WEST LAFAYETTE - The Purdue Boilermakers (2-1, 0-0) are back at home inside Ross-Ade Stadium this Saturday (Sept. 25), as head coach Jeff Brohm's squad will face off against the Illinois Fighting Illini (1-3, 1-1) on the Big Ten Network (3:30 p.m.). The game bears a higher level of significance to many in the Boiler fan base, as festivities have been scheduled for both Ag Day and the honoring of Purdue's 2001 Rose Bowl team.
Headlined by former Boilermakers such as Akin Ayodele, Brent Botts, Drew Brees, Matt Light, Matt Mitrione, Tim Stratton and Vinny Sutherland, Purdue Athletics will honor more than 50 former student-athletes that helped the Old Gold & Black advance to the 2001 Rose Bowl Game. The 2000 Boilermakers finished 8-4 overall and 6-2 in the Big Ten that season, including thrilling wins over Michigan, Northwestern and Ohio State.
PURDUE-ILLINOIS SERIES HISTORY
• The Boilermakers are playing for continued ownership of the Purdue Cannon on Saturday, Sept. 25, as Purdue and Illinois take the field at Ross-Ade Stadium for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff on the Big Ten Network.
• The Old Gold & Black have claimed four of five contests against Illinois dating back to 2016. Additionally, Purdue has won seven of the last 10 matchups in the series.
• Head coach Jeff Brohm has a 3-1 record leading the Boilermakers against Illinois in The Cannon Game. Brohm is 3-2 all-time against Illinois as a head coach.
• Purdue's game against Illinois will be the 97th meeting between the two football programs, which stands as the second-most contests against a common opponent in school history, trailing only the 122 all-time games against Indiana.
• The two schools first played in 1890, with the all-time series tied at 45-45-6 through the 2020 season. Saturday's game will tip the scale in favor of one program.
BATTLE FOR THE CANNON
• The Cannon Game has a long and rich history. It all started in 1905 when a group of Purdue students took the weapon, quite miniature in nature, 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 return to 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.
• The Tomahawk Service and Leadership Honorary at Purdue and Illini Pride now share the maintenance duties for the trophy. Purdue leads the Cannon series 37-30-2, including 12 wins in the last 16 matchups.
REMEMBER SEPTEMBER
• Early success in a season can springboard a football program onward in its campaign, and that is exactly what Purdue and head coach Jeff Brohm will be working for against Illinois. The Boilermakers have the opportunity to claim three wins in the month of September for the first time since 2012 with a victory over Illinois on Saturday.
• The 2012 squad, led by former head coach Danny Hope, started 3-1 on the year with wins over Eastern Kentucky (48-6, Sept. 1, 2012), Eastern Michigan (54-16, Sept. 15, 2012) and Marshall (51-41, Sept. 29, 2012).
• A potential 3-1 start for the 2021 edition of Purdue Football would match the season start of the aforementioned 2012 group and be the best since Purdue's 5-0 start to the 2007 season.
CAREER PERFORMANCES AT NOTRE DAME
• Despite the loss to No. 10 Notre Dame (Sept. 18), breakout performances were had by a grouping of Boilermakers in front of the 74,341 on hand at Notre Dame Stadium.
• Fifth-year WR Jackson Anthrop caught seven passes for a career-best 90 yards, while junior RB King Doerue set career bests in both receptions (six) and receiving yards (39). Sophomore WR Mershawn Rice also had a career day with a personal-best in both catches (four) and receiving yards (37).
• Junior S Cam Allen's nine tackles at Notre Dame set a career-high for the Bluefield, Virginia, native. Sophomore S Marvin Grant's eight stops also was a career-best.
• Notably, junior WR David Bell heads into Saturday's Purdue-Illinois matchup just 19 receiving yards shy of the 2,000-yard mark for his career. Bell caught seven passes for 64 receiving yards in the setback.
COMING SOON - MR. 2,000
• Junior WR David Bell will soon cross the 2,000-yard barrier in receiving production for his Purdue career; a significant milestone in and of itself, but especially noteworthy when considering the Boilermaker star has only played in 21 games.
