Purdue-Illinois Series Data
Illinois leads the series tied 45-44-6
Current Streak: Illinois won the last meeting, snapping a three-game Purdue winning streak.
In Champaign: Purdue leads 23-22-2
First Meeting: Nov. 22, 1890 – Purdue won 62-0 at home.
Last Meeting: Oct. 13, 2019 – Illinois won 24-6 on the road.
Noteworthy: David Blough passed for 377 yards and three touchdowns, as the Boilermakers knocked off the Fighting Illini 46-7 in Champaign in 2018. Isaac Zico caught five passes for 127 yards and two touchdowns, while Rondale Moore had an efficient 101 yards on four receptions. Running back D.J. Knox racked up a season-high 150 yards on 17 carries (8.8 ypc). Defensively, Purdue forced six Illinois drives to three or less plays, while allowing the Illini merely 250 yards of total offense, 77 of which came on their lone scoring drive in the first quarter ... More than one-third of the Fighting Illini's wins in the series came between 1897 and 1919, when they went 15-2-2 against the Boilermakers. Purdue has won 14 of the last 20 games – including six of 10 at home – dating to 1994.
Cannon Trophy The Cannon was conceived by Purdue students more than 100 years ago but was first presented as a trophy by an Illinois alumnus 76 years ago. It all started in 1905 when a group of Purdue students took the weapon to Champaign in anticipation of firing it to celebrate a victory. Although Purdue did win the game 29-0, Illinois supporters, including Quincy A. Hall, had discovered the Cannon in its hiding place – in a culvert near the old Illinois field – and confiscated it before the Purdue students could start their "booming" celebration. Later, Hall moved the Cannon to his farmhouse near Milford, Illinois, where it survived a fire and gathered dust until Hall suggested it be used as a trophy between the two schools when the rivalry was resumed in 1943 after a 12-year lapse. Purdue leads the Cannon series 36-30-2, including 11 wins in the last 15 matchups.
King of the Comeback Despite having only played in five career collegiate games, junior quarterback Aidan O'Connell has already engineered three game-winning drives in the final minutes of the fourth quarter. Taking over for an injured Jack Plummer with 4:21 to go against Nebraska last season, O'Connell went 6 for 6 for 62 yards on 12-play, 82-yard drive for the game-winning touchdown with 1:08 remaining. A week later, making his first collegiate start at Northwestern, O'Connell led the Boilermakers on an 11-play, 58-yard drive that ended with a game-winning 39-yard field goal by J.D. Dellinger with three seconds remaining in game. Trailing 20-17 late in the fourth quarter against Iowa last week (6:00 minutes left), O'Connell helmed a 12-play, 72-yard drive that resulted with him finding sophomore sensation David Bell on 6-yard game-winning touchdown (his third of the day) with 2:15 remaining for the victory.
Picking Up Where He Left Off Sophomore wide receiver David Bell kicked off the 2020 season just the way he ended the 2019 campaign - with a 100-yard receiving game. Bell wrapped up last season with three straight 100-yard games via the pass en route to being name the Big Ten Freshman of the Year and opened this year with another against Iowa last week. He has broken the century mark in receiving yards seven times in 13 games at Purdue. Bell (2019-20) joins Rodney Carter (1985) and Keith Smith (2009) as the only three players in school history with four consecutive games with over 100 yards receiving. David Bell's Last Four Games Nov. 9, 2019 at Northwestern - career-high 14 receptions, 115 yards, TD Nov. 23, 2019 at Wisconsin - 12 receptions, 108 yards, TD Nov. 30, 2019 vs. Indiana - 9 receptions 136 yards, TD Oct. 24, 2020 vs. Iowa - 13 receptions, 121 yards, career-high 3 TDs Four-Game Totals = 48 receptions, 480 yards, 6 TDs (12 rpg / 120 ypg)
Grinding It Out on the Ground Junior running back Zander Horvath has been a work horse in the backfield in each of Purdue's last two games. In last season's Bucket Game against Indiana, Horvath rushed 23 times for 164 yards (7.1 ypc) and a pair of touchdowns. He followed that performance up with 21 carries for 129 yards (6.1 ypc) in the Boilermakers' season opener against Iowa last Saturday.
Receiving Votes The Boilermakers received eight votes in the latest version of the Associated Press Top 25 Poll. It is Purdue's first mention in the poll since being ranked 23rd in 2007.
