OPENING KICK
• Battle for the Cannon: Fresh off a thrilling upset win over No. 6 Wisconsin, the Fighting Illini look to make a two straight when they travel to West Lafayette to face Purdue on Saturday (Noon ET/11 am CT on BTN). The Illini and Boilermakers will play for the Cannon rivalry trophy, which dates back to 1943.
• Signature Win: Saturday's win over No. 6 Wisconsin marked the Fighting Illini's first victory over a top-10 team since beating No. 1 Ohio State 28-21 on 11/10/2007. It also snapped a string of 24 straight losses to AP-ranked opponents dating back to a 17-14 win over No. 22 Arizona State on Sept. 17, 2011.
• Finish for the Ages: A 39-yard field goal by James McCourt as time expired capped a nine-point comeback in the final six minutes to top No. 6 Wisconsin, 24-23, on Homecoming at Memorial Stadium. Illinois trailed by as many as 13 points and faced a deficit of 23-14 with six minutes to play before a 29-yard TD pass from Brandon Peters to Josh Imatorbhebhe with 5:53 left, an interception by Tony Adams with 2:32 left, and then McCourt's walk-off completed the Illini rally and the biggest upset in college football this season.
• Havoc on D: Like his signature Chicago Bears defenses, Lovie's Illini D excels at forcing turnovers, scoring points and making negative plays for the opposing offense.
» The Illini lead the nation in both forced fumbles (13) and fumble recoveries (12).
» The defense also ranks sixth in turnovers gained (17), seventh in FBS in defensive touchdowns (2), ninth in tackles for loss per game (8.3), and 10th in turnover margin (+1.00).
• Hansen, So Hot Right Now: Junior LB Jake Hansen has become one of the biggest takeaway threats in the game.
» Named Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week and B1G Defensive Player of the Week after posting 11 tackles, two forced fumbles, one sack and one TFL in the Illini's upset win over No. 6 Wisconsin on Oct. 19.
» Leads the nation in both forced fumbles (7) and fumbles recovered (3).
» Seven forced fumbles are the second-most in a season in Illini history behind only Whitney Mercilus' school record of nine in 2011 and is the third-most in a season in Big Ten history (since 2000).
» Current 1.00 forced fumbles per game average (7 FF, 7 G) is on pace to break the NCAA record (since 2000) for forced fumbles per game. The current mark is 0.83 by Louisville's Elvis Dumervil in 2005 (10 FF, 12 G).
» Has three more forced fumbles than any other player in the nation and as many or more forced fumbles (7) as 97 FBS teams have on the season.
» Is the No. 9 graded linebacker in the nation and No. 2 in the Big Ten by PFF (78.0, min. 400 snaps).
• Punching It Out: Senior S Stanley Green forced his eighth career fumble when he punched one out against Michigan Oct. 12. He joins Jake Hansen with eight career forced fumbles. Both Green and Hansen are…
» Tied for the second-most forced fumbles among active FBS players (9, Paddy Fisher, Northwestern)
» Tied for the third-most in program history (since 1990) with Dana Howard (8), behind only Simeon Rice (13) and Whitney Mercilus (11).
• Dele Domination: Senior LB Dele Harding continues to lead the Big Ten in tackles (12.1 per game), ranking third in FBS following the Wisconsin game. Along with his 85 tackles, Harding has 6.5 TFLs, two interceptions, one forced fumble and one touchdown on a 40-yard pick six at Minnesota.
• Corbin Climbing: Senior RB Reggie Corbin climbed to 13th on the Illinois all-time rushing list with 83 yards during the Wisconsin game, passing John Karras (2,135) and Chubby Phillips (2,103). Corbin enters the Purdue game with 2,165 yards, just 29 yards behind Keith Jones (2,194 yards from 1984-88) for 12th place.
» Corbin's career 6.9 ypc ranks third among active FBS players and is the most for any Illini with at least 2,000 rushing yards.
» Has had 10 scrimmage plays over 50 yards in his career, all coming against B1G competition (list on page 3).
» His 5.70 yards per carry this season ranks fifth in the Big Ten. Last season, he ranked third in FBS in yards per carry (8.48).
» Corbin's career rushing numbers: 316 carries, 2,165 yards, 6.9 yards per carry, 15 touchdowns (more on Corbin on page 3).
• No Way, Wole: Junior DE Oluwole Betiku Jr., a graduate transfer from USC, has been a force on the defensive line.
» Betiku ranks sixth in the nation in sacks (1.14 per game) and ninth TFLs (1.6 per game) on the season.
» His 8.0 sacks already are more than or equal to Illinois' season leader in 19 of the last 23 seasons.
BATTLE FOR THE CANNON
• Illinois and Purdue will play for the coveted Cannon rivalry trophy. Purdue leads the traditional trophy series by a 36-28-2 mark. The overall series is tied 44-44-6.
