CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- This isn't the game of the week, because of the "what" - Northwestern's very unlikely to get a bowl game this year, for example. It's the game of the week, because of the "where" - Wrigley Field, which will host a football game for the first time in 11 seasons.
And this time - shocker - there will be two working end zones, not just one! When Northwestern and Illinois met there in 2010, there wasn't enough space to safely create both end zones. Wrigley's renovations created a little extra room, and construction crews were even able to completely remove the Cubs' home dugout for a bit of extra space. That means Wildcat players will go through the stands to reach the field, and at halftime, they'll go hang out in the bullpen.
As for the action, the Wildcats are hoping to stop a four-game slide that's included three shellackings and a heart-wrenching loss to Iowa. The Wildcats need sturdier defense and better quarterback play entering next season, though it must be said that losing running back Cam Porter right before the first game hampered Pat Fitzgerald's 'Cats from the start.
Purdue is playing to improve its bowl situation - for the Boilermakers, this game and the finale against Indiana are winnable, which would mean 8 wins and perhaps a spot in either the Music City or Las Vegas Bowls on Dec. 30.
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