Back-to-Back Rondale Moore (2018) and David Bell's (2019) back-to-back Thompson-Randle El Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors are Purdue's first since Brian Fox and Eric Hunter were feted in 1988 and 1989, respectively, and merely the fifth time in conference history for players from the same school to be recognized in consecutive years (also Michigan's Steve Breaston and Mike Hart in 2003 and 2004, Wisconsin's Chris Borland and James White in 2009 and 2010, and Penn State's Deion Barnes and Christian Hackenberg in 2011 and 2012).
Back 4 Moore Rondale Moore opted out of the 2019 season in August, but had a change of heart and rejoined the Boilermakers in September. Moore, who missed all but four games last season, electrified college football as a true freshman in 2018. That season, he became merely the third player in Big Ten history to record 100 or more receptions, finishing with 114 catches for 1,258 yards and 12 touchdowns. He broke the school record for all-purpose yards for both a game (313 vs. Northwestern) and in a season (2,215) en route to winning the 2018 Paul Hornung Award as the nation's most versatile player. He was named a consensus All-American in 2018, becoming the first true freshman in Big Ten history to be so honored. Moore in 2018 • Paul Hornung Award recipient as the nation's most versatile player. • First true freshman consensus All-American in Big Ten history. • First-team All-America by the Associated Press. • First-team All-America by Football Writers Association of America. • First-team All-America by ESPN.com. • First-team All-America by Sports Illustrated. • First-team All-America by CBS Sports. • Second-team All-America by the Sporting News. • First-team Freshman All-America by the Associated Press. • Big Ten Wide Receiver of the Year. • Big Ten Freshman of the Year. • First-team All-Big Ten (wide receiver and special teams). • Four-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week. • Broke the school record for most all-purpose yards in a season (2,215). • Broke the school record for most all-purpose yards in a game (313). • Tied the school record for most 100-yard receiving games (7). • Caught 11 or more passes in a game six times. • Is merely the third player in Big Ten history with 100 or more receptions (114) in a season.
Moore Bell Rondale Moore and David Bell played in only four games together last season and never really had the time to impact the opposing defense's mindset. Bell found his stride in the Minnesota game, the same game that saw Moore go down for the year, finishing the final nine games of the year averaging 8.9 receptions and just under a 100 yards per game. In the nine-game stretch, Bell had six games over 100 yards receiving, including a season-high 197 yards at No. 23 Iowa, and caught six touchdown passes.
Brohms Away Despite having to utilize the talents of a number of different players over his first three seasons due to injury, head coach Jeff Brohm's offense has thrived regardless of who is available on any given Saturday. The Boilermakers have averaged 413.9 yards of total offense and 27.2 points per game in 38 games under Brohm's leadership. Despite having to use four different quarterbacks (David Blough, Elijah Sindelar, Jack Plummer and Aidan O'Connell), collectively Brohm's three squads have passed for 3,000 yards each year, including 3,998 yards in 2018 alone.
Sophomore Sensations (Offense) The definition of sophomore in Greek is "Wise or Enlightened Fool", but Purdue's second-year class is anything but. As true or redshirt freshmen last year, the 2020 sophomore class includes 2019's leading rusher (King Doerue, 130 carries for 451 yards) and receiver (David Bell, 86 receptions for 1,035). The sophomores also accounted for 56 percent of Purdue's rushing touchdowns and 59 percent of the Boilermakers' receiving scores from a year ago.
Superb Sophomores (Defense) While not as numerous as the offense, Purdue's 2019 freshman class chipped in plenty on their own. Starting all 12 games as a true freshman, end George Karlaftis paced the Boilermakers with 17.0 tackles for loss and tied for the team lead with 7.5 sacks. Redshirt freshman Cory Trice and true freshman Cam Allen combined for four interceptions, including a team-high-tying three for Trice with one being returned 37 yards for a touchdown against Maryland.
Dependable Derrick Senior Derrick Barnes has been a mainstay in Purdue's defensive lineup each of his previous three seasons. He has appeared in 38 career games, including 26 starts. He has been among the top tacklers on the team each of the last two seasons, finishing second with 63 stops last season and posting a career-high 92 tackles in 2018 to finish third for the Boilermakers. He tied for the team lead in sacks last season with George Karlaftis (7.5).
Clarity on the Record Despite not being able to be present at the opener against Iowa on Oct. 24, Purdue's win over the Hawkeyes will be counted as a victory in Jeff Brohm's overall career and Purdue records.