• As it currently stands, Bell will be the fastest active FBS receiver to crack 2,000 receiving yards. Western Kentucky's Ben Ratzlaff (18 career games) would pose a threat to accomplish the feat in 22 games if he were to produce 442 receiving yards in the Hilltoppers' next four contests.
• Bell would be the 12th 2,000-yard receiver in school history, and the first to do so since WR Greg Orton during the 2008 season. Orton finished his career (2005-08) with 2,356 receiving yards.
CONFERENCE OPENERS
• Purdue will be out to win its second-straight Big Ten Conference opener with its game against Illinois. Last season, the Boilermakers started off with a 24-20 victory vs. Iowa on Oct. 24, 2020. In the win, then-sophomore WR David Bell hauled in 13 catches for 121 yards and three touchdowns. Also a sophomore at the time, WR Milton Wright snagged seven passes for 85 receiving yards. Defensively, then-junior LB Jaylan Alexander racked up 10 tackles and one forced fumble. Then-sophomore DE George Karlaftis had three tackles and 1.0 sack.
• Reversing long-term fortunes will be Purdue's charge to start its 2021 conference slate, as the Boilermakers are 10-11 in Big Ten openers since 2000. This matchup will be the first time since 2004 that Purdue begins league play with Illinois. The mighty Boilers took down No. 15-ranked Illinois in Champaign by a score of 38-30 (Sept. 25, 2004).
• Claiming the Big Ten opener has boded well for Purdue postseason aspirations in recent memory. Since 1997, which was former head coach Joe Tiller's opening campaign as the leader of the Boilermakers, Purdue has advanced to a bowl game every time it has won its league opener but twice, in 2010 and 2020.
CAN YOU SMELL THE ROSES
• Purdue Athletics will honor and celebrate its 2000 team, which made the Rose Bowl Game, on Saturday, Sept. 25, with recognitions throughout the game vs. Illinois. Honorary captains for the day include: Akin Ayodele, Brent Botts, Drew Brees and Montrell Lowe.
• During pregame warm-ups, and the first quarter, the four honorary captain will be on the sidelines, as well as during the third quarter, in which the famed tradition of "Shout" is sang in Ross-Ade Stadium.
Headlined by former Boilermakers such as Akin Ayodele, Brent Botts, Drew Brees, Matt Light, Matt Mitrione, Tim Stratton and Vinny Sutherland, Purdue Athletics will honor more than 50 former student-athletes that helped the Old Gold & Black advance to the 2001 Rose Bowl Game. The 2000 Boilermakers finished 8-4 overall and 6-2 in the Big Ten that season, including thrilling wins over Michigan, Northwestern and Ohio State.
PURDUE-ILLINOIS SERIES HISTORY
• The Boilermakers are playing for continued ownership of the Purdue Cannon on Saturday, Sept. 25, as Purdue and Illinois take the field at Ross-Ade Stadium for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff on the Big Ten Network.
• The Old Gold & Black have claimed four of five contests against Illinois dating back to 2016. Additionally, Purdue has won seven of the last 10 matchups in the series.
• Head coach Jeff Brohm has a 3-1 record leading the Boilermakers against Illinois in The Cannon Game. Brohm is 3-2 all-time against Illinois as a head coach.
• Purdue's game against Illinois will be the 97th meeting between the two football programs, which stands as the second-most contests against a common opponent in school history, trailing only the 122 all-time games against Indiana.
• The two schools first played in 1890, with the all-time series tied at 45-45-6 through the 2020 season. Saturday's game will tip the scale in favor of one program.
BATTLE FOR THE CANNON
• The Cannon Game has a long and rich history. It all started in 1905 when a group of Purdue students took the weapon, quite miniature in nature, 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 return to 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.
• The Tomahawk Service and Leadership Honorary at Purdue and Illini Pride now share the maintenance duties for the trophy. Purdue leads the Cannon series 37-30-2, including 12 wins in the last 16 matchups.
