Of the top 10 teams in the BCS standings, Cincinnati, now fifth in the standings, was the only school to top 70 percent in both reports.

After year-long whining and bleating about "having to travel to Cincinnati in late November," consider the fortuitous aspect of a schedule that allows an underachieving UI football team one last venture into the national spotlight (11 a.m., Nov. 27) ... one grand opportunity to cap a miserable season by engaging a 10-0 Bearcat club on the doorstep of a perfect season.

For the weenies who would rather see Illinois play Williams & Mary, with William staying home, Tatelines says "phooey." Go play somebody.

Staff writer Bob Asmussen looks back at Saturday's loss to Northwestern and ahead to Illinois' game at Cincinnati on Nov. 27.

Illini-Bearcats set for early kickoff

CHAMPAIGN – If Juice Williams is healthy, he will start the Nov. 27 game at Cincinnati.

"We'll go into this game with Juice as the quarterback," Ron Zook said Sunday. "I think we owe Juice more than that. He's a warrior. He's a fighter. And he'll be ready to go.

Stan Wallace

Sunday marks the 78th anniversary of the birth of former Illinois and professional football star Stan Wallace. A native of Hillsboro, Wallace played defensive back and fullback for the Illini under coach Ray Eliot. Two of the three Illinois teams on which Wallace played from 1951 to '53 were successful.

CHAMPAIGN – The Illinois coach didn't want to hear it. No complaints about officiating calls. No whining about missed opportunities.

His team lost. Period. To Northwestern ... for the sixth time in seven years. The 21-16 victory by the Wildcats eliminated Zook's fifth team from bowl consideration.

A look at how former Illini fared in the NFL in Week 10