Pregame Discussion Thread: Illinois vs Purdue

Illinois (3-2) vs Purdue (2-3)

When: Saturday, Oct. 4, 2014 | 11 am CT

Where: Memorial Stadium | Champaign, IL

Television: ESPN2 | Watch Online WatchESPN.com

Announcers: Beth Mowins, Joey Galloway and Paul Carcaterra

Radio: Illini Sports Network | Listen | Sirius 113 / XM 195

Opposing SB Nation Blog: Hammer and Rails

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Illinois/Purdue Series Notes:

Saturday's game marks the 90th meeting between the Illini and Boilers, dating back to 1890. The series with Purdue is the oldest in Illinois' 125-year history. Purdue was one of two teams that Illinois played in its inaugural year of college football (the other was Illinois Wesleyan).

Illinois leads the overall series 43-40-6 after winning 20-16 in West Lafayette in 2013, and the Illini hold a 23-19-2 margin in games played in Champaign. But the Boilers have won two of the last three games overall, seven of the last nine meetings and 10 of the last 14, dating back to 1994. Purdue also has won three of the last four meetings and five of the last seven at Memorial Stadium dating back to 1994.

In the last matchup in Champaign, the Boilers pulled out a 20-17 slugfest thanks to 14 third-quarter points. Robert Marve was 18-of-26 for 173 yards and a touchdown through the air, while Akeem Shavers added 99 yards and a score on the ground.

Illinois coach Tim Beckman has a 2-2 record versus the Boilers, 1-1 as the Illini's leader and 1-1 at Toledo. Beckman's Rockets dropped a 52-36 defeat in West Lafayette in 2009 before upsetting the Boilers 31-20 at Ross-Ade Stadium in 2010. Beckman and Purdue head coach Darrell Hazell both coached in the Mid-American Conference in 2011, with Beckman at Toledo and Hazell at Kent State, but the teams did not face each other that season.

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