Jackson had another huge season in an otherwise stagnant Northwestern offense, and is already rising up the list of Northwestern’s all-time best running backs.
Justin Jackson was getting the ball yet again. With Northwestern clinging to a seven point lead after a disastrous pick-six to end the third quarter, there was little doubt that Mike McCall would start the next drive with Thorson handing the ball off to the sophomore running back. The game was now in the balance. Illinois had improbably swung the momentum in their favor after going down 21-7 in the first quarter. Northwestern needed to stabilize things, and the offense needed to do anything but go three-and-out.