REMEMBER SEPTEMBER
• Early success in a season can springboard a football program onward in its campaign, and that is exactly what Purdue and head coach Jeff Brohm will be working for against Illinois. The Boilermakers have the opportunity to claim three wins in the month of September for the first time since 2012 with a victory over Illinois on Saturday.
• The 2012 squad, led by former head coach Danny Hope, started 3-1 on the year with wins over Eastern Kentucky (48-6, Sept. 1, 2012), Eastern Michigan (54-16, Sept. 15, 2012) and Marshall (51-41, Sept. 29, 2012).
• A potential 3-1 start for the 2021 edition of Purdue Football would match the season start of the aforementioned 2012 group and be the best since Purdue's 5-0 start to the 2007 season.
CAREER PERFORMANCES AT NOTRE DAME
• Despite the loss to No. 10 Notre Dame (Sept. 18), breakout performances were had by a grouping of Boilermakers in front of the 74,341 on hand at Notre Dame Stadium.
• Fifth-year WR Jackson Anthrop caught seven passes for a career-best 90 yards, while junior RB King Doerue set career bests in both receptions (six) and receiving yards (39). Sophomore WR Mershawn Rice also had a career day with a personal-best in both catches (four) and receiving yards (37).
• Junior S Cam Allen's nine tackles at Notre Dame set a career-high for the Bluefield, Virginia, native. Sophomore S Marvin Grant's eight stops also was a career-best.
• Notably, junior WR David Bell heads into Saturday's Purdue-Illinois matchup just 19 receiving yards shy of the 2,000-yard mark for his career. Bell caught seven passes for 64 receiving yards in the setback.
COMING SOON - MR. 2,000
• Junior WR David Bell will soon cross the 2,000-yard barrier in receiving production for his Purdue career; a significant milestone in and of itself, but especially noteworthy when considering the Boilermaker star has only played in 21 games.
• As it currently stands, Bell will be the fastest active FBS receiver to crack 2,000 receiving yards. Western Kentucky's Ben Ratzlaff (18 career games) would pose a threat to accomplish the feat in 22 games if he were to produce 442 receiving yards in the Hilltoppers' next four contests.
• Bell would be the 12th 2,000-yard receiver in school history, and the first to do so since WR Greg Orton during the 2008 season. Orton finished his career (2005-08) with 2,356 receiving yards.
CONFERENCE OPENERS
• Purdue will be out to win its second-straight Big Ten Conference opener with its game against Illinois. Last season, the Boilermakers started off with a 24-20 victory vs. Iowa on Oct. 24, 2020. In the win, then-sophomore WR David Bell hauled in 13 catches for 121 yards and three touchdowns. Also a sophomore at the time, WR Milton Wright snagged seven passes for 85 receiving yards. Defensively, then-junior LB Jaylan Alexander racked up 10 tackles and one forced fumble. Then-sophomore DE George Karlaftis had three tackles and 1.0 sack.
• Reversing long-term fortunes will be Purdue's charge to start its 2021 conference slate, as the Boilermakers are 10-11 in Big Ten openers since 2000. This matchup will be the first time since 2004 that Purdue begins league play with Illinois. The mighty Boilers took down No. 15-ranked Illinois in Champaign by a score of 38-30 (Sept. 25, 2004).
• Claiming the Big Ten opener has boded well for Purdue postseason aspirations in recent memory. Since 1997, which was former head coach Joe Tiller's opening campaign as the leader of the Boilermakers, Purdue has advanced to a bowl game every time it has won its league opener but twice, in 2010 and 2020.
CAN YOU SMELL THE ROSES
• Purdue Athletics will honor and celebrate its 2000 team, which made the Rose Bowl Game, on Saturday, Sept. 25, with recognitions throughout the game vs. Illinois. Honorary captains for the day include: Akin Ayodele, Brent Botts, Drew Brees and Montrell Lowe.
• During pregame warm-ups, and the first quarter, the four honorary captain will be on the sidelines, as well as during the third quarter, in which the famed tradition of "Shout" is sang in Ross-Ade Stadium.