preston Stone after the loss.

Northwestern quarterback Preston Stone passes over Nebraska defensive lineman Williams Nwaneri during the second half Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, in Lincoln, Neb. (AP Photo/Bonnie Ryan)

The ground game has driven the Wildcats offense this season, producing 172 yards Saturday, including 125 and two touchdowns on 17 carries by Komolafe. Meanwhile, Stone completed 15 of 29 passes for 159 yards with two interceptions and no touchdowns.

“Preston showed up exactly who he is,” Braun said. “He’s a competitor. He’s a winner. And ultimately I’m sure he’ll evaluate the film and we’ll evaluate the film and see if there’s areas where he can do a better job of valuing the football, (and) then we’ll address that.”

In Northwestern’s five victories, Stone has one interception and 10 touchdown passes. In the Wildcats’ three losses, he has eight picks and no touchdowns.

But Braun said, “Ultimately we’re not 5-3 right now without Preston Stone, period.”

“My evaluation of Preston is like, is he forcing things?” Braun said. “If he’s forcing things, that’s not OK. But the dialogue can’t be like, ‘Hey, man, don’t throw interceptions.’ Talk about negative talk. That’s the worst sports psychology ever.”

4. Northern Illinois pulled off its first Mid-American Conference win.

The Huskies are in their final season in the MAC before moving to the Mountain West, and it hasn’t been an easy one after they lost a huge group of seniors and transfers from the team that beat Notre Dame last season.

But they pulled off a 21-7 home win over Ball State thanks to a big game on the ground. Chavon Wright rushed for 170 yards on 37 carries, and Telly Johnson Jr. added 15 carries for 102 yards and a touchdown.

The Huskies defense had two interceptions and four sacks.

NIU (2-6, 1-3) had lost six straight after a 19-17 win over Holy Cross in its opener.

“I like the character of these young men,” coach Thomas Hammock said. “The way they stay in it when outside noise is saying whatever, the guys in the building are doing the right things on and off the football field.”

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/26/illinois-northwestern-football-takeaways/