MATCHDAY | What to Watch: #23 Illinois hosts Purdue in 100th all-time meeting, Cannon Trophy Rivalry

No. 23 Illinois returns to Memorial Stadium after a two-game road trip to host CT Purdue on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. Playing at home as a ranked team for the first time since 2022, the Fighting Illini will face the Boilermakers for The Cannon in Champaign.

The Orange and Blue will look to win the Rivalry Cup for the first time since 2019, while Illinois will look to upset Purdue at Memorial Stadium for the first time since 2010.

After suffering their first of two shutouts of the 2024 season in Week 6, the Illini are 4-1 overall and 1-1 in Big Ten play, having won their first four games of the season before falling to No .9 Penn suffered a setback on September 28th.

The Boilermakers (1-4, 0-2 Big Ten) make the short trip west while on a four-game skid, most recently losing a road contest to Wisconsin last week. Purdue has won each of the last four meetings between the teams, including a win over Illinois in West Lafayette, Indiana, last year.

Illini head coach Bret Bielema The goal is to beat the Boilermakers for the first time since taking the helm of the Illinois football program, and he knows nothing will be easy as two rivals face off with a trophy on the line.

“When you go to the Big Ten, not just because we're playing for a cup or a rivalry,” Bielema said, “you have to come to play every weekend and prepare that way.”

Here are a few storylines to watch as Illinois and Purdue face off at The Cannon.

A productive week off

After five games to open the 2024 season, the Orange-Blue took a well-deserved break last week, giving the team a chance to reflect on the season so far and get some much-needed rest and recovery during another tough stretch of the Big Ten -Games.

Illinois is using the time for self-evaluation and recruiting and enters the sixth week of play of the year with increased energy and focus after a productive break for the head coach Bret Bielema and the Illini.

“A lot happens during a bye week,” Illinois offensive coordinator said Barry Lunney Jr. “We freshened up our players. We have developed some younger players. We had good training with them. All in all it was a good time for us.”

The Illini will now play four consecutive games, three of which will be played at Memorial Stadium and two of which will be against ranked opponents. After Saturday's game against Purdue, Illinois hosts No. 24 Michigan for the Memorial Stadium Rededication Game on Oct. 19 before facing Big Ten newcomers No. 3 Oregon (October 26) and Minnesota (November 2). starts.

The quick beginnings of 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 points on their last four opening drives, including touchdowns on the first possession in each of their last three games.

The Illini have scored first in all five games so far, while holding a lead after the first quarter in each of their three home games.

The Boilermakers, however, struggled to contain opponents' attacks in the first quarter and were outscored 35-7 in the first period of their five games. Purdue has yet to score in the first quarter during its four-game losing streak, although it has allowed just one opening drive score so far this season – a five-play, 75-yard drive that resulted in a touchdown against Notre Dame .

Offensive Coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. has attributed his unit's early success to finding an early rhythm and quickly building confidence. The Illini will look to continue that trend Saturday against the Boilermakers.

“One of the things that stands out is that when our guys are in rhythm, we do pretty well. One of the best things you can do to get into rhythm is get early first downs, and we did that.” “You can't do that on those drives,” Lunney said. “We need to do a better job of creating that rhythm on other drives and play with the same rhythm beyond the opening drive.”

“I am confident that our players can do this if we put them in good situations.”

The cannon

Saturday's contest marks the 100th meeting between Illinois and Purdue, although it will be the 75th time the two teams have competed for The Cannon. The Boilermakers are ahead in both the overall series (48-45-6) and the traditional trophy series (42-30-2), but the Illini coaches know anything can happen when two rivals face off.

“Let’s not forget that this is a rivalry game. Regardless of what they're dealing with and what they're going through, they have good players and really good coaches. At the end of the day, this is a rivalry game,” said Illinois defensive coordinator Aaron Henry. “I fully expect it to be the first game of the year when they walk into this stadium and it's a brand new season because it's a rivalry game. You have to throw everything else they’re going through out the window.”

“It's about us playing good football. It's about us doing what we're supposed to do in terms of our job in every single game. I know it’s going to be a live atmosphere, so we’re really looking forward to it.”

Henry, who has competed for rivalry trophies as both a player and coach, knows how much it would mean to bring the Cannon back to the Illini's ownership for the first time in his fourth season with the program.

“It's really cool. We haven’t had it yet, so I can’t say much about it,” Henry said. “We have some people in the building who had The Cannon, but the reality is that participating in these trophy games and these rivalry games is so sacred to college football and the sanctity and the brotherhood because it's a tradition.” That this I think the game is an opportunity to play something is really incredible, not only for us as coaches, but also for our players.

“Ultimately the aim is to win every game, but when it comes to the cup there’s a bit more spice added.”

Opponent scout

The Boilermaker offense is led by senior quarterback Hudson Card, who is in his second season with the program after beginning his college career at Texas. Through Purdue's first five games of 2024, Card recorded 738 passing yards, seven passing scores and four interceptions while completing 63.4% (71 of 112) of his attempts. QB Ryan Browne also had snaps under center and went 7-for-11 for 68 yards in two games.

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 and 60 carries, although Love isn't far behind with 210 rushing yards and two rushing scores.

Two different Boilermakers have recorded double-digit catches in the Boilermakers' first five games – tight end Max Klare and wide receiver Jaron Tibbs. Klare leads Purdue with 15 receptions for 219 yards while tied for the team lead with two receiving touchdowns (with sophomore wide receivers De'Nylon Morrissette and Leland Smith). Klare and WR Jahmal Edrine each exceeded 100 receiving yards this season.

On defense, Kyndrich Breedlove is the only Boilermaker to record an interception this season, and he hit two picks against Wisconsin last week. Defensive back Dillon Thieneman recorded a team-best 42 tackles, a mark tied for fifth in the conference, while linebacker Kydran Jenkins recorded a team-best 3.5 sacks and 5.5 tackles.

Purdue has made the second-fewest field goals in the Big Ten, with kicker Spencer Porath going 3-for-4 all season with a 45-yard kick.

Kickoff at Memorial Stadium is scheduled for Saturday at 2:30 p.m. CT on FS1.