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Illinois vs Northwestern Timeline

Explore every documented meeting, final score and season in the recorded history between Illinois and Northwestern.

PROGRAM ONEIllinois59 recorded wins
HEAD TO HEAD59–55–5WINS · LOSSES · TIES
PROGRAM TWONorthwestern55 recorded wins
119Recorded meetings
1892Earliest documented
2025Most recent season
5Tied games
THE RIVALRY THROUGH TIME

Head-to-head timeline

Meetings are listed oldest first. Scores and dates reflect the available historical records.

119 games
  1. 1892
    Illinois16 — 16Northwestern
    Oct 12, 1892Tie
  2. 1893
    Illinois0 — 0Northwestern
    Oct 21, 1893Tie
  3. 1894
    Illinois66 — 0Northwestern
    Nov 3, 1894Illinois won
  4. 1895
    Illinois38 — 4Northwestern
    Nov 23, 1895Illinois won
  5. 1896
    Illinois4 — 10Northwestern
    Nov 7, 1896Northwestern won
  6. 1900
    Illinois0 — 0Northwestern
    Oct 20, 1900Tie
  7. 1901
    Illinois11 — 17Northwestern
    Oct 26, 1901Northwestern won
  8. 1902
    Illinois17 — 0Northwestern
    Nov 22, 1902Illinois won
  9. 1903
    Illinois11 — 12Northwestern
    Oct 31, 1903Northwestern won
  10. 1904
    Illinois6 — 12Northwestern
    Nov 12, 1904Northwestern won
  11. 1908
    Illinois64 — 8Northwestern
    Nov 21, 1908Illinois won
  12. 1909
    Illinois35 — 0Northwestern
    Nov 13, 1909Illinois won
  13. 1910
    Illinois27 — 0Northwestern
    Nov 12, 1910Illinois won
  14. 1911
    Illinois27 — 13Northwestern
    Nov 18, 1911Illinois won
  15. 1912
    Illinois0 — 6Northwestern
    Nov 23, 1912Northwestern won
  16. 1913
    Illinois37 — 0Northwestern
    Oct 18, 1913Illinois won
  17. 1914
    Illinois33 — 0Northwestern
    Oct 24, 1914Illinois won
  18. 1915
    Illinois36 — 6Northwestern
    Oct 23, 1915Illinois won
  19. 1922
    Illinois6 — 3Northwestern
    Nov 4, 1922Illinois won
  20. 1923
    Illinois29 — 0Northwestern
    Oct 27, 1923Illinois won
  21. 1927
    Illinois7 — 6Northwestern
    Oct 22, 1927Illinois won
  22. 1928
    Illinois6 — 0Northwestern
    Oct 27, 1928Illinois won
  23. 1929
    Illinois0 — 7Northwestern
    Nov 2, 1929Northwestern won
  24. 1930
    Illinois0 — 32Northwestern
    Oct 18, 1930Northwestern won
  25. 1931
    Illinois6 — 32Northwestern
    Oct 31, 1931Northwestern won
  26. 1932
    Illinois0 — 26Northwestern
    Oct 15, 1932Northwestern won
  27. 1933
    Illinois3 — 0Northwestern
    Nov 11, 1933Illinois won
  28. 1934
    Illinois14 — 3Northwestern
    Nov 10, 1934Illinois won
  29. 1935
    Illinois3 — 10Northwestern
    Nov 2, 1935Northwestern won
  30. 1936
    Illinois2 — 13Northwestern
    Oct 24, 1936Northwestern won
  31. 1937
    Illinois6 — 0Northwestern
    Nov 6, 1937Illinois won
  32. 1938
    Illinois0 — 13Northwestern
    Oct 22, 1938Northwestern won
  33. 1939
    Illinois0 — 13Northwestern
    Oct 28, 1939Northwestern won
  34. 1940
    Illinois14 — 32Northwestern
    Nov 9, 1940Northwestern won
  35. 1941
    Illinois0 — 27Northwestern
    Nov 22, 1941Northwestern won
  36. 1942
    Illinois14 — 7Northwestern
    Nov 7, 1942Illinois won
  37. 1943
    Illinois6 — 53Northwestern
    Nov 20, 1943Northwestern won
  38. 1944
    Illinois25 — 6Northwestern
