Welcome back to The NorthwesternRoundtable Podcast! In this new episode, Gavin Dorsey and Ryan Cole break down the Wildcats' thrilling 38-35 win over Minnesota at Wrigley Field and discuss the trajectory of Northwestern's football program as a whole.

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Now 6-5 entering the final week of the regular season, Northwestern has a bowl game appearance locked up after beating Minnesota in the final seconds last Saturday. Thanks to a clutch 33-yard field goal from Jack Olsen to take the lead and a subsequent missed 40-yarder by Minnesota's Brady Denaburg as time expired, the Wildcats clinched a trip to the postseason for the second time in three years.

Northwestern will hit the road on Saturday for a night contest against Illinois, seeking to win the Land of Lincoln Trophy back from its rivals. After defeating the Illini during an action-packed contest in 2023, 45-43, the 'Cats fell by 10 at the end of last season's 4-8 campaign.

At 4-4 in conference play, Northwestern is tied for eighth in the Big Ten with Nebraska, Minnesota and Illinois. A victory on Saturday could land the Wildcats in a higher-quality bowl game next month, as well as earn revenge on their in-state foes.

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