• Purdue currently holds the Cannon after wins in 2016, 2017, and 2018.
• 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).
• 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.
THE ILLINOIS-PURDUE SERIES
• Saturday marks the 95th meeting between the Fighting Illini and the Boilermakers.
• Illinois and Purdue are tied in the all-time series 44-44-6.
• Purdue won 46-7 last season in Champaign. The Boilermakers out-gained the Illini, 611-250.
• Purdue beat Illinois 29-10 in 2017 in Illinois' last visit to West Lafayette. Illinois QB Cam Thomas made his first career start, going 10-for-20 passing for 159 yards.
• Purdue has won three straight meeting since Illinois blew out the Boilermakers 48-14 in West Lafayette in 2015. Wes Lunt threw three first-half touchdowns, Ke'Shawn Vaughn finished with 16 carries for 180 yards, and Josh Ferguson added 12 rushes for 133 yards. Malik Turner caught a 32-yard TD pass from Lunt in the first quarter and Kendrick Foster scored his first-career TD on an 18-yard run in the fourth quarter.
• Mike Dudek set Illinois' freshman single-game receiving yards of 200 against Purdue 10/4/2014.
• David Williams set Illinois' single-game receptions record of 16 against Purdue 10/12/1985.
• Dan Beaver made the longest field goal in Illinois history (57 yards) against Purdue 10/18/1975. James McCourt tied that record earlier this season against Eastern Michigan 9/14/2019.
ILLINOIS-PURDUE CONNECTIONS
• Illinois AD Josh Whitman grew up in West Lafayette, Indiana.
• Purdue head coach Jeff Brohm was the quarterbacks coach at Illinois from 2010-11.
• Purdue co-defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Nick Holt served the same position at USC during the 2007 season when Illinois faced the Trojans in the 2008 Rose Bowl.
• QB Jeff George Sr. played at both Purdue (1986) and Illinois (1988 & '89) before being drafted No. 1 overall by the Indianapolis Colts in the 1990 NFL Draft.
BREAKING THE BADGERS
In the upset win over No. 6 Wisconsin on Oct. 19, Illinois put up the biggest numbers of the season against the top-ranked Wisconsin defense, which entered the game ranked first in the nation in total defense (173.7 ypg), points allowed (4.8 ppg), rushing yards allowed (44.7 ypg), passing yards allowed (129.0 ypg), and shutouts (4).
• Illinois had the most points (24), takeaways (3), rushing yards (141), passing touchdowns (2, tied), rushing touchdowns (1, tied), yards per carry (4.0), and the longest rush (43, Corbin) against Wisconsin this season.
• Reggie Corbin (83 yards) and Dre Brown (70 yards) had the top two rushing performances against Wisconsin to this point in the season. The previous high was 68 yards by Northwestern's Drake Smith.
• Illinois' 24 points were the most allowed by Wisconsin this season. UW had allowed only 29 points in its first six games of 2019.
• Illinois was the first team to lead the Badgers at any point this season. The only lead of the game for the Illini came with 0:00 on the clock.
• Illinois was the first team to score a touchdown in the first half against Wisconsin this season. Wisconsin had allowed only three first-half points in the first six games.
• Illinois had 17 first downs on 56 plays (30.4% first down rate). Wisconsin had allowed first downs on just 15.5% of plays this season, the best in FBS.
• Illinois' touchdown in the second quarter (Peters to Navarro) were the first points allowed by Wisconsin in 148:17 of game time. Wisconsin had shut out their previous two opponents (Kent State and Michigan State).
FRESHMAN REDSHIRT WATCH
• The NCAA passed legislation prior to the 2018 that allows players who play in up to four games -- regardless of when they take place -- to redshirt for that season and preserve a year of eligibility. Here's look at games played for each of the 12 Illini true-freshmen that has played in 2019.
» Played in 5+ games (4): TE Bryce Barnes (7), LB Tarique Barnes (7), DB Devon Witherspoon (7), WR Dalevon Campbell (5)
» Have played in 4 or fewer games (9): WR Kyron Cumby (4), WR Casey Washington (4), LB Shammond Cooper (3), RB Nick Fedanzo (3), DL Keith Randolph Jr. (2), , DL Seth Coleman (2), QB Isaiah Williams (2), DB Matthew Judd (1), DL Moses Okpala (1).
RUNNIN' REGGIE
Senior RB Reggie Corbin is the Illini's home run hitter.
» Ranks fourth in the Big Ten in rushing yards (79.8) and fifth in yards per carry (5.70)
» Has two 100-yard games this season (144 vs. EMU and 134 vs. NEB) and six career 100-yard games.
