NORTHWESTERN

Starting quarterback C.J. Bacher was held out of practice Tuesday with a sore toe injured during Saturday’s loss to Ohio State. He still is expected to start the season finale Saturday. “We’re just giving him an extra day of rest,” said coach Pat Fitzgerald, who also gave the day off to safety Reggie McPherson and cornerback Sherrick McManis. . . . As NU prepares for its 100th meeting with Illinois (43-51-5), Fitzgerald looks at the Illini and sees some similarities other than their 1-6 Big Ten records. “They remind me of us,” he said. “We’ve improved through the course of year . . . but it’s now and this game is big for both of us.”