CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – No. 23 Illinois will return to Memorial Stadium for the first time in four weeks on Saturday, when Purdue makes the short trip to Champaign. The Fighting Illini and Boilermakers will battle for the Cannon, with kickoff slated for 2:30 p.m. CT on FS1.
The Orange and Blue (4-1, 1-1 Big Ten) will play their first conference home game of the year after opening their Big Ten slate with back-to-back away contests against ranked opposition. Illinois began its two-game road swing with a 31-24 overtime win at then-No. 22 Nebraska on Sept. 20 before suffering their first loss of the year in Week 5 at then-No. 9 Penn State.
The Illini boast an unblemished 3-0 home record thus far this season, which includes a shutout win against Eastern Illinois, a 23-17 victory over then-No. 19 Kansas, and a Homecoming triumph versus Central Michigan.
Purdue (1-4, 0-2 Big Ten) arrives in Champaign on a four-game skid, most recently falling on the road to Wisconsin, 52-6, on Saturday. The Boilermakers have won each of their last four meetings with the Illini; Illinois will look to power past Purdue at Memorial Stadium for the first time since 2010.
As part of the team's season-long celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Memorial Stadium, Illinois will wear its Four Stars helmets on Saturday. Famously worn during Dick Butkus' years at Illinois, the Fighting Illini wore versions of the four-star helmets from 1962-68. Players' numbers were featured under the four stars, and the helmet donned a gray facemask with white-blue-white center stripes.
Saturday's kickoff will serve as Youth Sports Day, Ag Day, and Hall of Fame Weekend in Champaign.
Eric Collins (play-by-play) and Spencer Tillman (analyst) have the call on FS1. The Busey Bank Illini Sports Network has the statewide radio broadcast, with Brian Barnhart (play-by-play), Kevin Mitchell (analyst), and Michael Martin (sideline) on the call.
Hall of Fame Weekend
Illinois' Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is scheduled for Friday, October 11, at State Farm Center and is free and open to the public. Returning members of the 2024 class will also be honored at halftime of the football game.
The University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics named eight, star members to the Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2024. This is the eighth Hall of Fame class and includes one coach and representatives from basketball, football, volleyball, soccer, and fencing.
Football is represented by Robert Holcombe and Darrick Brownlow. Holcombe finished his collegiate career from 1994-97 as Illinois' all-time leading rusher with 4,105 yards and a school-record 16 100-yard rushing games in his career. He enjoyed a seven-year NFL career, helping the St. Louis Rams to a Super Bowl title in 1999.
Brownlow was a three-time First-Team All-Big Ten pick, a Second-Team All-American and the 1990 Big Ten Co-Defensive Player of the Year as a star linebacker from 1987-90. He was an Illini captain of the 1990 team that earned a share of the Big Ten title. Brownlow went on to a seven-year NFL career.
Game Day at Memorial Stadium | Timeline
Air Raid Siren: New for 2024, an Illini celebrity will sound the Illini air raid siren right before kickoff to get the crowd pumped up for the Fighting Illini football team. University of Illinois alumni Sean Evans, who hosts the popular YouTube show Hot Ones, will sound the siren before kickoff against Purdue.
Petting Zoo in Grange Grove: Back by popular demand, the Fisher FFA will host a petting zoo in Grange Grove. A variety of farm animals will be on hand for kids and adults to interact with.
Youth Sports Day: Illinois will host its annual Youth Sports Day on Saturday. Click here to purchase tickets that include a specialty Illini football youth jersey.
Illini Hour: The popular Illini Hour is returning to Memorial Stadium in 2024. From 90 minutes to 30 minutes before kickoff, all hot dogs, non-alcoholic beverages (excluding souvenir cups), and Carbliss and Nutrl seltzers are just $3, and 24 ounce domestic beers will be $7. This week's Illini Hour will run from 1:00-2:00 p.m. CT before the 2:30 p.m. CT kickoff.
