Coach Bret Bielema's Illinois Fighting Illini are scheduled to take on the Maryland Terrapins in College Park, Maryland at 12:00 p.m. ET, a game that means a lot to both teams for different reasons.

The Fighting Illini are trying to complete their march toward bowl eligibility and the upper echelon of the Big Ten, while the Terrapins are playing for pride, and interim head coach Aazaar Abdul-Rahim, who has taken over for the departed Mike Locksley. 

On the night before the game, it was revealed that one of Illinois' key players, quarterback Katin Houser, has a chance to play, far ahead of schedule after he broke his right throwing hand. 

Houser was listed as doubtful on the Fighting Illini's injury report leading up to Saturday, but word broke of his updated status later on in the week. 

He was listed as doubtful on Wednesday and Thursday, but was added to the report as "questionable" on Friday. Houser is just two weeks removed from surgery on his broken right throwing hand, which he suffered in the third quarter of a 38-37 win over the Michigan State Spartans in overtime in East Lansing. He was expected to miss 4-6 weeks but is ahead of schedule in his recovery. 

Bielema said Houser threw passes on Wednesday in practice, but "not to the level of what it was" before his injury, according to 247Sports.com's Jeremy Werner. 

"When we get Katin back, it'll be awesome, I can't put a timeframe on it, but he's definitely been involved, and it's good to have him back out there," Bielema said. 

Michael Clayton II led Illinois to its win over Michigan State after Houser departed, and then followed it up with an encore against Oregon in Week 8 at Gies Memorial Stadium in Champaign.

Clayton II led Illinois to a 21-10 win over the Oregon Ducks, showing his teammates that he can play as well in games as he has in practices. 

Clayton II, a true freshman, has shown maturity and leadership beyond his years, although he hasn't exactly wowed on the stat sheet. His two second-half touchdowns against Oregon last week nonetheless showed his moxie and fearlessness in a game against a team predicted to make the College Football Playoffs before the year started.

If Houser can't start the Maryland game, Illinois will feel comfortable with Clayton II, although he has a tough challenge to tackle in Terps QB Malik Washington, who has passed for over 1,600 yards this season.

If Clayton II falters, Houser might be healthy enough to back him up, which could lead to a reverse scenario of the Michigan State game happening in College Park, in terms of the Illini's quarterback rotation.