Illinois Football: Opportunity and a Threat vs Purdue

The Road to 5-1

Coming off a bye week, Illinois Football should be well prepared to take on a really bad Purdue team on Saturday afternoon.

Ryan Walter’s squad is currently 1-4, with their only win coming from in-state FCS neighbor Indiana State in week 1. The former Illini defensive coordinator got the best of his old coach in 2023, during his inaugural season in West Lafayette. In fact, Illinois got blown out on the road 44-19 by Ryan’s eventual 4-8 team at Ross-Ade.

The tides have since turned in 2024, and Illinois Football is on the good end of a hot momentum streak. Will Illinois take care of business, and beat on the Boilers, as they should? Or, will Purdue get the best of the Illini for the 4th consecutive season?

Purdue Boilermakers running back Devin Mockobee (45) is tackled by a group of Illinois Fighting Illini players during the NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind. Purdue Boilermakers won 44-19.

Opportunity for Illinois Football

Ryan Walters is undoubtedly a defensive-minded head coach. Illinois Football fans certainly respect what kind of impact the former Illini coach had as a DC in Champaign. He and Kevin Kane’s unit play hard and can force turnovers, as they did twice at Wisconsin a week ago. However, the Boilermakers have continually given up big plays, and high scores game after game. Finals of 66-7 (Notre Dame), 38-21 (Oregon St.), 28-10 (Nebraska) and 52-6 (Wisconsin) are a strong indicator of Purdue’s defensive woes.

Coming off of a bye week, this game is a great opportunity for QB Luke Altmyer to go off. A confident Altmyer has played really well though 5, and the Illini need him to continue his sharpness. What better timing to boost his confidence, than right before a huge matchup at home with Michigan?

Additionally, Purdue’s front 7 has been outmanned the entire season. The Illini offensive line has the talent to be really good, they just haven’t clicked thus far. There’s a chance for Bart Miller’s O-Line to bully a struggling Boilermakers Defensive front.

Threat From Purdue

Of course, it is the old-fashioned trap game.

Illinois Football has a big one in week 8 vs Michigan. 60,670+ Illini fans have recently sold out memorial stadium for the venue’s 100th rededication. Illinois truly has a shot at the 2023 National Champions, and this team, as well as Illini fans know it.

The Fighting Illini cannot overlook a program that has has beaten them 3 consecutive times, and 7 out of their last 8 matchups. The Boilermakers have had a target on Illinois back in recent history. Included in those losses, of course, was a gut wrenching defeat in 2022, which kept Illinois from competing in the Big Ten championship in Bielema’s 2nd season in Champaign.

Illinois must break the cycle now, and take care of business against a team they should beat in clean fashion.

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