Massive snowstorm hits historic college football rivalry game Saturday night

The final week of the college football regular season saw significant snowfall affecting key games, particularly in the Big Ten. In Ann Arbor, Michigan, the No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes faced the No. 15 Michigan Wolverines amidst snowy conditions. Meanwhile, in Champaign, Illinois, Northwestern and the Illinois Fighting Illini played in what Fox Sports reported as the most snow Gies Memorial Stadium has ever experienced, with eight inches on the ground and more expected.

The Illinois-Northwestern matchup, a rivalry dating back to 1892, was played for the Land of Lincoln Trophy. The extreme weather led to Illinois officials closing one side of the stadium, consolidating fans on the west side. The challenging conditions added to the intensity of the historic rivalry game, which was closely followed by fans despite the weather.