    Nov 25, 1944Illinois won
  39. 1945
    Illinois7 — 13Northwestern
    Nov 24, 1945Northwestern won
  40. 1946
    Illinois20 — 0Northwestern
    Nov 23, 1946Illinois won
  41. 1947
    Illinois13 — 28Northwestern
    Nov 22, 1947Northwestern won
  42. 1948
    Illinois7 — 20Northwestern
    Nov 20, 1948Northwestern won
  43. 1949
    Illinois7 — 9Northwestern
    Nov 19, 1949Northwestern won
  44. 1950
    Illinois7 — 14Northwestern
    Nov 25, 1950Northwestern won
  45. 1951
    Illinois3 — 0Northwestern
    Nov 24, 1951Illinois won
  46. 1952
    Illinois26 — 28Northwestern
    Nov 22, 1952Northwestern won
  47. 1953
    Illinois39 — 14Northwestern
    Nov 21, 1953Illinois won
  48. 1954
    Illinois7 — 20Northwestern
    Nov 20, 1954Northwestern won
  49. 1955
    Illinois7 — 7Northwestern
    Nov 19, 1955Tie
  50. 1956
    Illinois13 — 14Northwestern
    Nov 24, 1956Northwestern won
  51. 1957
    Illinois27 — 0Northwestern
    Nov 23, 1957Illinois won
  52. 1958
    Illinois27 — 20Northwestern
    Nov 22, 1958Illinois won
  53. 1959
    Illinois28 — 0Northwestern
    Nov 21, 1959Illinois won
  54. 1960
    Illinois7 — 14Northwestern
    Nov 19, 1960Northwestern won
  55. 1961
    Illinois7 — 28Northwestern
    Oct 7, 1961Northwestern won
  56. 1962
    Illinois0 — 45Northwestern
    Oct 6, 1962Northwestern won
  57. 1963
    Illinois10 — 9Northwestern
    Oct 5, 1963Illinois won
  58. 1964
    Illinois17 — 6Northwestern
    Oct 3, 1964Illinois won
  59. 1965
    Illinois20 — 6Northwestern
    Nov 20, 1965Illinois won
  60. 1966
    Illinois7 — 35Northwestern
    Nov 19, 1966Northwestern won
  61. 1967
    Illinois27 — 21Northwestern
    Nov 18, 1967Illinois won
  62. 1968
    Illinois14 — 0Northwestern
    Nov 16, 1968Illinois won
  63. 1969
    Illinois6 — 10Northwestern
    Oct 11, 1969Northwestern won
  64. 1970
    Illinois0 — 48Northwestern
    Oct 10, 1970Northwestern won
  65. 1971
    Illinois24 — 7Northwestern
    Oct 30, 1971Illinois won
  66. 1972
    Illinois43 — 13Northwestern
    Nov 4, 1972Illinois won
  67. 1973
    Illinois6 — 9Northwestern
    Nov 24, 1973Northwestern won
  68. 1974
    Illinois28 — 14Northwestern
    Nov 23, 1974Illinois won
  69. 1975
    Illinois28 — 7Northwestern
    Nov 22, 1975Illinois won
  70. 1976
    Illinois48 — 6Northwestern
    Nov 20, 1976Illinois won
  71. 1977
    Illinois7 — 21Northwestern
    Nov 19, 1977Northwestern won
  72. 1978
    Illinois0 — 0Northwestern
    Sep 9, 1978Tie
  73. 1979
    Illinois29 — 13Northwestern
    Nov 17, 1979Illinois won
  74. 1980
    Illinois35 — 9Northwestern
    Sep 6, 1980Illinois won
  75. 1981
    Illinois49 — 12Northwestern
    Nov 21, 1981Illinois won
  76. 1982
    Illinois49 — 13Northwestern
    Sep 4, 1982Illinois won
  77. 1983
    Illinois56 — 24Northwestern
    Nov 19, 1983Illinois won
  78. 1984
    Illinois24 — 16Northwestern
    Sep 1, 1984Illinois won
  79. 1985
    Illinois45 — 20Northwestern
    Nov 23, 1985Illinois won
  80. 1986
    Illinois18 — 23Northwestern
    Nov 22, 1986Northwestern won
  81. 1987
    Illinois10 — 28Northwestern
    Nov 21, 1987Northwestern won
  82. 1988
    Illinois14 — 9Northwestern
    Nov 19, 1988Illinois won
  83. 1989
    Illinois63 — 14Northwestern
