Boilermakers Country

LIVE BLOG: Follow Purdue Football's Road Game Against Illinois in Real Time

Purdue football is on the road against Illinois and looks to get back in the win column following two straight losses. Kickoff is scheduled for noon ET here at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill. Follow our live blog for updates, news and analysis throughout the game.

D.J. Fezler

In this story:

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Purdue football (5-4, 3-3 Big Ten) is on the road Saturday against Illinois (7-2, 4-2), looking to come away with a victory and force a tie atop the Big Ten West standings in the final stretch of the season. 

The Boilermakers are on a two-game skid, dropping matchups at Wisconsin and against Iowa, but the team has won its last six games here at Memorial Stadium. The game is scheduled to kick off at noon ET. 

  • How to watch: For television information, stats and notes on the head coaches for both teams ahead of Saturday's matchup between Purdue football and Illinois, CLICK HERE. 

Purdue is 2-1 in Big Ten road games this season and another win would push the program to bowl eligibility for the fourth time in six years under head coach Jeff Brohm. 

Despite being the 98th meeting between these two conference programs, Saturday's game will be the 71st edition with the Cannon Trophy at stake. The Boilermakers have a 38-30-2 record in Cannon Trophy games, including victories in the last two tries. 

Welcome to our live blog, where we'll keep you updated on the game in real time, straight from the press box, with news and views as they happen. We'll add highlights and opinions as well. The most recent items are on the top, so just keep refreshing.

It's game day for Purdue football, be sure to follow along below:

***All times central*** 

3:03 p.m., FINAL — Purdue 31, Illinois 24 

The Boilermakers get a crucial win on the road against the top team in the Big Ten West. The final home game of the season is next week against Northwestern at Ross-Ade Stadium. 

3:00 p.m. — Illinois kicks a field goal, making it 31-24 in favor of Purdue with 17 seconds left. Onside kick incoming. 

2:53 p.m. — Mitchell Fineran nails a 25-yard field goal to put Purdue up 31-21 over Illinois with 1:05 left to play in the game. 

2:50 p.m. — Purdue goes for it on fourth down, and Aidan O'Connell completes to TJ Sheffield for a gain of 15 yards to move the chains. The Boilermakers are 1-of-2 on fourth-down conversion attempts and get into the red zone with a chance to put the game away. 

2:44 p.m. — Tommy DeVito has his pass tipped at the line of scrimmage by Purdue, and the ball falls into the hands of linebacker Kieren Douglas. The Boilermakers take over on offense after Douglas is helped off the field with an injury. 

2:30 p.m. — Khordae Sydnor brings down Tommy DeVito for a loss of 18 yards, and Illinois is called for holding on the next play to bring up third down with 37 yards to go. The next play is not enough for a first down, and Purdue brings in a punt at its own 30-yard line. 

2:23 p.m. — Purdue goes three-and-out, breaking a streak of three straight touchdown drives that stemmed from Charlie Jones' grab before the second half. 

2:15 p.m. — Much, much confusion on the field following that last play. Tommy DeVito has the snap launched behind him, and manages to get rid of the ball for an incomplete pass. But the Purdue defense is later called for disconcerting signals, charged for mimicking the offense's cadence. 

Illinois faces second-and-3 from its 49-yard line after a timeout. 

2:04 p.m. — Payne Durham gets into the end zone for the second time, scoring from 12 yards out to put Purdue ahead 28-21 with 13:13 left to play in the fourth quarter. The redshirt senior tight end has 6 catches for 64 yards to go along with his pair of touchdowns. 

1:55 p.m., END Q3 — Penalties helping Purdue push down the field. The game is tied 21-21 entering the fourth quarter, and the Boilermakers will have third-and-4 from the Illinois 36-yard line. 

1:47 p.m. — Illinois punches back with a 10-play, 57-yard drive capped by a 5-yard touchdown from Tommy DeVito to Brian Hightower. Purdue has lost some composure and is charged with two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties after the extra point. 

