The Zeitgeist List · rivalries
Land of Lincoln Trophy
See both programs’ full 91-year Zeitgeist History, side by side →2 players crossed straight to the rival since 2021 — the turncoat ledger →
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
biggest crowd
42,310
2023
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
The draft ledger
Every NFL Draft pick either program has produced since the modern era began, decade by decade.
draft picks
101–68
Illinois leads
1st-rounders
10–7
since
1967
first CFBD-carried draft class
1960s4–5
1970s8–10
1980s16–5
1990s17–13
2000s19–13
2010s20–13
2020s17–9
Best picks, either side
1990Jeff George QuarterbackRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
1983Chris Hinton Offensive GuardRd 1, pick 4#4 overall
1967Casimir Banaszek Tight EndRd 1, pick 11#11 overall
1993Brad Hopkins Offensive TackleRd 1, pick 13#13 overall
1983Tony Eason QuarterbackRd 1, pick 15#15 overall
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