(From Illinois Sports Information Office)
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois running back Aidan Laughery was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week, the conference office announced Monday.
Laughery ran for 172 yards and three touchdowns, both career-high marks, to lead Illinois to a 38-28 win over Northwestern at Wrigley Field. He scored on runs of 64, 31, and 30 yards, while averaging over 14 yards per carry.
Laughery's first touchdown gave Illinois a 7-3 lead, while his second and third touchdowns each turned a one-possession game into two-possession Illini leads during the second half.
Laughery became the third player to run for 170+ yards and 3+ touchdowns in a Big Ten game this season (Kaleb Johnson, Iowa at Minnesota; Tawee Walker, Wisconsin at Rutgers), and he became the third Power-4 player to rush for 14.0+ yards per carry on 10+ carries this season (Bhayshul Tutten, Virginia Tech vs. Boston College; Jalen Milroe, Alabama at LSU).
Illinois finished the regular season at 9-3 overall and 6-3 in the Big Ten after the win over Northwestern. The Illini are ranked No. 21 in this week's AP Top 25 and Coaches Poll.
Illinois Football Preview - Western Michigan - #501
ListenIllini Destroy Duke 45-19 #500
ListenIllini FB at Duke & Arch Panic - S5Ep4 - 9.5.25
ListenIllini Football Preview versus Duke - #499
ListenIllini Destroy Leathernecks 52-3 - #498
ListenIllini FB is Here, So Is Petrovic & Illini in NFL - S5Ep3 - 8.29.25
ListenI on the Illini - Western Illinois Preview #497
ListenIllini FB & BB Updates & Phil Steele on the 2025 Illini FB Season - S5Ep2 - 8.22.25
Listen1st Show of 5th Season, Illini FB Ranked #12 - S5Ep1 - 8.15.25
ListenThe Top 5 Illini Basketball Coaches in IlliniGuy Memory - #496
ListenGreg Glass – NIL Primer & Can Fanstake.com Help Attract & Retain Athletic Talent - #495
ListenInterviews with Bret Bielema, Cam Crocker & Matt Stevens - S4Ep52 - 8.8.25
ListenIllini FB Coach Bret Bielema Chats with Mike & Rob Louthain Talks NIL & Illini Media - #494
ListenIlliniGuys Top 5 Fighting Illini Cs in our Lifetime - #493
ListenKed's Recruiting Roundup with Davon Grant
Listen