Many Happy Returns Cory Trice's 37-yard pick-6 against Maryland last year marked the fourth straight season Purdue has returned an interception for a TD. Trice also picked off another pass in the contest to become the first Boilermaker to have two interceptions in a game since Markus Bailey had a pair against Indiana in 2016. Purdue Interceptions Returned for Touchdowns in the Last Four Years 2016 Gelen Robinson 78 yards vs. Eastern Kentucky 2017 Ja'Whaun Bentley 76 yards vs. Minnesota 2018 Markus Bailey 41 yards vs. Ohio State 2019 Cory Trice 37 yards vs. Maryland
Dandy Dellinger Kicker J.D. Dellinger enters his final season at Purdue third in school history in career field goal percentage and fifth in field goals made. Dellinger has connected on 34 of his 46 attempts as a Boilermaker (73.9 percent). As a junior last season, he was a career-best 13 of 16 on field goals, including a career-long 53-yarder against TCU. On kickoffs, Dellinger improved from seven touchbacks as a freshman to 40 last season. Purdue Career Field Goal Percentage 1. .765 (26-34) – Spencer Evans, 2017-18 2. .739 (34-46) – J.D. Dellinger, 2016-17, 2019- 3. .737 (56-76) – Carson Wiggs, 2008-11 Purdue Career Field Goals 1. 68 – Travis Dorsch, 1998-2001 2. 56 – Carson Wiggs, 2008-11 3. 43 – Ben Jones, 2003-05 4. 36 – Jonathan Briggs, 1985-87 5. 34 – J.D. Dellinger, 2016-17, 2019-
Aerial Attack With 420 yards passing against Maryland (Plummer) and 408 yards against Indian last season, Jack Plummer and Aidan O'Connell became the third and fourth Purdue quarterback to throw for over 400 yards in a game in Jeff Brohm's first three seasons as the Boilermakers' head coach. Purdue is the only school in Big Ten history to boast three quarterbacks with 400-yard passing games in the same season. Elijah Sindelar had 423 yards at Nevada and 509 yards vs. Vanderbilt earlier in 2019. Purdue has passed for 300 or more yards in 16 games under Brohm's leadership. 400+ Passing Yard Games Under Jeff Brohm Player Yards (Rank at Purdue) Opponent, Date David Blough 572 (1st) vs. Missouri, Sept. 15, 2018 Elijah Sindelar 509 (t6th) vs. Vanderbilt, Sept. 7, 2019 Elijah Sindelar 423 (18th) at Nevada, Aug. 30, 2019 Jack Plummer 420 (19th) vs. Maryland, Oct. 12, 2019 Aidan O'Connell 408 (25th) vs. Indiana, Nov. 30, 2019
Honoring Morgan Burke The Boilermakers will honor the life and legacy of former vice president and director of athletics Morgan J. Burke with a sticker on the rear of their helmets this season. Burke passed away June 15 after a year-long battle with amyloidosis (a rare disease that occurs when an abnormal protein builds up in organs and interferes with their normal function). He was 68. Burke headed up Purdue athletics from 1993 to 2016. Burke is survived by his wife, Kate, three children – Joyce (husband Ryan), Morgan Jr. (wife Molly) and Patrick (wife Courtney) – and four grandchildren: Kate, Andrew, Parker June and Emily.
Cannon Trophy The Cannon was conceived by Purdue students more than 100 years ago but was first presented as a trophy by an Illinois alumnus 76 years ago. It all started in 1905 when a group of Purdue students took the weapon to Champaign in anticipation of firing it to celebrate a victory. Although Purdue did win the game 29-0, Illinois supporters, including Quincy A. Hall, had discovered the Cannon in its hiding place – in a culvert near the old Illinois field – and confiscated it before the Purdue students could start their "booming" celebration. Later, Hall moved the Cannon to his farmhouse near Milford, Illinois, where it survived a fire and gathered dust until Hall suggested it be used as a trophy between the two schools when the rivalry was resumed in 1943 after a 12-year lapse. Purdue leads the Cannon series 36-30-2, including 11 wins in the last 15 matchups.
King of the Comeback Despite having only played in five career collegiate games, junior quarterback Aidan O'Connell has already engineered three game-winning drives in the final minutes of the fourth quarter. Taking over for an injured Jack Plummer with 4:21 to go against Nebraska last season, O'Connell went 6 for 6 for 62 yards on 12-play, 82-yard drive for the game-winning touchdown with 1:08 remaining. A week later, making his first collegiate start at Northwestern, O'Connell led the Boilermakers on an 11-play, 58-yard drive that ended with a game-winning 39-yard field goal by J.D. Dellinger with three seconds remaining in game. Trailing 20-17 late in the fourth quarter against Iowa last week (6:00 minutes left), O'Connell helmed a 12-play, 72-yard drive that resulted with him finding sophomore sensation David Bell on 6-yard game-winning touchdown (his third of the day) with 2:15 remaining for the victory.