1:27 p.m. — Aidan O'Connell throws a jump ball to tight end Payne Durham for a 5-yard touchdown. The scoring play was reviewed and confirmed to give Purdue a 21-14 lead with 6:57 to play in the third quarter. 

Wide receiver TJ Sheffield was called for unsportsmanlike conduct after the ball, which will be enforced on the ensuing kickoff. 

1:24 p.m. — Aidan O'Connell hits TJ Sheffield on a wheel route on the left sideline for 34-yards, putting Purdue on the Illinois 4-yard line. Boilermakers looking for their first lead of the game. 

1:16 p.m. — Aidan O'Connell keeps the ball on a zone read and races, albeit very slowly, down the field for 24 yards. Not even a slide at the end of the run, instead settles for an awkward-looking sitdown. 

1:13 p.m. — Illinois looked poised to go for it on fourth down from the Purdue 39-yard line on its first drive of the second half, but the offensive line jumped offsides to force the offense back five yards. The Boilermakers set up to receive the punt. 

12:42 p.m., HALFTIME — Purdue 14, Illinois 14 

The Boilermakers outgained the Fighting Illini 229-164 and picked up 15 first downs in the opening half. Aidan O'Connell has completed passes to eight different receivers so far. 

12:36 p.m. — Purdue gets into the end zone as Aidan O'Connell hits Charlie Jones for 32 yards down the right sideline. The Boilermakers tie things up 14-14 with 1:40 left to play in the half. The Fighting Illini get the ball back but will also receive the second-half kickoff. 

Jones is over 1,000 yards for the season after the scoring grab. 

12:35 p.m. — Purdue gets a pickup of 16 yards though the air to Charlie Jones, and Illinois is called for pass interference on the very next pass attempt. The Fighting Illini unhappy with the call as they would have had an interception without a flag thrown. 

12:32 p.m. — Tommy DeVito's pass goes for one yard, and Purdue calls its second timeout before getting set to receive the ensuing punt. 

12:31 p.m. — Purdue calls its first timeout of the half ahead of an Illinois third down. Fighting Illini needs 11 yards for a first down with 2:17 left before halftime. Jeff Brohm trying to get one more drive before the end of the second quarter. 

12:21 p.m. — Chase Brown reaches the end zone for the second time today, scoring from eight yards out and giving Illinois a 14-7 lead over Purdue with 4:33 to play before halftime. Fighting Illini with two long scoring drives before the break. 

12:19 p.m. — Catch and fumble by Illinois is reviewed after the play. The call is reversed, and the Fighting Illini have a first down in the red zone. 

12:13 p.m. — Illinois on the move now after Tommy DeVito completes a 25-yard pass over the top to wide receiver Casey Washington. The Fighting Illini dropped a sure-fire touchdown reception on the next play with linebacker OC Brothers in coverage down the right sideline. 

12:04 p.m. — That drive was all Devin Mockobee. He runs the ball four straight times and gets into the end zone for Purdue from the 6-yard line. The Boilermakers tie things up 7-7 with 8:46 to play in the first half. Mockobee up to 74 yards on 12 carries.

12:03 p.m. — Purdue picks up a first down, and Devin Mockobee follows up with a run of 28-yards down to the Illinois 16-yard line. On the next play, the redshirt freshman running back goes for another 10 yards. 

12:00 p.m. — Purdue's defensive line gets to Tommy DeVito on third down, even with a holding call on the play. Prince Boyd Jr. credited with the quarterback takedown and the Boilermakers look to get the ball with fantastic field position. 

11:47 p.m. — Andrew Sowinski comes down with a catch of 4-yards on third down to move the chains. But Devin Mockobee is tackled behind the line of scrimmage on the subsequent first-down rush attempt. 

11:42 p.m., END Q1 — Illinois 7, Purdue 0

Field flips for the Boilermakers, who will have the wind at their back heading into the second quarter. Aidan O'Connell and the offense faces second-and-5 from its own 9-yard line when play resumes. 