    Nov 25, 1989Illinois won
  84. 1990
    Illinois28 — 23Northwestern
    Nov 24, 1990Illinois won
  85. 1991
    Illinois11 — 17Northwestern
    Oct 26, 1991Northwestern won
  86. 1992
    Illinois26 — 27Northwestern
    Oct 24, 1992Northwestern won
  87. 1993
    Illinois20 — 13Northwestern
    Oct 30, 1993Illinois won
  88. 1994
    Illinois28 — 7Northwestern
    Oct 29, 1994Illinois won
  89. 1995
    Illinois14 — 17Northwestern
    Oct 28, 1995Northwestern won
  90. 1996
    Illinois24 — 27Northwestern
    Oct 26, 1996Northwestern won
  91. 1997
    Illinois21 — 34Northwestern
    Nov 8, 1997Northwestern won
  92. 1998
    Illinois13 — 10Northwestern
    Oct 3, 1998Illinois won
  93. 1999
    Illinois29 — 7Northwestern
    Nov 20, 1999Illinois won
  94. 2000
    Illinois23 — 61Northwestern
    Nov 18, 2000Northwestern won
  95. 2001
    Illinois34 — 28Northwestern
    Nov 22, 2001Illinois wonMemorial Stadium (Champaign, IL)
  96. 2002
    Illinois31 — 24Northwestern
    Nov 23, 2002Illinois wonRyan Field
  97. 2003
    Illinois20 — 37Northwestern
    Nov 22, 2003Northwestern wonMemorial Stadium (Champaign, IL)
  98. 2004
    Illinois21 — 28Northwestern
    Nov 20, 2004Northwestern wonRyan Field
  99. 2005
    Illinois21 — 38Northwestern
    Nov 19, 2005Northwestern wonMemorial Stadium (Champaign, IL)
  100. 2006
    Illinois16 — 27Northwestern
    Nov 18, 2006Northwestern wonRyan Field
  101. 2007
    Illinois41 — 22Northwestern
    Nov 17, 2007Illinois wonMemorial Stadium (Champaign, IL)
  102. 2008
    Illinois10 — 27Northwestern
    Nov 22, 2008Northwestern wonRyan Field
  103. 2009
    Illinois16 — 21Northwestern
    Nov 14, 2009Northwestern wonMemorial Stadium (Champaign, IL)
  104. 2010
    Illinois48 — 27Northwestern
    Nov 20, 2010Illinois wonRyan Field
  105. 2011
    Illinois38 — 35Northwestern
    Oct 1, 2011Illinois wonMemorial Stadium (Champaign, IL)
  106. 2012
    Illinois14 — 50Northwestern
    Nov 24, 2012Northwestern wonRyan Field
  107. 2013
    Illinois34 — 37Northwestern
    Nov 30, 2013Northwestern wonMemorial Stadium (Champaign, IL)
  108. 2014
    Illinois47 — 33Northwestern
    Nov 29, 2014Illinois wonRyan Field
  109. 2015
    Illinois14 — 24Northwestern
    Nov 28, 2015Northwestern wonSoldier Field
  110. 2016
    Illinois21 — 42Northwestern
    Nov 26, 2016Northwestern wonRyan Field
  111. 2017
    Illinois7 — 42Northwestern
    Nov 25, 2017Northwestern wonMemorial Stadium (Champaign, IL)
  112. 2018
    Illinois16 — 24Northwestern
    Nov 24, 2018Northwestern wonRyan Field
  113. 2019
    Illinois10 — 29Northwestern
    Nov 30, 2019Northwestern wonMemorial Stadium (Champaign, IL)
  114. 2020
    Illinois10 — 28Northwestern
    Dec 12, 2020Northwestern wonRyan Field
  115. 2021
    Illinois47 — 14Northwestern
    Nov 27, 2021Illinois wonMemorial Stadium (Champaign, IL)
  116. 2022
    Illinois41 — 3Northwestern
    Nov 26, 2022Illinois wonRyan Field
  117. 2023
    Illinois43 — 45Northwestern
    Nov 25, 2023Northwestern wonMemorial Stadium (Champaign, IL)
  118. 2024
    Illinois38 — 28Northwestern
    Nov 30, 2024Illinois wonWrigley Field
  119. 2025
    Illinois20 — 13Northwestern
    Nov 30, 2025Illinois wonMemorial Stadium (Champaign, IL)
THE COMPLETE SCOREBOOK