» He has 479 yards on the season to bring his career total to 2,165 yards, good for 13th on Illinois' all-time rushing yardage list.
» Ranked third in the nation in yards per carry (8.48) in 2018 for any player with at least 10 carries per game.
» Led FBS in runs of 70+ yards (4), second in runs of 50+ (7) and 80+ yards (1), and third in 60+ (5) in 2018.
» Had 1,085 rushing yards in 2018, the 13th 1,000-yard season in Illinois history and the first since 2010.
» Career yards per carry of 6.9 ranks third among all active FBS players with at least 2,000 rushing yards. He has had 10 scrimmage plays over 50 yards in his career, all coming against Big Ten competition.
» 80 yard TD run at Wisconsin (2018)
» 77 yard TD run vs. Minnesota (2018)
» 73 yard TD run at Rutgers (2018)
» 72 yard TD run vs. Minnesota (2018)
» 69 yard TD run at Maryland (2018)
» 66 yard TD run vs. Nebraska (2019)
» 53 yard run at Rutgers (2016)
» 52 yard run at Rutgers (2018)
» 52 yard reception vs. Purdue (2018)
» 51 yard run vs. Penn State (2018)
Active Career YPC Leaders (min. 2,000 yards)
1. Travis Etienne, Clemson 7.8 (409-3,205)
2. Malcolm Perry, Navy 7.1 (443-3,134)
3. Reggie Corbin, Illinois 6.9 (316-2,165)
4. D'Andre Swift, Georgia 6.8 (354-2,419)
5. Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin 6.7 (763-5,128)
Career YPC Among Illinois 2,000 yard rushers
1. Reggie Corbin, 2016-19 6.9 (316-2,165)
2. R. Mendenhall, 2005-07 6.5 (388-2,539)
3. Mikel Leshoure, 2008-10 6.0 (424-2,557)
4. Pierre Thomas, 2003-06 5.6 (453-2,545)
5. Red Grange, 1923-25 5.3 (388-2,074)
WHAT CAN BROWN DO FOR YOU?
Now in his fifth year with the Illini, RB Dre Brown has battled through a lot of adversity. He is finally healthy and it shows, rushing for 280 yards on 48 carries (5.8 ypc) and making five catches for 42 yards this season. His biggest impact has been on kickoff returns, where he ranks 11th in FBS and first in the B1G at 27.6 ypr (14 returns for 387 yards).
» Brown ranks third in program history in kickoff return average at 25.3 ypr (min. 15 att.), behind only Red Grange (30.2 ypr) and Mike Bellamy (26.4 ypr), and tied with Pierre Thomas (25.3 ypr).
» His current 27.6 yards-per-return average this season leads the Big Ten and also ranks fourth on the Illinois single-season list behind only the program record of 29.7 by Darryl Usher in 1987, Mike Bellamy's 28.7 average in 1989, and Arrelious Benn's 28.0 in 2007.
» One of the top signees in the 2015 recruiting class, Brown was poised for playing time as a true freshmen before going down with an ACL injury prior to the season. In all, he missed nearly two-and-a-half seasons after enduring 2 torn ACLs, 2 sprained MCLs, a stress fracture and 4 knee surgeries before making his Illini debut Oct. 7, 2017, at Iowa as part of the kick return unit. He got his first offensive snaps and carries Oct. 14 at Rutgers. He had a breakout game at Ohio State that season, rushing for a career-high 76 yards on 15 carries (5.1 ypc) and finished the season with 138 yards on 31 carries (4.5 ypc).
» In 2018, Brown was limited to seven games (missing five due to injury), but he finished the season with 181 yards on 18 carries (10.0 ypc) and two touchdowns. He also was the team's top kick returner, averaging 22.0 yards on 15 returns.
ILLINI STANDOUTS
• James and the Giant Leg: Junior K James McCourt has already established himself as one of the biggest legs in program history. All six of his made field goals are from 39 or more yards and three are from 50 or more.
» McCourt's shortest make of the season, the 39-yard game-winner over No. 6 Wisconsin as time expired, will go down as one of the biggest kicks in Illini history.
» McCourt is one of two FBS kickers with 3 or more 50+ field goals this season (3 – Rodrigo Blankenship, UGA)
» The three 50+ field goals are the fourth-most in a career in Illinois history. Last year, Chase McLaughlin finished his career with an Illinois record five 50+-yard field goals. Dan Beaver and Jason Reda each made four.
» McCourt tied the Illinois record with a 57-yard field goal against EMU, tying Dan Beaver's 44 year old mark (vs. Purdue, 10/18/1975). It's also tied for the longest field goal in FBS this season.
» His first Illini make was from 53-yards at UConn Sept. 7, tying for the longest road field goal in Illinois history (Mike Bass at Syracuse 9/18/1982; Dave Finzer at Purdue 10/15/1977).
