WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue Football closes out the month of September and a three-game homestand by hosting Illinois in the battle for the Cannon Trophy. Kickoff from Ross-Ade Stadium is set for 3:30 p.m. on Peacock.
Not only is the matchup a rivalry game, but it also serves as Homecoming for the Boilermakers. The Boilermakers have faced Illinois 19 times for their Homecoming game, the second-most common Homecoming opponent behind Wisconsin (21). Purdue holds a 10-8-1 advantage over Illinois in the Homecoming matchups in West Lafayette.
As part of the special weekend, Tiller Tunnel (named after Joe Tiller, the winningest coach in Purdue history) will officially be dedicated in a private ceremony earlier in the day.
Head coach Ryan Walters faces off against his former team. Before becoming the 37th head coach in Purdue Football history, Walters served as Illinois' defensive coordinator for two seasons. Under his guidance a season ago, the Illini led the nation in scoring defense.
HONORARY CAPTAIN
• A member of the Den of Defensive Ends, Shaun Phillips (2000-03) will serve as Purdue's honorary captain for Saturday's Homecoming game against Illinois.
• Phillips earned his spot in the prestigious group by having a knack for sacks and tackles in the backfield. He ranks second in program history with 33.5 career sacks, while ranking third with 60.5 tackles-for-loss as a Boilermaker.
• Phillips recorded 14.5 sacks as a senior, the second-most in a single season in Purdue history, to earn First Team All-Big Ten accolades.
• After getting selected as the 98th overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers, Phillips went on to have an 11-year NFL career with stops in San Diego, Denver, Tennessee and Indianapolis.
BATTLE FOR THE CANNON TROPHY
• Purdue leads the Cannon series 39-30-2, including winning six of the past seven battles.
• The Boilermakers have collected 14 wins in the last 18 matchups dating back to 2003.
• The two schools first played in 1890, with Purdue holding a slight 47-45-6 edge in the all-time series.
• Purdue won last year's matchup in Champaign, upsetting No. 21 Illinois 31-24, a contest that proved to be a pivotal game in the Boilermakers winning the Big Ten West.
OPPONENT SNAPSHOT
• Illinois enters Saturday's matchup with a 2-2 (0-1 B1G) record following a 23-17 win over FAU to wrap up non-conference play.
• Ole Miss transfer Luke Altmyer has thrown for 874 yards on the season to go along with four touchdowns and seven interceptions. The quarterback is also the Illini's second-leading rusher with 146 yards and a team-high three touchdowns.
• Isaiah Williams is Altmyer's favorite receiver with 24 catches for 333 yards. Averaging 6.0 receptions per game, Williams leads the Big Ten.
• Bret Bielema is in his third season leading the Illini after head coaching stops at Arkansas (2013-17) and Wisconsin (2006-12).
CANNON TROPHY HISTORY
• 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.
• The Tomahawk Service and Leadership Honorary at Purdue and Illini Pride now share the maintenance duty for the Cannon.
LAST TIME WE MET
• Last year, the Boilermakers kept possession of the Cannon by going on the road to defeat No. 21 Illinois 31-24.
• Purdue held the nation's leading rusher, Chase Brown, to 98 yards on the ground, his first game under 100 yards rushing all season.
• In the other backfield, Devin Mockobee notched his fourth 100-yard game of the season, going for 106 yards on 28 carries with a touchdown.
• Payne Durham (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) recorded a team-high seven catches for 70 yards and two touchdowns.
• Sanoussi Kane topped all tacklers with nine on the afternoon with eight solos, one for loss and a forced fumble.
CANNON COACHING CONNECTIONS
• The new Purdue coaching staff is familiar with the rivalry, coaching on the other sidelines before making the move to West Lafayette.
• Head coach Ryan Walters spent the past two seasons at Illinois, serving as the Illini's defensive coordinator; last season, he guided the nation's No. 1 scoring defense as the Illini defense cracked the Top 10 in 17 different categories.
• Walters brought four coaches with him from Illinois to Purdue: defensive coordinator/inside linebackers coach Kevin Kane, associate head coach/wide receivers coach Cory Patterson, outside linebackers coach Joe Dineen and safeties coach Grant O'Brien.
HOMECOMING HISTORY
• Saturday's game will be Purdue's 101st Homecoming game.
• The Boilermakers are 53-43-4 in Homecoming contests.
• After losing six straight Homecoming games from 2012-17, Purdue has won three of the past five.
• The Boilermakers have faced Illinois 19 times for their Homecoming game, the second-most common Homecoming opponent behind Wisconsin (21). Purdue holds a 10-8-1 advantage over Illinois in the Homecoming matchups in West Lafayette.
WELCOME BACK GUS
• The Boilermakers welcomed back their anchor of the offensive line, as team captain Gus Hartwig returned to the starting lineup against Wisconsin (Sept. 22).
• It was the center's first action since suffering a season-ending knee injury against Northwestern last November.
• Despite the injury, Hartwig entered this season on watch lists for the Outland Trophy and Rimington Trophy, examples of his importance to the Purdue offensive line.
• Getting back on the field against the Badgers, the three-time Honorable Mention All-Big Ten center made his 28th career start in 31 games for the Boilermakers.
• Beginning with his sophomore season, Hartwig started 24 straight games before suffering an injury during the Northwestern game (Nov. 19, 2022) that sidelined him for the remainder of his junior year.
KJ KA-BOOM
• Kydran Jenkins has been a force in creating negative plays for opposing offenses.
• The senior outside linebacker leads the Big Ten in both tackles-for-loss (5.0) and sacks (3.0).
• He has recorded at least one TFL in all four games, while making a sack in each of the first three games of the season.
