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On Saturday, Illinois and Purdue will play for the coveted Cannon rivalry trophy in West Lafayette (Noon ET/11 am CT on BTN).
• Purdue leads the traditional trophy series by a 34-28-2 mark, though Illinois leads the overall all-time series 44-42-6.Â
• The Boilermakers currently hold the Cannon after a 34-31 overtime win in Champaign last season. Illinois won the last meeting in West Lafayette, 48-14, in 2015.Â
• The Cannon is one of three rivalry trophies the Illini play for along with the Illibuck (Ohio State) and the Land of Lincoln Trophy (Northwestern).Â
• The Cannon, more accurately known as the Purdue Cannon, made its first trip to Champaign-Urbana in 1905 when a group of Purdue students brought it to fire after a Boilermaker victory. Purdue won the game, 29-0, but the Cannon was never fired. Illinois student Quincy Hall found the Cannon hidden near the old Illinois Field. Hall and a group of Delta Upsilon brothers confiscated the Cannon and held it until 1943, when they donated it as a symbol of the UI-Purdue rivalry. Tomahawk Service and Leadership honorary at Purdue and Illini Pride of Illinois maintain the trophy when the respective school has won it. The Cannon was last fired Nov. 4, 2001, at the Illinois football complex following the victory, but is no longer functional.