» On kickoffs, McCourt ranks 11th in FBS in average (64.32 ypk) and 21st in touchback percentage (71.1%)
• Oh, BheBhe: Junior WR Josh Imatorbhebhe, a transfer from USC, notched his first career 100-yard receiving game with five catches for 102 yards and one touchdown against Michigan on Oct. 12. His six touchdown receptions this season rank second in the Big Ten lead and 20th nationally. He leads the team with 364 receiving yards, had a team-best 16.5 yards per catch, and is second in catches (22).
• Hayes, Australian for Boot: Punter Blake Hayes has been a field-flipper for the Fighting Illini.
» Hayes ranks 14th in FBS and third in the B1G in punting average (45.4) and his versatility, whether it's booming kicks or bouncing rugby-style kicks, have helped the Illini rank 25th in FBS in net punting (41.44 ypp).
» Of Hayes' 42 punts, 20 have been downed inside the 20, with just one touchback. Opponents have scored only 10 points on ensuing drives after Hayes' punts inside the 20 (2.0 points per drive).
» Ten of Hayes' punts have been downed within the 10-yard line and five have been downed within the 3-yard line. Only 12 of his punts have been returned.
» Hayes' current season average of 45.4 yards per punt is tied for the best in Illinois history with Steve Weatherford's program record of 45.4.
» His career punting average of 43.3 ranks second at Illinois only 0.2 yards behind Weatherford's career record (43.5) set from 2002-05.
» Hayes was named Big Ten Special Teams player of the week on Sept. 23 after averaging 46.0 yards per punt and dropping five punts inside the 20 against Nebraska, including a 59-yard boot to the 2-yard line that set up an Illini score.
• BP = Big Points: Michigan transfer QB Brandon Peters returned to his starting role against Wisconsin after missing the Michigan game and most of the Minnesota game due to injury.
» Despite missing nearly two full games, Peters ranks 31st in FBS in points responsible for (14.0 per game) and 38th in touchdown passes (12).
» Peters (12) already has surpassed the Illinois season passing touchdown leader for each of the past three seasons: 2018 - AJ Bush Jr. (6), 2017 - Jeff George Jr. (7), 2016 - Wes Lunt (8).
» Peters threw four touchdown passes at UConn, tied for seventh-most in Illinois history, and the most since Wes Lunt threw 4 TDs vs. Kent State 9/5/2015.
» Peters was officially announced as the starter by Lovie Smith on Aug. 20. He graduated from Michigan in three years and transferred to Illinois this summer with two years of eligibility remaining.
• On-Field Impact: As expected, the Illini's six power-five transfers have made a huge impact this season. QB Brandon Peters (Michigan), WR Josh Imatorbhebhe (USC), WR Trevon Sidney (USC), OL Richie Petitbon (Alabama), DL Oluwole Betiku Jr. (USC), and LB Milo Eifler (Washington) all are starters making big contributions.
» QB Peters – 971 passing yards, 12 TD passes, 2 rushing TDs
» DL Betiku Jr. – 29 tackles, 11.5 TFLs, 8.0 sacks, 6 QB hurries, 2 fumble recoveries
» WR Imatorbhebhe – 22 catches, 364 yards, 6 touchdowns
» WR Sidney – 16 catches, 123 yards, 1 touchdown
» LB Eifler – 35 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, 1 PBU, 1 TD
» OL Petitbon – 7 starts at guard
GRADS ON GRADS ON GRADS
The 2019 Fighting Illini roster features 11 student-athletes that already earned 12 college degrees prior to the season – seven at Illinois and five at different schools
Student-Athlete | Bachelor's Degree » Degree Pursuing
Oluwole Betiku Jr. | International Relations (May '19 at USC) » Recreation, Sport & Tourism
Dre Brown | Recreation, Sport & Tourism (Dec. '18 at Illinois) » Management
Reggie Corbin | Communication (May '18 at Illinois) » Recreation, Sport & Tourism
Josh Imatorbhebhe | Business Administration (May '19 at USC) » Strategic Brand Communication
Jamal Milan | Sociology (May '19 at Illinois) » Communication (2nd bachelor's)
Brandon Peters | General Studies (June '19 at Michigan) » Recreation, Sport & Tourism
Richie Petitbon | Communication Studies (Dec. '18 at Alabama) » Sport Management
Caleb Reams | Community Health (May '19 at Illinois) » Management
Trevon Sidney | Communication (June '19 at USC) » Recreation, Sport & Tourism
Bobby Walker | Political Science (Dec. '18 at Illinois) » Management
Justice Williams | Business Management (Aug. '18 at Illinois) » Already finished M.S.
Justice Williams | M.S., Business Administration (Aug. 19 at Illinois) » Spanish (2nd bachelor's)
