Illinois vs. Iowa in a NCAA football game at Memorial Stadium in Champaign on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020.
Kevin Cronin of REO Speedwagon performs during half time of the Illinois Iowa football game. NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in Champaign, Ill. (Photo/Holly Hart)
Illinois running back Reggie Love III (28) runs the ball as Iowa’s defensive back Dane Belton (4) attempts the tackle in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)
Illinois linebacker Jake Hansen (35) and Illinois defensive back Derrick Smith (2) close in on Iowa's running back Tyler Goodson (15) in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)
in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)
Illinois running back Chase Brown (2) tries to out run Iowa's linebacker Nick Niemann (49) in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)
Illinois quarterback Brandon Peters (18) looks for an open man as he gets a block from Illinois offensive lineman Verdis Brown (52) against Iowa defensive end Joe Evans (13) in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in Champaign, Ill.
Illinois quarterback Brandon Peters (18) looks for an open man as teammate defensive lineman Marc Mondesir (54) fends off Iowa's defensive lineman Zach VanValkenburg (97)in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)
Illinois quarterback Brandon Peters tries to escape from the pressure applied by Iowa defensive linemen Joe Evans (13) and Daviyon Nixon (54) during Saturday’s Big Ten game at Memorial Stadium in Champaign. Peters and the Illini jumped out to a 14-0 lead before the 24th-ranked Hawkeyes stormed back for a 35-21 victory.
Illinois linebacker Sean Coghlan (51) and Illinois defensive back Jartavius Martin (21) pursue Iowa's wide receiver Charlie Jones (16) in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)
Illinois quarterback Isaiah Williams (1) runs the ball against Iowa in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)
Illinois wide receiver Donny Navarro (86) tries to bring down a pass as Iowa's defensive back Kaevon Merriweather (26) defends in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)
Illinois defensive back Derrick Smith (2) makes a grab for Iowa's wide receiver Tyrone Tracy Jr. (3) in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)
Illinois quarterback Isaiah Williams (1) tries to shake Iowa's defensive back Jermari Harris (27) in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)
Illinois quarterback Isaiah Williams (1) scrambles away from Iowa's defensive lineman Chauncey Golston (57) in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)
Illinois quarterback Isaiah Williams (1) fakes a hand off to Illinois running back Reggie Love III (28) in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)
Illinois wide receiver Dalevon Campbell (19) tries to keep his balance after being hit by Iowa's defensive back Quinn Schulte (30) in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)
Illinois place kicker James McCourt (17) attempts an onside kick in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)
Illinois Head Coach, Lovie Smith shakes hands with Iowa Head Coach Kirk Fenentz after Iowa defended Illinois 35-21 in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)
Lovie Smith shakes hands with his senior class before the start of the Iowa game.
Tight end Daniel Barker has 16 receptions for 214 yards so far this season, including a 24-yard touchdown catch during Illinois’ 35-21 home loss to Iowa last Saturday. The Illini will next play No. 15 Northwestern at 11 a.m. Saturday in Evanston.
It looks like Lovie Smith will call plays in 2021. The former Illini coach is reportedly set to become the Houston Texans’ defensive coordinator.
Illinois wide receiver Josh Imatorbhebhe (9) reaches up for a pass as Iowa’s defensive back Riley Moss (33) defends in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)
Illinois quarterback Brandon Peters (18) runs the ball pursued by Iowa's defensive lineman Chauncey Golston (57) and Iowa's defensive back Dane Belton (4) in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)
Illinois Head Coach Lovie Smith poses with his Seniors before the Iowa game, NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)
Illinois Head Coach Lovie Smith greets each of his Senior class before the start of the Iowa game. NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)
Illinois running back Chase Brown (2) out runs Iowa's defensive lineman Chauncey Golston (57) with some help from Illinois defensive lineman Marc Mondesir (54) in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)
Defensive tackle Roderick Perry II will try to help an Illini defense that has its fair share of injuries try and slow down Northwestern when the two in-state rivals meet for an 11 a.m. kickoff on Saturday in Evanston.