Picking Up Where He Left Off Sophomore wide receiver David Bell kicked off the 2020 season just the way he ended the 2019 campaign - with a 100-yard receiving game. Bell wrapped up last season with three straight 100-yard games via the pass en route to being name the Big Ten Freshman of the Year and opened this year with another against Iowa last week. He has broken the century mark in receiving yards seven times in 13 games at Purdue. Bell (2019-20) joins Rodney Carter (1985) and Keith Smith (2009) as the only three players in school history with four consecutive games with over 100 yards receiving. David Bell's Last Four Games Nov. 9, 2019 at Northwestern - career-high 14 receptions, 115 yards, TD Nov. 23, 2019 at Wisconsin - 12 receptions, 108 yards, TD Nov. 30, 2019 vs. Indiana - 9 receptions 136 yards, TD Oct. 24, 2020 vs. Iowa - 13 receptions, 121 yards, career-high 3 TDs Four-Game Totals = 48 receptions, 480 yards, 6 TDs (12 rpg / 120 ypg)
Grinding It Out on the Ground Junior running back Zander Horvath has been a work horse in the backfield in each of Purdue's last two games. In last season's Bucket Game against Indiana, Horvath rushed 23 times for 164 yards (7.1 ypc) and a pair of touchdowns. He followed that performance up with 21 carries for 129 yards (6.1 ypc) in the Boilermakers' season opener against Iowa last Saturday.
Receiving Votes The Boilermakers received eight votes in the latest version of the Associated Press Top 25 Poll. It is Purdue's first mention in the poll since being ranked 23rd in 2007.
Back-to-Back Rondale Moore (2018) and David Bell's (2019) back-to-back Thompson-Randle El Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors are Purdue's first since Brian Fox and Eric Hunter were feted in 1988 and 1989, respectively, and merely the fifth time in conference history for players from the same school to be recognized in consecutive years (also Michigan's Steve Breaston and Mike Hart in 2003 and 2004, Wisconsin's Chris Borland and James White in 2009 and 2010, and Penn State's Deion Barnes and Christian Hackenberg in 2011 and 2012).
Back 4 Moore Rondale Moore opted out of the 2019 season in August, but had a change of heart and rejoined the Boilermakers in September. Moore, who missed all but four games last season, electrified college football as a true freshman in 2018. That season, he became merely the third player in Big Ten history to record 100 or more receptions, finishing with 114 catches for 1,258 yards and 12 touchdowns. He broke the school record for all-purpose yards for both a game (313 vs. Northwestern) and in a season (2,215) en route to winning the 2018 Paul Hornung Award as the nation's most versatile player. He was named a consensus All-American in 2018, becoming the first true freshman in Big Ten history to be so honored. Moore in 2018 • Paul Hornung Award recipient as the nation's most versatile player. • First true freshman consensus All-American in Big Ten history. • First-team All-America by the Associated Press. • First-team All-America by Football Writers Association of America. • First-team All-America by ESPN.com. • First-team All-America by Sports Illustrated. • First-team All-America by CBS Sports. • Second-team All-America by the Sporting News. • First-team Freshman All-America by the Associated Press. • Big Ten Wide Receiver of the Year. • Big Ten Freshman of the Year. • First-team All-Big Ten (wide receiver and special teams). • Four-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week. • Broke the school record for most all-purpose yards in a season (2,215). • Broke the school record for most all-purpose yards in a game (313). • Tied the school record for most 100-yard receiving games (7). • Caught 11 or more passes in a game six times. • Is merely the third player in Big Ten history with 100 or more receptions (114) in a season.
Moore Bell Rondale Moore and David Bell played in only four games together last season and never really had the time to impact the opposing defense's mindset. Bell found his stride in the Minnesota game, the same game that saw Moore go down for the year, finishing the final nine games of the year averaging 8.9 receptions and just under a 100 yards per game. In the nine-game stretch, Bell had six games over 100 yards receiving, including a season-high 197 yards at No. 23 Iowa, and caught six touchdown passes.
Brohms Away Despite having to utilize the talents of a number of different players over his first three seasons due to injury, head coach Jeff Brohm's offense has thrived regardless of who is available on any given Saturday. The Boilermakers have averaged 413.9 yards of total offense and 27.2 points per game in 38 games under Brohm's leadership. Despite having to use four different quarterbacks (David Blough, Elijah Sindelar, Jack Plummer and Aidan O'Connell), collectively Brohm's three squads have passed for 3,000 yards each year, including 3,998 yards in 2018 alone.