Freaky Fast 77 Yard Dash: "The Galloping Ghost" has returned to Memorial Stadium for Year 2 of The Freaky Fast 77 Yard Dash presented by Jimmy John's. Between the third and fourth quarters, an Illinois student will race Red Grange inside the hashes of Zuppke Field at Memorial Stadium. The student racing the modern-day version of Red will have a chance to win free Jimmy John's for a year. Fans can interact and take photos with Red Grange inside Grange Grove on game days beginning three hours prior to kickoff.Â
100th Anniversary Museum: Illinois has installed a free pop-up museum celebrating the history of Memorial Stadium inside of the Great West Hall. The museum features imagery and artifacts from the greatest moments in Memorial Stadium history.Â
$4 Hot Dogs:Â Hot dogs at Memorial Stadium concession stands have been reduced to $4 after being priced at $6 last season.
I FUND, Season Ticket Holder, and ICON Concessions Discount: Fans who purchased or renewed their football season tickets by April 1 received 10% off concessions at all home games during the Memorial Stadium 100th Anniversary season, while I FUND members will receive an additional 5% savings for 15% off at Memorial Stadium concession stands. ICON members receive 15% off at Memorial Stadium concession stands.
ICON On-Field Experience: The ICON Pregame Party, which became popular in the State Farm Center Beer Cave, is now at Memorial Stadium. ICON members at The Quad level and above ($1,000+) will be invited to field level in the south end zone during pregame warmups.
Press Conference
Notes
#23 Illinois and Purdue Battle for The Cannon
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Illinois, #23 in the AP Top 25 and Coaches Poll, hosts Purdue on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. CT on FS1.Â
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Illinois and Purdue play for The Cannon Trophy.
Illinois Off to 4-1 Start, Ranked for the Fourth Straight Week
- Illinois is 4-1 including two AP Top 25 wins for the first time since 1991.
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Illinois is 4-1 for the second time in
Bret Bielema's four seasons as head coach (2022).
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Illinois had its fourth 4-0 start in the AP poll era (since 1936): 1942, 1951, 2011, and 2024.
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Illinois, #8 Tennessee, and Syracuse are the only teams in the nation with two AP Top 25 wins this season.
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Illinois had two AP Top 25 wins during September for the first time in program history.
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Illinois has two AP Top 25 wins in a single season for the first time since 2007, when the Illini beat three AP ranked teams.
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At Nebraska, Illinois picked up its first ranked vs. ranked win since #12 Illinois defeated #25 Ohio State on Nov. 17, 2001.
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The Sept. 15 AP Top 25 poll marked the earliest in the season that Illinois has been voted into the top 25 since 2008.
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Before back-to-back wins against #19 Kansas and #22 Nebraska, Illinois was 2-32 in its previous 34 games against the AP Top 25.
The Bielema Era Â
- Bret Bielema has improved to 22-20 during his Illinois career. Since Robert Zuppke went undefeated in two of his first three seasons at Illinois from 1913-15, Bielema's 22-20 start is the third-best through 42 games by an Illini head coach, behind only Mike White (1980-83) and John Mackovic (1988-91).
- Bielema is 4-6 (.400) against ranked teams (AP/Coaches/CFP) as Illinois' head coach. His .400 winning percentage against ranked teams is the best since John Mackovic (8-8, .500, 1988-91).Â
- Bielema's four ranked wins (AP/Coaches/CFP) during his first four seasons are tied for the third-most in program history, behind only John Mackovic (8, 1988-91) and Mike White (5, 1980-83).
- Bielema tied the program record for road ranked wins (AP/Coaches/CFP) during his first four seasons. He is the second coach in Illinois history to win three ranked games on the road during his first three seasons, joining Lou Tepper (1992-96).
- Bielema is the first Illini coach to earn Top 25 rankings in two of his first four seasons since Ron Zook led the Illini into the top-25 rankings in 2007 and 2008, his Years 3 and 4 in Champaign, respectively. Illinois reached as high as #14 and were ranked for five consecutive weeks in October and November 2022 under Bielema.
