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No. 23 Illinois returns to Memorial Stadium after a two-game road trip, hosting Purdue on Saturday at 2:30 PM CT. Playing at home as a ranked team for the first time since 2022, the Fighting Illini will take on the Boilermakers for The Cannon in Champaign.
The Orange and Blue are aiming to win the Rivalry Cup for the first time since 2019, while Illinois looks to derail Purdue at Memorial Stadium for the first time since 2010.
After taking the first two weeks of the 2024 season into Week 6, the Illini are 4-1 overall and 1-1 in the Big Ten after winning their first four games of the season before suffering a setback at No. 9 Penn. State on September 28.
The Boilermakers (1-4, 0-2 Big Ten) make the short trip west while sledding through four games, most recently dropping a road contest to Wisconsin last week. Purdue has won each of the last four meetings between the two sides, including a win over Illinois in West Lafayette, Ind., last year.
Illini coach Bret Bielema is aiming to defeat the Boilermakers for the first time since taking over the Illinois football program, and he knows nothing will be easy when two rivals face off with the Cup on the line.
“When you get into a Big Ten game, not just because we’re playing for a title or a contender, you have to come play every weekend and prepare that way,” Bielema said.
Here are some of the storylines you can watch as Illinois and Purdue clash in The Cannon.
A productive week out of the week
After five games to open the 2024 season, the Orange and Blue took a well-deserved time off last week, giving the team a chance to reflect on the season so far and get some much-needed rest and recovery before another tough stretch of Big Ten games.
Using the time to self-evaluate and do some recruiting, Illinois enters its sixth week of games of the year with increased energy and focus after a productive off week for head coach Bret Bielema and the Illini.
“There’s a lot going on during the bye week,” Illinois offensive coordinator Barry Looney Jr. said. “We got our players fresh. We developed some younger players. We got some good training with them. Overall, it was like that.” A good period for us.”
The Illini will now play four straight games, three of which will be at Memorial Stadium and two of which will be against ranked opponents. After facing Purdue on Saturday, Illinois will host No. 24 Michigan in a rededication game at Memorial Stadium on Oct. 19 before traveling to face Big Ten newcomer No. 3 Oregon (Oct. 26) and host Minnesota (Nov. 2).
Hot start for the Illini offense
After being forced to punt on their first possession against Eastern Illinois, the Fighting Illini have found early success in each of their last four games. The Orange and Blue have scored on their last four opening drives, including a touchdown on the first possession in each of the last three contests.
The Illini have opened the scoring in all five games so far, while holding leads after the first quarter during each of their three home contests.
The Boilermakers, on the other hand, struggled to contain opposing offenses in the first quarter and were outscored 35-7 during the opening period of play across their five games. Purdue has yet to score in the first quarter during its four-game losing streak, though it has allowed just one score on the opening drive — a 5-play, 75-yard drive that led to a touchdown against Notre Dame — so far this season.
Offensive coordinator Barry Looney Jr. attributed his unit’s early success to finding an early rhythm and building confidence quickly. The Illini will aim to continue that trend against the Boilermakers on Saturday.
“One of the things that stands out is that when our guys are in a rhythm, we execute well. One of the best things you can do to get into a rhythm is get early first downs, and that’s what we’ve been able to do on those drives,” Looney said. “We have to do a better job of creating that rhythm on the other drives and playing with the same rhythm after the opening drive.
“I’m confident our players can do it when we put them in good situations.”
Cannon
Saturday’s contest marks the 100th meeting between Illinois and Purdue, though it will be the 75th time the two sides have battled over the Cannon. The Boilermakers hold the advantage in both the overall series, 48-45-6, and the traditional Cup Series, 42-30-2, but the Illini coaches know anything can happen when two rivals face each other.
“Let’s not forget that this is a rivalry game. Despite what they’re dealing with and what they’re going through, they have really good players and really good coaches. At the end of the day, this is a rivalry game,” he said. Illinois defensive coordinator Aaron Henry. “I fully expect that when they step on that field, it will be the first game of the year and it’s a whole new season because it’s a rivalry game. You have to throw everything they’re going through out the window.”
“It’s about playing good football. It’s about us doing what we’re supposed to do in terms of our job every game. I know it’s going to be a live atmosphere, so we’re really looking forward to that.”
Henry, who has battled for titles as a player and coach, knows how important it is to have The Cannon back on the Illini team for the first time in his fourth season with the program.
“It’s really cool,” Henry said. “We haven’t had it yet, so I can’t say much about it.” “We have some people in the building who played The Cannon, but the reality is when you play in these Cup games and these rivalry games, it’s so sacred to college football and the sanctity and the brotherhood because it’s a tradition that’s been established for years on end, to have this game be an opportunity to play for something.” I think it’s really incredible, not only for us as coaches but for our players as well.
“Ultimately, the goal is to win every game, but there is more sauce and juice when it comes to the title.”
Discount scout
Leading the Boilermaker offense is senior quarterback Hudson Card, who is in his second season with the program after starting his college career at Texas. Through Purdue’s first five games of 2024, Card has recorded 738 passing yards, seven passing scores, and four interceptions while completing 63.4% (71-for-112) of his attempts. QB Ryan Browne also got snaps under center, playing in two games while going 7-for-11 for 68 yards.
The rushing attack features RB Devin Mockobee and former Illinois running back Reggie Love III. Mockobee leads the Boilermakers with 362 yards on the ground on 60 carries, though Love is not far behind with 210 rushing yards and two rushing scores to lead the team.
Two different Boilermakers tallied double-digit catches — tight end Max Klare and wide receiver Jaron Tibbs — through the Boilermakers’ first five games. Klare leads Purdue with 15 receptions for 219 yards while tied for the team lead with two touchdown receptions (with sophomore wide receivers De’Nylon Morrissette and Leland Smith). Klare and WR Jahmal Edrine have both topped 100 receiving yards this season.
On defense, Kendrich Breedlove is the only Boilermaker to record an interception this season, and he had two picks against Wisconsin last week. Defensive back Dillon Thienemann had a team-high 42 tackles, a mark tied for fifth in the conference, while linebacker Kedran Jenkins recorded a team-best 3.5 sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss.
Purdue attempted the second-fewest field goals in the Big Ten, as kicker Spencer Porath went 3-for-4 with a season-long 45-yard kicker.
Kickoff from Memorial Stadium is scheduled for Saturday at 2:30 PM Central on FS1.
