Jacob Charest News

Minnesota safety Kyle Theret tackles Illinois running back Jason Ford during second-half action on Saturday, November 7, 2009, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Mikel Leshore is the leading rusher with 536 yards and three touchdowns on 88 carries.

Only one Big Ten team is in action this week, so I've limited this to four items.

ILLINOIS: The Illini suffered their seventh loss of the season over the weekend, dropping a 21-16 decision to Northwestern.

Georgia Tech clinched the ACC Coastal division with a 2nd straight dominating win over Duke.

CHAMPAIGNa 'Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald was three years old when Illinois coach Ron Zook began his coaching career at Murray State, five years old when Zook left Murray State for Cincinnati, and eight years old when Zook took over as defensive coordinator at Kansas.

University of Illinois football players and coaches have all thought about it and talked about it.

Illinois linebacker Ian Thomas brings down Northwestern running back Jacob Schmidt during the first half.

Mike Kafka spent the third quarter carving up the Illinois' defense and building a 21-3 lead for Northwestern.

Like most football fans, the Illini believed. Why wouldn't they? A three-year starter at quarterback.

For most of the season, Jacob Charest was the No. 3 quarterback for Illinois and thus able to spend Sunday afternoons with his girlfriend or playing video games.

Illinois will start redshirt freshman Jacob Charest at quarterback Saturday against Northwestern, a source told ESPN.com's Joe Schad.

Along with playing for the win, in-state bragging rights and a chance to go to a bowl game, the Illini players will be playing for something else on Saturday - a hat.

Northwestern vs. Illinois , Saturday, Noon ET Line: Illinois by 5. Series Record: Illinois leads, 52-45-5. Last meeting: 2008, Northwestern 27-10. What's at Stake Northwestern has two shots left to improve its bowl position, while Illinois, with three games left, is fighting the odds to win out and gain bowl eligibility after a 1-6 start.

Illini's Charest getting ready for possible start against Northwestern CHAMPAIGN, Ill.

Zook told reporters Tuesday that Williams' ankle is improving faster than originally expected.

Illinois quarterback Juice Williams leaves the field on crutches after injuring his ankle in Iliinois' 35-32 win over Minnesota.

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg Redshirt freshman Jacob Charest likely will make his first career start at quarterback for Illinois as the team tries to maintain its slim bowl hopes this week against Northwestern .

At the start of the season, Illinois' offense made a deal with the defense. They'd lend the defense Terry Hawthorne , but they didn't want to give the defense exclusive rights to the talented freshman.

Illinois quarterback Juice Williams left the game against Minnesota with an apparent left leg injury.