Sports

“The way this team’s persevered, nothing’s really come easy,” Illinois coach Bret Bielema said.

Northwestern had a 10-0 first-quarter lead and was up 20-13 at the half.

Northern Illinois (0-7, 0-4 Mountain West Conference) is winless since a 45-3 win at UMass on Nov. 12, 2025.

The Chicago Bears acquired All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons in a blockbuster trade with the Tennessee Titans on Thursday.

Illinois has been tabbed the team to beat in the preseason media poll despite losing No. 5 overall NBA draft pick Keaton Wagler.

“I just want to apologize to my teammates, the fan base, everybody, but I’m moving forward now,” Sweat said Tuesday.

Moore, a first-round pick in the 2023 draft, is a key figure for Chicago as it tries to find the other side of years of rebuilding.

The Senate passed the bipartisan Protect College Sports Act by a wide margin Sept. 28 and it now awaits a vote in the House of Representatives, which is scheduled to reconvene Nov. 9.

“I was grateful to go see him on Thursday night and Friday morning of this past week and spend a memorable last time with him.”

Chicago will be without Cole Kmet for the rest of the season after he hurt his right knee on a reception with 5:34 left in Thursday night’s 30-24 win over New England.