• Last week against Wisconsin, Jenkins paced Purdue with a career-high nine tackles.
Not only is the matchup a rivalry game, but it also serves as Homecoming for the Boilermakers. The Boilermakers have faced Illinois 19 times for their Homecoming game, the second-most common Homecoming opponent behind Wisconsin (21). Purdue holds a 10-8-1 advantage over Illinois in the Homecoming matchups in West Lafayette.
As part of the special weekend, Tiller Tunnel (named after Joe Tiller, the winningest coach in Purdue history) will officially be dedicated in a private ceremony earlier in the day.
Head coach Ryan Walters faces off against his former team. Before becoming the 37th head coach in Purdue Football history, Walters served as Illinois' defensive coordinator for two seasons. Under his guidance a season ago, the Illini led the nation in scoring defense.
HONORARY CAPTAIN
• A member of the Den of Defensive Ends, Shaun Phillips (2000-03) will serve as Purdue's honorary captain for Saturday's Homecoming game against Illinois.
• Phillips earned his spot in the prestigious group by having a knack for sacks and tackles in the backfield. He ranks second in program history with 33.5 career sacks, while ranking third with 60.5 tackles-for-loss as a Boilermaker.
• Phillips recorded 14.5 sacks as a senior, the second-most in a single season in Purdue history, to earn First Team All-Big Ten accolades.
• After getting selected as the 98th overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers, Phillips went on to have an 11-year NFL career with stops in San Diego, Denver, Tennessee and Indianapolis.
BATTLE FOR THE CANNON TROPHY
• Purdue leads the Cannon series 39-30-2, including winning six of the past seven battles.
• The Boilermakers have collected 14 wins in the last 18 matchups dating back to 2003.
• The two schools first played in 1890, with Purdue holding a slight 47-45-6 edge in the all-time series.
• Purdue won last year's matchup in Champaign, upsetting No. 21 Illinois 31-24, a contest that proved to be a pivotal game in the Boilermakers winning the Big Ten West.
OPPONENT SNAPSHOT
• Illinois enters Saturday's matchup with a 2-2 (0-1 B1G) record following a 23-17 win over FAU to wrap up non-conference play.
• Ole Miss transfer Luke Altmyer has thrown for 874 yards on the season to go along with four touchdowns and seven interceptions. The quarterback is also the Illini's second-leading rusher with 146 yards and a team-high three touchdowns.
• Isaiah Williams is Altmyer's favorite receiver with 24 catches for 333 yards. Averaging 6.0 receptions per game, Williams leads the Big Ten.
• Bret Bielema is in his third season leading the Illini after head coaching stops at Arkansas (2013-17) and Wisconsin (2006-12).
CANNON TROPHY HISTORY
• 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.
• The Tomahawk Service and Leadership Honorary at Purdue and Illini Pride now share the maintenance duty for the Cannon.
LAST TIME WE MET
• Last year, the Boilermakers kept possession of the Cannon by going on the road to defeat No. 21 Illinois 31-24.
• Purdue held the nation's leading rusher, Chase Brown, to 98 yards on the ground, his first game under 100 yards rushing all season.
• In the other backfield, Devin Mockobee notched his fourth 100-yard game of the season, going for 106 yards on 28 carries with a touchdown.
• Payne Durham (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) recorded a team-high seven catches for 70 yards and two touchdowns.
• Sanoussi Kane topped all tacklers with nine on the afternoon with eight solos, one for loss and a forced fumble.
CANNON COACHING CONNECTIONS
• The new Purdue coaching staff is familiar with the rivalry, coaching on the other sidelines before making the move to West Lafayette.
• Head coach Ryan Walters spent the past two seasons at Illinois, serving as the Illini's defensive coordinator; last season, he guided the nation's No. 1 scoring defense as the Illini defense cracked the Top 10 in 17 different categories.
• Walters brought four coaches with him from Illinois to Purdue: defensive coordinator/inside linebackers coach Kevin Kane, associate head coach/wide receivers coach Cory Patterson, outside linebackers coach Joe Dineen and safeties coach Grant O'Brien.
HOMECOMING HISTORY
• Saturday's game will be Purdue's 101st Homecoming game.
• The Boilermakers are 53-43-4 in Homecoming contests.
• After losing six straight Homecoming games from 2012-17, Purdue has won three of the past five.
• The Boilermakers have faced Illinois 19 times for their Homecoming game, the second-most common Homecoming opponent behind Wisconsin (21). Purdue holds a 10-8-1 advantage over Illinois in the Homecoming matchups in West Lafayette.
WELCOME BACK GUS
• The Boilermakers welcomed back their anchor of the offensive line, as team captain Gus Hartwig returned to the starting lineup against Wisconsin (Sept. 22).
• It was the center's first action since suffering a season-ending knee injury against Northwestern last November.
• Despite the injury, Hartwig entered this season on watch lists for the Outland Trophy and Rimington Trophy, examples of his importance to the Purdue offensive line.
• Getting back on the field against the Badgers, the three-time Honorable Mention All-Big Ten center made his 28th career start in 31 games for the Boilermakers.
• Beginning with his sophomore season, Hartwig started 24 straight games before suffering an injury during the Northwestern game (Nov. 19, 2022) that sidelined him for the remainder of his junior year.
KJ KA-BOOM
• Kydran Jenkins has been a force in creating negative plays for opposing offenses.
• The senior outside linebacker leads the Big Ten in both tackles-for-loss (5.0) and sacks (3.0).
• He has recorded at least one TFL in all four games, while making a sack in each of the first three games of the season.
• Last week against Wisconsin, Jenkins paced Purdue with a career-high nine tackles.