- Following the team's Week 3 Homecoming win vs. Central Michigan, Bielema improved to 9-4 through his first 13 nonconference games (including postseason) at Illinois. It is the best record through 13 nonconference games for an Illinois head coach since Robert Zuppke started 10-3 against non-Big Ten opponents from 1913-18.Â
- Illinois' 23-17 victory over #19 Kansas in Week 2 marked the program's highest-ranked nonconference win since beating #17 Arizona, 9-7, on Sept. 16, 1995.Â
- The Illini's sellout crowd of 60,670 vs. KU was the program's first capacity crowd since Week 2 of 2016 vs. North Carolina.Â
- The Illini's win over the Jayhawks was the first in front of a Memorial Stadium sellout crowd since the Orange and Blue defeated Iowa, 27-24, on Nov. 1, 2008. It also marked the Illini's first win in front of a sellout home crowd vs. a nonconference opponent since Sept. 6, 1986, vs. Louisville (23-0).
- Bielema is looking to join John Mackovic (1988-91) and Lou Tepper (1992-95) as the only head coaches in Illinois history to win 5+ games in each of their first four seasons leading the Fighting Illini.
Illinois Facing Stretch of Ranked Opponents
- Illinois is on track to play five ranked opponents over a seven-game stretch, which would tie the program record for the most ranked opponents played during a regular season. The last time Illinois played five ranked opponents during a regular season was 2005.
- Illinois is on track to start its Big Ten schedule with four ranked opponents in its first five Big Ten games. The Fighting Illini have never started their Big Ten schedule with four ranked opponents in their first five Big Ten games.
- Illinois has only played five previous stretches of 4+ ranked opponents over five games during its program history: 1958, 1968, 1971, 1997, 2003
- Prior to the off week, Illinois faced three AP-ranked opponents over a four-game stretch for the first time since 2011.
- This season was the first time in program history Illinois started its Big Ten schedule with two ranked opponents on the road.
- Illinois started its Big Ten schedule with road games in back-to-back weeks for the first time since 2008.Â
- Illinois started its Big Ten schedule with two ranked games for the first time since 2009.
- Illinois' game at Penn State was the program's first top-20 vs. top-20 Big Ten game since 2000 (#19 Illinois lost vs. #10 Michigan) and the Illini's first top-20 vs. top-20 road game since 1991 (#13 Illinois lost at #15 Iowa with Bielema playing for Iowa).
Illinois Excelling in Close Games
- Illinois has a 7-3 record in one-score games over the last two seasons, including one-score wins over #19 Kansas and #22 Nebraska this season. The Illini have been underdogs in four of the seven one-score wins, including three as road dogs.
- Illinois controlled the ball for 18:11 of the second half at #22 Nebraska, while outscoring the Huskers 21-7 in the second half and overtime to secure a 31-24 (OT) win.
- Illinois shut down Nebraska's running game in the second half, limiting the Huskers to 11 carries for seven yards between the third and fourth quarters, then sacked Nebraska three times in four overtime plays for -38 yards. Over the second half and overtime, Nebraska totaled 14 rushes for -27 yards.
- Illinois won five one-score games in 2023 (5-3), tied for the most in program history with the 1934 team. The Illini's eight one-score games played in 2023 were the most in program history.
- Illinois' five one-score wins in 2023 tied for the third-most in the nation during the regular season, behind only Old Dominion and Washington, which each had six one-score wins during the 2023 regular season.
- Illinois is 3-0 in overtime games under Bret Bielema with wins against #7 Penn State (9 OT, 2021), Indiana (1 OT, 2023), and #22 Nebraska (1 OT, 2024).
- Five of Illinois' seven one-score wins over the last two seasons have come in the final minute or overtime. This season, Illinois topped Nebraska in overtime. Last season, K Caleb Griffin had game-winning field goals to beat Toledo (0:05) and Maryland (0:00), and WR Isaiah Williams had game-winning touchdown receptions from QB John Paddock at Minnesota (0:50) and against Indiana (OT) in back-to-back weeks in November.Â
- QB Luke Altmyer has led three game-winning drives in the final minute or overtime during his Illini career. He led the Illini on last-second field goal drives against Toledo (0:05) and Maryland (0:00) in 2023, then threw the deciding touchdown to Pat Bryant in overtime at Nebraska this season.