11:40 p.m. — Illinois punt downed inside the 5-yard line. Purdue looking to finally have a drive pay off on offense. The Boilermakers have outgained the Fighting Illini 108-81 so far, with no points to show for it. 

11:37 p.m. — Purdue gets the benefit of a new set of downs by way of a pass interference penalty. But the drive turns into an interception as Aidan O'Connell looked to get the ball to Mershawn Rice on a double move. Illinois appeared to get away with holding. No flag. 

11:31 p.m. — Purdue's defense forces a three-and-out, and Illinois will punt to Charlie Jones with the wind at its back. Jones brings the ball to the 21-yard line, where the offense will get back to work. 

11:30 p.m. — Defensive tackle Branson Deen down on the field with an injury. He needs to be helped off the field, favoring his left leg. 

11:25 p.m. — Purdue, once again, comes up short after getting into Illinois territory. Devin Mockobee drops a fourth-down pass, and Mitchell Fineran's field goal attempt of 44 yards is no good into the wind. Illinois holds on to a 7-0 lead with 5:06 still to play in the first quarter. 

11:22 p.m. — Payne Durham gets involved early in the passing game, taking a short catch for a gain of 26 yards after hurdling a pair of Illinois defenders and refusing to go down on the right sideline. Purdue is having success moving the ball but needs to turn sustained drives into points on the board. 

11:15 p.m. — Illinois star running back Chase Brown punches in a touchdown from the 2-yard line to cap off a 6-play, 74-yard drive on the team's opening possession. Purdue trails 7-0 with 8:07 left to play in the first quarter. 

11:13 p.m. — Illinois quarterback Tommy DeVito completes a 32-yard pass to wide receiver Brian Hightower, who was covered one-on-one by cornerback Reese Taylor. The Fighting Illini are quickly pushing down the field and already find themselves in the red zone. 

11:08 p.m. — Jeff Brohm makes a gutsy decision to go for it on fourth down, and it turns out to be the wrong call. Aidan O'Connell's pass falls incomplete, intended for Payne Durham. A promising 10-play, 49-yard drive ends in no points. 

The Boilermakers were working into the wind, which may have factored into the choice not to settle for a field goal. No Illinois gets the chance to get started on offense. 

11:05 p.m. — Aidan O'Connell swings the ball out to redshirt freshman running back Devin Mockobee on third-and-12. He weaves his way through the Illinois defense for a pickup of 14 yards to move the chains. 

On the next play, O'Connell finds redshirt senior tight end Payne Durham for a gain of 15 yards, bringing the Boilermakers into opposing territory. 

Kickoff — Illinois wins the toss and elects to defer to the second half. Purdue will receive the ball to start the game, with its offense going into some wind. Aidan O'Connell and the rest of the Boilermakers looking for a fast start against one of the top statistical defenses in the nation. 

Running back Kobe Lewis was back deep to return, not redshirt freshman Deion Burks.

Related Stories on Purdue Football: 

  • Jeff Brohm's Final Thoughts Before Road Trip to Illinois: Purdue football coach Jeff Brohm met with the media to offer his final thoughts ahead of the team's road matchup against Illinois. The two teams are scheduled to play at noon ET at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill. CLICK HERE
  • Boilers Preparing for Dominant Fighting Illini Defense: Illinois boasts a stout defense that's allowing just 10.4 points and 232.2 total yards per game this season. Purdue has fallen behind early in back-to-back losses and is looking to get back on track Saturday on the road. CLICK HERE
  • Purdue Football Buried by Iowa in 24-3 Loss: Two interceptions in the first half by sixth-year quarterback Aidan O’Connell dug a hole too deep for the Boilermakers to climb out of. Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson ran for 200 yards and a touchdown to bury Purdue at Ross-Ade Stadium. CLICK HERE 

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D.J. Fezler
D.J. FEZLER

D.J. Fezler is a staff writer for BoilermakersCountry.com. Hailing from The Region, he is from Cedar Lake in Northwest Indiana and has spent the last two years covering Purdue football and basketball. 

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