With important Big Ten games coming up against No. 24 Michigan and No. 3 Oregon and five ranked opponents on its schedule over a seven-game stretch, No. 23 Illinois can’t afford a letdown against a struggling Purdue team that has lost four in a row and was crushed 52-6 last Saturday by Wisconsin.

Illinois hasn’t played a home game in a month. Road games at then-No. 22-Nebraska and then-No. 9 Penn State and a bye week left Memorial Stadium silent since Sept. 14. The Illini (4-1, 1-1 Big Ten) will return home Saturday to face rival Purdue (1-4,

Barry Lunney Jr.’s offense has gotten off to a strong start in 2024 but will need to regroup a bit following the Illini’s loss to Penn State in which it was held to just seven points. They’ll have a great opportunity to get things rolling again on Saturday against a Purdue,