Illinois Among Nation's Youngest Teams
- Illinois has only 14 players on its 2024 roster in their final season of eligibility, tied for the lowest total in Power-4 with Iowa State.Â
- In all of FBS football, only Troy (12) has fewer players in their final season of eligibility than Illinois.
- On the travel roster to Penn State, Illinois carried only nine players in their final year of eligibility.Â
Ball Control and Turnover Margin
- Illinois is 13th in the nation and second in the Big Ten in turnover margin (+1.00 per game).
- Illinois leads the Big Ten and ranks seventh in the nation in forced fumbles (7).
- Illinois ranks 13th in the nation and third in the Big Ten in interceptions (7).
- Illinois' +5 turnover margin on the season comes despite unlucky results on fumbles. Illinois has recovered five of 14 total fumbles during its games (36%), including missing on all four fumbles at Nebraska (1 giveaway, 3 forced fumbles that Illinois did not recover).
- The Illini are averaging 9:36 time of possession during fourth quarters, including 12:04 in the win over #19 Kansas.
- Illinois snapped a streak of scoring on 36 straight trips to the red zone (dating back to Oct. 14, 2023) when it failed to score before halftime at Penn State. This season, Illinois is 17-for-18 scoring in the red zone with 12 touchdowns.
The Illinois Offense
- QB Luke Altmyer is 19th in the nation in passing efficiency. His 164.0 passing efficiency would be the best in Illini history.
- Altmyer joined an impressive list of Illini quarterbacks who have led the team to a 4-1 start with at least one AP Top 25 win since 1980: Tony Eason (1982), Jack Trudeau (1983), Jeff George (1989), Jason Verduzco (1990-91), Kurt Kittner (2001), Juice Williams (2007), Nate Scheelhaase (2011), and Altmyer (2024).
- WR Pat Bryant ranks fifth in the nation in receiving touchdowns (6) and second in the Big Ten. Â
The Illinois Defense
- In Aaron Henry's second season as defensive coordinator, Illinois ranks 12th in the nation in scoring defense (14.2)
- The Illini defense also ranks in the top 30 nationally in forced fumbles (7th, 7), interceptions (13th, 7), passing efficiency defense (20th, 110.7), total defense (26th, 308.6), and fourth down defense (2nd, 16.7%).
- Illini DBs Xavier Scott (3 interceptions), Miles Scott (2), and Torrie Cox Jr. (2) have multiple interceptions. Only Illinois, Minnesota, UNLV, and Iowa State have three players with 2+ interceptions.
The Illinois Special Teams
- Kicker David Olano is 7-for-9 on field goals, including 6-for-7 inside of 50 yards and 4-for-4 inside of 40 yards.
- Kicker Ethan Moczulski's 59-yard field goal vs. Central Michigan, the first attempt of his career, set an Illinois program record. At the tiime it tied for the longest field goal in the nation, and ranks third nationally through Week 6.Â
- Punter Hugh Robertson has landed 64.7% (11/17) of his punts inside the 20, which is on pace for an Illinois record.
- Hank Beatty leads the Big Ten and ranks 14th in the nation with a 15.6 yard punt return average.
The Illinois-Purdue Series
- Purdue leads the traditional trophy series, 42-30-2 (since 1943), while the overall series is 48-45-6 in Purdue's favor.
- Saturday's contest is the 100th meeting between the Fighting Illini and the Boilermakers.
- Last season in West Lafayette, the Illini fell 44-19 despite 202 yards and a touchdown connection to Pat Bryant by Luke Altmyer. Josh McCray rushed for a touchdown and Kaden Feagin ran for a then-career-high 85 yards.Â
- In the last matchup in Champaign in 2022, Illinois dropped a 31-24 decision in a game that proved to be the difference in the Boilermakers earning a trip to Indianapolis for the Big Ten Championship Game. The game was tied 21-21 going into the fourth quarter before Purdue scored 10 fourth-quarter points. Chase Brown rushed for 98 yards, snapping his 100-yard game streak at 10 straight.
