 However, having lost starting QB Trevor Siemian to a season-ending injury during the Purdue game, the Wildcats came out flat in the game and the Illini raced to a 47–33 victory that kept the 'Cats home for the holidays for the second straight year.After suffering through back-to-back losing seasons for the first time in his Northwestern tenure, Fitzgerald faced an uncertain season in 2015.The team had to replace senior quarterback Trevor Siemian who was drafted in the 7th round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos and turned to redshirt freshman Clayton Thorson.