All recorded results

The latest documented meeting appears first.

SeasonMatchupScoreOutcome
2025Illinois vs Northwestern20–13Illinois won
2024Illinois vs Northwestern38–28Illinois won
2023Illinois vs Northwestern43–45Northwestern won
2022Illinois vs Northwestern41–3Illinois won
2021Illinois vs Northwestern47–14Illinois won
2020Illinois vs Northwestern10–28Northwestern won
2019Illinois vs Northwestern10–29Northwestern won
2018Illinois vs Northwestern16–24Northwestern won
2017Illinois vs Northwestern7–42Northwestern won
2016Illinois vs Northwestern21–42Northwestern won
2015Illinois vs Northwestern14–24Northwestern won
2014Illinois vs Northwestern47–33Illinois won
2013Illinois vs Northwestern34–37Northwestern won
2012Illinois vs Northwestern14–50Northwestern won
2011Illinois vs Northwestern38–35Illinois won
2010Illinois vs Northwestern48–27Illinois won
2009Illinois vs Northwestern16–21Northwestern won
2008Illinois vs Northwestern10–27Northwestern won
2007Illinois vs Northwestern41–22Illinois won
2006Illinois vs Northwestern16–27Northwestern won
2005Illinois vs Northwestern21–38Northwestern won
2004Illinois vs Northwestern21–28Northwestern won
2003Illinois vs Northwestern20–37Northwestern won
2002Illinois vs Northwestern31–24Illinois won
2001Illinois vs Northwestern34–28Illinois won
2000Illinois vs Northwestern23–61Northwestern won
1999Illinois vs Northwestern29–7Illinois won
1998Illinois vs Northwestern13–10Illinois won
1997Illinois vs Northwestern21–34Northwestern won
1996Illinois vs Northwestern24–27Northwestern won
1995Illinois vs Northwestern14–17Northwestern won
1994Illinois vs Northwestern28–7Illinois won
1993Illinois vs Northwestern20–13Illinois won
1992Illinois vs Northwestern26–27Northwestern won
1991Illinois vs Northwestern11–17Northwestern won
1990Illinois vs Northwestern28–23Illinois won
1989Illinois vs Northwestern63–14Illinois won
1988Illinois vs Northwestern14–9Illinois won
1987Illinois vs Northwestern10–28Northwestern won
1986Illinois vs Northwestern18–23Northwestern won
1985Illinois vs Northwestern45–20Illinois won
1984Illinois vs Northwestern24–16Illinois won
1983Illinois vs Northwestern56–24Illinois won
1982Illinois vs Northwestern49–13Illinois won
1981Illinois vs Northwestern49–12Illinois won
1980Illinois vs Northwestern35–9Illinois won
1979Illinois vs Northwestern29–13Illinois won
1978Illinois vs Northwestern0–0Tie
1977Illinois vs Northwestern7–21Northwestern won
1976Illinois vs Northwestern48–6Illinois won
1975Illinois vs Northwestern28–7Illinois won
1974Illinois vs Northwestern28–14Illinois won
1973Illinois vs Northwestern6–9Northwestern won
1972Illinois vs Northwestern43–13Illinois won
1971Illinois vs Northwestern24–7Illinois won
1970Illinois vs Northwestern0–48Northwestern won
1969Illinois vs Northwestern6–10Northwestern won
1968Illinois vs Northwestern14–0Illinois won
1967Illinois vs Northwestern27–21Illinois won
1966Illinois vs Northwestern7–35Northwestern won
1965Illinois vs Northwestern20–6Illinois won
1964Illinois vs Northwestern17–6Illinois won
