The Big Ten West is seemingly there for the taking after the Illini dismantled Wisconsin in Madison last week and cost Paul Chryst his job.

Saturday’s winner between Illinois and Iowa will stay atop the division with favorable matchups on the horizon. Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz noted that Illinois is “three points away from being undefeated” and has improved significantly on offense. 

Second-year Illinois coach Bret Bielema has Champaign buzzing with excitement, but a win over the Hawkeyes for the first time since 2008 could take the excitement to a fever pitch.

The margin for error is smaller than usual this year for another talented Iowa defense because of struggles on the other side of the ball, but if players like DT Lukas Van Ness (five tackles for loss, three sacks) and DE Joe Evans (four tackles for loss, two sacks) can win their matchups and limit Illini RB Chase Brown, the Hawkeyes could walk out of Champaign with another win. 

Veteran Alex Palczewski and junior college transfer Zy Crisler have been particularly effective for the Illini.

Iowa QB Spencer Petras might finally be finding a rapport with someone in the Hawkeyes’ struggling passing attack. He hit sophomore tight end Luke Lachey for four receptions, 84 yards and a touchdown — one of two Petras has thrown in five games — in the loss to Michigan last week. Against the Illini’s No. 3-ranked run defense, Petras will have to hit some targets to move the chains.

Illinois RB Chase Brown leads the nation with 733 rushing yards. He had 129 in the win over the Badgers last week and now has 25 carries of more than 10 yards, a mark that also leads the country. 

In the secondary, Devon Witherspoon and Jartavius Martin rank second and eighth, respectively, with 1.8 and 1.6 passes defended per game.

Iowa has beaten Illinois in eight straight games dating back to 2008, the longest streak in the series in 77 meetings.

Game time is 6:30 pm Saturday night at Memorial Stadium.