EVANSTON - Center Ryan McDonald sobbed openly 30 minutes after the game while linebacker Brit Miller waxed philosophic and defensive tackle David Lindquist wandered in the dark outside Ryan Field. | Photo gallery | Big Ten scoreboard | NCAA football page | U Pick 'Em

The three Illinois seniors suffered through a two-year span when the Illini were 4-19 and experienced the elation of last season's unexpected Rose Bowl run.

But no one could make sense of a season that ended Saturday with a 27-10 loss to Northwestern, as Illinois failed to reach a bowl game and finished under .500 one year after being lauded as the nation's most-improved team.

"I feel bad we didn't get it done," coach Ron Zook said. "As I told them, blame the coaches, blame me. It's our job to get these guys to play the way they're capable and we didn't do it. But I'm not going back on what I've said: This is a good football team."

The Illini certainly didn't show it during a season-ending three-game losing streak. And they didn't show it in the first half when Northwestern (9-3 overall, 5-3 in the Big Ten) held them scoreless and essentially took control of the game.

Illinois (5-7, 3-5) had two good drives, both coming in the third quarter. But when quarterback Juice Williams lost a fumble with seven minutes left, all hope was lost.

Moments after Northwestern recovered the fumble, the referee accidentally turned on his microphone and muttered, "End this thing, will ya?" Zook couldn't have agreed more, and he was the first one off the field after the game.

"Pretty much everyone is feeling bad right now," Williams said. "We worked so hard and to be a game short of bowl eligibility is a feeling you can't describe. It's something that's going to eat away at you."

Illinois had one of the most explosive offenses in the country early in the season but ended with a whimper, producing the team's poorest output of 2008 and the lowest since scoring six points at Iowa last season.

Williams was sacked five times and pressured on many more occasions. The running game struggled as it has for the better part of the last six weeks with the running backs rushing for 21 yards.

"It has been our Achilles heel, getting behind the chains and having tough sledding trying to get the running game going," offensive coordinator Mike Locksley said. "We made bad decisions in the passing game, had a tough time protecting and the quarterback made terrible decisions."

The Illinois defense allowed Northwestern quarterback C.J. Bacher to constantly complete intermediate range passes that added up to long drives.

The Wildcats went 77 yards on their second possession and 60 on their third, scoring on a 1-yard run by Stephen Simmons and a 14-yard pass from Bacher to Ross Lane.

"We knew they'd get yards," Miller said. "They have a smart quarterback and their receivers run routes that cause our Cover 2 (defense) some problems. I thought their offensive line held well today. We were getting in his face but a little too late and too little."

Williams led the Illini's only touchdown drive, capped by a 1-yard run by Jason Ford, to open the third quarter to cut the Northwestern lead to 13-7.

After the Wildcats kicked a field goal, Williams took Illinois to the Northwestern 3-yard line. On third down, he rolled out and seemed to have ample room to run the ball in but never made a move for the goal line and was tackled for no loss. Illinois settled for a field goal and the Wildcats took over the game.

Despite the sacks, Williams rushed for 94 yards, often averting pressure from rushers by slipping out of the pocket for big gains. So, Locksley was puzzled why he didn't try to score on the third-down play.

"I thought he had a chance to attack the line of scrimmage," Locksley said. "He had done a decent job of that. … Why on that play he didn't, we have to find out."

That can be added to the long list of questions that surround the Illini, who started the season with a No. 20 national ranking but failed to win consecutive games after beating Western Illinois and Louisiana Lafayette.

As a result, they continued the program's inability to put together consecutive winning seasons.

"The biggest thing is we have to try to put a finger on why," Zook said. "Everyone wants to know and no one more than myself. We may never find out."

Scoring summary

First Quarter

Wildcats - Stephen Simmons 1 yard TD run (Amado Villarreal Kick Failed) 2:24

Second Quarter

Wildcats - Ross Lane 14 yard TD pass from C.J. Bacher (Amado Villarreal Extra Point) 12:07

Third Quarter

Illini - Jason Ford 1 yard TD run (Matt Eller Extra Point) 9:45

Wildcats - Amado Villarreal 28 yard field goal 2:41

Fourth Quarter

Illini - Matt Eller 21 yard field goal 12:24

Wildcats - Eric Peterman 18 yard TD pass from C.J. Bacher (2pt conversion attempt GOOD) 9:08

Wildcats - Amado Villarreal 24 yard field goal 2:44

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