The Zeitgeist List · rivalries
Land of Lincoln Trophy
See both programs’ full 91-year Zeitgeist History, side by side →Illinois leads the all-time series 59–55–5. They've met 119 times since 1892. Illinois once took 7 straight.
Stature & the series, 1892–2025
Both programs’ standing over time in their colors, with every meeting beneath — read down to see who was bigger and who won.
all-time
59–55–5
Illinois leads
streak
2
Illinois in a row
longest run
7
Illinois
biggest win
66
Illinois, 1894
first met
1892
119 meetings
The coaching duels
Ray Eliot vs Robert Voigts2–6
Robert Zuppke vs Pappy Waldorf1–5
Ron Turner vs Randy Walker3–3
Ron Zook vs Pat Fitzgerald3–3
Ray Eliot vs Pappy Waldorf3–2
Mike White vs Dennis Green5–0
Recent meetings
2025Illinois20–13
2024Illinois38–28
2023Northwestern45–43
2022Illinois41–3
2021Illinois47–14
2020Northwestern28–10
2019Northwestern29–10
2018Northwestern24–16
2017Northwestern42–7
2016Northwestern42–21
2015Northwestern24–14
2014Illinois47–33
2013Northwestern37–34
2012Northwestern50–14