The Purdue Boilermakers will face the No. 1 seed on Saturday, October 12, 2024 (12/10/2024) at the University of Illinois Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. 23 Illinois Fighting Illini.

How to watch: Fans can watch the game for free with a trial fuboTV or DirecTV stream.

Here’s what you need to know:

What: NCAA Football, Week 7

WHO: Purdue vs. Illinois

When: Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024 (10/12/2024)

Where: University of Illinois Memorial Stadium

Time: 3:30 p.m. ET

TV: FS1

Station finder: Verizon Fios, AT&T U-Verse, Comcast Xfinity, Spectrum/Charter, Optimum/Altice,Cox,DIRECTV, Court, Hulu, fuboTV, loop.

Live stream: fuboTV or DirecTV Stream

AP preview:

Purdue (1-4, 0-2 Big Ten) at No. 23 Illinois (4-1, 1-1), Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (FS1)

BetMGM college football odds: Illinois at 19 1/2.

Series record: Purdue leads 48-45-6.

WHAT IS AT STAKE?

With key Big Ten games against No. 24 Michigan and No. 3 Oregon coming up and five ranked opponents on the schedule over a seven-game span, No. 23 Illinois can’t afford disappointment against a struggling Purdue team that has four has suffered consecutive losses and was beaten by Wisconsin 52-6 last Saturday.

KEY MATCHUP

Illinois’ passing attack vs. Purdue’s secondary. Luke Altmyer ranks 14th nationally in completion percentage (70%), 19th nationally in pass efficiency (164.0) and has thrown 11 touchdown passes. Pat Bryant is fifth in the country and second in the Big Ten with six touchdowns. One of the few highlights of Purdue’s loss to Wisconsin was DB Kyndrich Breedlove’s back-to-back interceptions. They were the Boilermakers’ first interceptions this season.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Illinois: LB Gabe Jacas. The 6-foot-3, 275-pound fullback has emerged as a leader of Illinois’ improved defense. He made 25 tackles and forced two fumbles. Jacas has played in all 30 games with 23 starts in his first three seasons at Illinois.

Purdue: DB Dillon Thieneman. After an All-American freshman season last year, the safety ranks 11th nationally and third in the Big Ten in solo tackles (5.4 per game). He has made 31 tackles in the last three games, including eight last week against Wisconsin.

FACTS & FIGURES

The winner of Saturday’s game will take home the Cannon Trophy. Purdue is 40-30-2 in Cannon Trophy games in a series that began in 1943. … Purdue has beaten a ranked Illinois team three times, the last time in 2022. … Five of Purdue’s seven remaining games this season are against ranked opponents. … Only 14 Illinois players are in their final season of eligibility. This makes Iowa State the lowest overall in Power 4 conferences. … Illinois beat two top-25 teams (Kansas and Nebraska) in a season for the first time since 2007. Prior to these wins, Illinois was 2-32 in its last 34 games against top-25 teams. No. 8 Tennessee and Syracuse are the only other teams with two top-25 wins this season. … Illinois graduate Sean Evans, host of the popular YouTube show Hot Ones, will sound the traditional Air Raid siren before the game.

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Cayden Steele can be reached at [email protected]