1963Illinois vs Northwestern10–9Illinois won
1962Illinois vs Northwestern0–45Northwestern won
1961Illinois vs Northwestern7–28Northwestern won
1960Illinois vs Northwestern7–14Northwestern won
1959Illinois vs Northwestern28–0Illinois won
1958Illinois vs Northwestern27–20Illinois won
1957Illinois vs Northwestern27–0Illinois won
1956Illinois vs Northwestern13–14Northwestern won
1955Illinois vs Northwestern7–7Tie
1954Illinois vs Northwestern7–20Northwestern won
1953Illinois vs Northwestern39–14Illinois won
1952Illinois vs Northwestern26–28Northwestern won
1951Illinois vs Northwestern3–0Illinois won
1950Illinois vs Northwestern7–14Northwestern won
1949Illinois vs Northwestern7–9Northwestern won
1948Illinois vs Northwestern7–20Northwestern won
1947Illinois vs Northwestern13–28Northwestern won
1946Illinois vs Northwestern20–0Illinois won
1945Illinois vs Northwestern7–13Northwestern won
1944Illinois vs Northwestern25–6Illinois won
1943Illinois vs Northwestern6–53Northwestern won
1942Illinois vs Northwestern14–7Illinois won
1941Illinois vs Northwestern0–27Northwestern won
1940Illinois vs Northwestern14–32Northwestern won
1939Illinois vs Northwestern0–13Northwestern won
1938Illinois vs Northwestern0–13Northwestern won
1937Illinois vs Northwestern6–0Illinois won
1936Illinois vs Northwestern2–13Northwestern won
1935Illinois vs Northwestern3–10Northwestern won
1934Illinois vs Northwestern14–3Illinois won
1933Illinois vs Northwestern3–0Illinois won
1932Illinois vs Northwestern0–26Northwestern won
1931Illinois vs Northwestern6–32Northwestern won
1930Illinois vs Northwestern0–32Northwestern won
1929Illinois vs Northwestern0–7Northwestern won
1928Illinois vs Northwestern6–0Illinois won
1927Illinois vs Northwestern7–6Illinois won
1923Illinois vs Northwestern29–0Illinois won
1922Illinois vs Northwestern6–3Illinois won
1915Illinois vs Northwestern36–6Illinois won
1914Illinois vs Northwestern33–0Illinois won
1913Illinois vs Northwestern37–0Illinois won
1912Illinois vs Northwestern0–6Northwestern won
1911Illinois vs Northwestern27–13Illinois won
1910Illinois vs Northwestern27–0Illinois won
1909Illinois vs Northwestern35–0Illinois won
1908Illinois vs Northwestern64–8Illinois won
1904Illinois vs Northwestern6–12Northwestern won
1903Illinois vs Northwestern11–12Northwestern won
1902Illinois vs Northwestern17–0Illinois won
1901Illinois vs Northwestern11–17Northwestern won
1900Illinois vs Northwestern0–0Tie
1896Illinois vs Northwestern4–10Northwestern won
1895Illinois vs Northwestern38–4Illinois won
1894Illinois vs Northwestern66–0Illinois won
1893Illinois vs Northwestern0–0Tie
1892Illinois vs Northwestern16–16Tie
OUR DATA STANDARD

Sources and historical coverage

These results are compiled from season-by-season records imported from CollegeFootballData. Only games with both final scores are counted. Older seasons and some lower-division records may be incomplete; the earliest documented year is not necessarily the first meeting ever played.

Page updated November 7, 2026 · Historical records are subject to correction.