Sophomore Sensations (Offense) The definition of sophomore in Greek is "Wise or Enlightened Fool", but Purdue's second-year class is anything but. As true or redshirt freshmen last year, the 2020 sophomore class includes 2019's leading rusher (King Doerue, 130 carries for 451 yards) and receiver (David Bell, 86 receptions for 1,035). The sophomores also accounted for 56 percent of Purdue's rushing touchdowns and 59 percent of the Boilermakers' receiving scores from a year ago.
Superb Sophomores (Defense) While not as numerous as the offense, Purdue's 2019 freshman class chipped in plenty on their own. Starting all 12 games as a true freshman, end George Karlaftis paced the Boilermakers with 17.0 tackles for loss and tied for the team lead with 7.5 sacks. Redshirt freshman Cory Trice and true freshman Cam Allen combined for four interceptions, including a team-high-tying three for Trice with one being returned 37 yards for a touchdown against Maryland.
Dependable Derrick Senior Derrick Barnes has been a mainstay in Purdue's defensive lineup each of his previous three seasons. He has appeared in 38 career games, including 26 starts. He has been among the top tacklers on the team each of the last two seasons, finishing second with 63 stops last season and posting a career-high 92 tackles in 2018 to finish third for the Boilermakers. He tied for the team lead in sacks last season with George Karlaftis (7.5).
Clarity on the Record Despite not being able to be present at the opener against Iowa on Oct. 24, Purdue's win over the Hawkeyes will be counted as a victory in Jeff Brohm's overall career and Purdue records.
Many Happy Returns Cory Trice's 37-yard pick-6 against Maryland last year marked the fourth straight season Purdue has returned an interception for a TD. Trice also picked off another pass in the contest to become the first Boilermaker to have two interceptions in a game since Markus Bailey had a pair against Indiana in 2016. Purdue Interceptions Returned for Touchdowns in the Last Four Years 2016 Gelen Robinson 78 yards vs. Eastern Kentucky 2017 Ja'Whaun Bentley 76 yards vs. Minnesota 2018 Markus Bailey 41 yards vs. Ohio State 2019 Cory Trice 37 yards vs. Maryland
Dandy Dellinger Kicker J.D. Dellinger enters his final season at Purdue third in school history in career field goal percentage and fifth in field goals made. Dellinger has connected on 34 of his 46 attempts as a Boilermaker (73.9 percent). As a junior last season, he was a career-best 13 of 16 on field goals, including a career-long 53-yarder against TCU. On kickoffs, Dellinger improved from seven touchbacks as a freshman to 40 last season. Purdue Career Field Goal Percentage 1. .765 (26-34) – Spencer Evans, 2017-18 2. .739 (34-46) – J.D. Dellinger, 2016-17, 2019- 3. .737 (56-76) – Carson Wiggs, 2008-11 Purdue Career Field Goals 1. 68 – Travis Dorsch, 1998-2001 2. 56 – Carson Wiggs, 2008-11 3. 43 – Ben Jones, 2003-05 4. 36 – Jonathan Briggs, 1985-87 5. 34 – J.D. Dellinger, 2016-17, 2019-
Aerial Attack With 420 yards passing against Maryland (Plummer) and 408 yards against Indian last season, Jack Plummer and Aidan O'Connell became the third and fourth Purdue quarterback to throw for over 400 yards in a game in Jeff Brohm's first three seasons as the Boilermakers' head coach. Purdue is the only school in Big Ten history to boast three quarterbacks with 400-yard passing games in the same season. Elijah Sindelar had 423 yards at Nevada and 509 yards vs. Vanderbilt earlier in 2019. Purdue has passed for 300 or more yards in 16 games under Brohm's leadership. 400+ Passing Yard Games Under Jeff Brohm Player Yards (Rank at Purdue) Opponent, Date David Blough 572 (1st) vs. Missouri, Sept. 15, 2018 Elijah Sindelar 509 (t6th) vs. Vanderbilt, Sept. 7, 2019 Elijah Sindelar 423 (18th) at Nevada, Aug. 30, 2019 Jack Plummer 420 (19th) vs. Maryland, Oct. 12, 2019 Aidan O'Connell 408 (25th) vs. Indiana, Nov. 30, 2019
Honoring Morgan Burke The Boilermakers will honor the life and legacy of former vice president and director of athletics Morgan J. Burke with a sticker on the rear of their helmets this season. Burke passed away June 15 after a year-long battle with amyloidosis (a rare disease that occurs when an abnormal protein builds up in organs and interferes with their normal function). He was 68. Burke headed up Purdue athletics from 1993 to 2016. Burke is survived by his wife, Kate, three children – Joyce (husband Ryan), Morgan Jr. (wife Molly) and Patrick (wife Courtney) – and four grandchildren: Kate, Andrew, Parker June and Emily.