CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Purdue rolled over Illinois 46-7 on Saturday, dampening the Illini homecoming festivities and dimming their postseason hopes.
Illinois (3-3, 1-2 Big Ten) arguably played its worst game of the year. Purdue (3-3, 2-1) scored 46 unanswered points after the first series. Illinois began the game scoring on a five-yard keeper by quarterback AJ Bush following a 52-yard pass to Reggie Corbin.
Purdue racked up 611 yards in total offense compared to Illinois' 250. The Illini, which led the Big Ten in takeaways and ranked sixth in the nation in turnovers gained per game, forced its only turnover late in the third quarter when Cameron Watkins tipped a David Blough pass and it was intercepted by Sydney Brown. Illinois was unable to capitalize on the interception.
Purdue sacked Bush four times and pressured him all game.
"The great thing is as coaches we've gotten better at attacking and being aggressive and taking some chances." Purdue head coach Jeff Brohm said. "It helped us get a lead and take Illinois out of its game."
D. J. Knox gained 150 yards rushing on 17 carries for the Boilermakers. Markell Jones had seven carries for 56 yards and a touchdown. Alexander Horvath also scored a touchdown. Purdue amassed 227 yards rushing, compared to 69 for Illinois.
Isaac Zico and Rondale Moore combined to catch nine passes for 228 yards for the Boilermakers.
Bush finished 12 of 25 for 170 yards passing and one interception. Bush also was the Illini's leading rusher, gaining 24 yards on 20 carries. Illinois kicker Chase McLaughlin, who leads the nation in field goals of 50-plus yards going into the game, missed a 38-yard attempt midway through the second quarter that would have drawn Illinois to within four points.
"You have to give Purdue credit," Illinois head coach Lovie Smith said. "We would have liked to run the ball and we couldn't. We couldn't establish drives and it hurts the running game when you only have the ball for short periods of time."
Blough finished the day 25-of-36 passing for 377 yards and three touchdowns. He also caught a seven-yard touchdown pass on a reverse from wide receiver (and former quarterback) Jared Sparks. It was Sparks' first career touchdown pass.
Purdue won the Cannon trophy for the 11th time in the last 14 matchups and now leads the Cannon series 36-29-2. The all-time series between Purdue and Illinois, which dates to 1890, is even-steven at 44-44-6.
ON POINT(S)
Purdue's 39-point win was the largest margin of victory since 2012 when it beat Eastern Kentucky 48-6. Against an FBS opponent, Saturday's point margin was the largest since Purdue defeated Indiana 62-10 on Nov. 22, 2008. And it was the largest in a Big Ten road game since a 56-7 victory at Indiana on Nov. 22, 1997.
Illinois (3-3, 1-2 Big Ten) arguably played its worst game of the year. Purdue (3-3, 2-1) scored 46 unanswered points after the first series. Illinois began the game scoring on a five-yard keeper by quarterback AJ Bush following a 52-yard pass to Reggie Corbin.
Purdue racked up 611 yards in total offense compared to Illinois' 250. The Illini, which led the Big Ten in takeaways and ranked sixth in the nation in turnovers gained per game, forced its only turnover late in the third quarter when Cameron Watkins tipped a David Blough pass and it was intercepted by Sydney Brown. Illinois was unable to capitalize on the interception.
Purdue sacked Bush four times and pressured him all game.
"The great thing is as coaches we've gotten better at attacking and being aggressive and taking some chances." Purdue head coach Jeff Brohm said. "It helped us get a lead and take Illinois out of its game."
D. J. Knox gained 150 yards rushing on 17 carries for the Boilermakers. Markell Jones had seven carries for 56 yards and a touchdown. Alexander Horvath also scored a touchdown. Purdue amassed 227 yards rushing, compared to 69 for Illinois.
Isaac Zico and Rondale Moore combined to catch nine passes for 228 yards for the Boilermakers.
Bush finished 12 of 25 for 170 yards passing and one interception. Bush also was the Illini's leading rusher, gaining 24 yards on 20 carries. Illinois kicker Chase McLaughlin, who leads the nation in field goals of 50-plus yards going into the game, missed a 38-yard attempt midway through the second quarter that would have drawn Illinois to within four points.
"You have to give Purdue credit," Illinois head coach Lovie Smith said. "We would have liked to run the ball and we couldn't. We couldn't establish drives and it hurts the running game when you only have the ball for short periods of time."
Blough finished the day 25-of-36 passing for 377 yards and three touchdowns. He also caught a seven-yard touchdown pass on a reverse from wide receiver (and former quarterback) Jared Sparks. It was Sparks' first career touchdown pass.
Purdue won the Cannon trophy for the 11th time in the last 14 matchups and now leads the Cannon series 36-29-2. The all-time series between Purdue and Illinois, which dates to 1890, is even-steven at 44-44-6.
ON POINT(S)
Purdue's 39-point win was the largest margin of victory since 2012 when it beat Eastern Kentucky 48-6. Against an FBS opponent, Saturday's point margin was the largest since Purdue defeated Indiana 62-10 on Nov. 22, 2008. And it was the largest in a Big Ten road game since a 56-7 victory at Indiana on Nov. 22, 1997.