- Illini RB Josh McCray led Illinois with 156 rushing yards as a true freshman in West Lafayette in 2021.
- Illinois rushed for a season-high 242 yards in 2019 when they won 24-6 on a rain-soaked field at Ross-Ade Stadium, the Illini's last win in the series. It was the second game of what ended up being a four-game winning streak that propelled Illinois to bowl eligibility in 2019.Â
- In Illinois' last home win in the series came in 2010. Nathan Scheelhaase rushed for 118 yards and threw for 195 and four touchdowns to lead Illinois to the 44-10 victory. Scheelhaase was 16-for-20 passing with touchdowns to A.J. Jenkins, Mikel Leshoure, Darius Millines and Chris James.
- Mike Dudek set Illinois' freshman single-game receiving yards of 200 against Purdue 10/4/2014.
- David Williams set Illinois' single-game receptions record of 16 against Purdue 10/12/1985.
- Dan Beaver made the then-longest field goal in Illinois history (57 yards) against Purdue 10/18/1975.Â
- Illinois' most receiving yards vs. Purdue: 200 Mike Dudek 10/4/2014, 169 Steve Hull 11/23/2013
- Illinois' most rushing yards vs. Purdue: 195 Antoineo Harris 10/12/2002, 180 Ke'Shawn Vaughn 11/7/2015
- Illinois' most passing yards vs. Purdue: 413 Jack Trudeau 10/12/1985, 360 Tony Eason 10/10/1981
- Illinois' longest rush vs. Purdue: 84 Antoineo Harris 10/12/2002, 78 Ke'Shawn Vaughn 11/7/2015
- Illinois' longest pass vs. Purdue: 77 Dave Wilson to Mike Martin 10/18/1980
- Last 100-yard receiving game vs. Purdue: Malik Turner, 129, 10/8/2016
- Last 100-yard rushing game vs. Purdue: Josh McCray, 156, 9/25/2021
- Last 300-yard passing game vs. Purdue: Wes Lunt, 332, 10/8/2016\
The Battle for the Cannon
- The Cannon, more accurately known as the Purdue Cannon, made its first trip to Champaign-Urbana in 1905 when a group of Purdue students brought it to fire after a Boilermaker victory. Purdue won the game, 29-0, but the Cannon was never fired. Illinois student Quincy Hall found the Cannon hidden near the old Illinois Field. Hall and a group of Delta Upsilon brothers confiscated the Cannon and held it until 1943, when they donated it as a symbol of the Illinois-Purdue rivalry. Tomahawk Service and Leadership honorary at Purdue and Illini Pride of Illinois maintain the trophy when the respective school has won it. The Cannon was last fired Nov. 4, 2001, at the Illinois football complex following the victory, but is no longer functional.
- The Cannon is one of three rivalry trophies the Illini play for along with the Illibuck (Ohio State) and the Land of Lincoln Trophy (Northwestern).
Purdue Connections
- Illinois co-defensive coordinator/DL coach Terrance Jamison was the DL coach at Purdue in 2020.
- Illinois Director of Athletics Josh Whitman is a native of West Lafayette, Indiana.
- Purdue head coach Ryan Walters is in his second season after two years as Illinois' defensive coordinator. Walters gave four Illini staffers promotions to come to West Lafayette as assistants: Purdue associate head coach/wide receivers Cory Patterson was Illinois' running backs coach, Purdue defensive coordinator Kevin Kane was Illinois' outside linebackers coach, Purdue rush ends coach Joe Dineen was a graduate assistant at Illinois, and Purdue safeties coach Grant O'Brien was an analyst at Illinois. Walters' Purdue staff also includes former Illinois linebackers coach Andy Buh (senior defensive analyst), Preston Gordon (senior defensive analyst) and Pete Roley (director of operations) from Illinois.
COMPLETE GAME NOTES (PDF)
