Three takeaways & three stars from #Illini football's 24-17 loss to Purdue
@jwerner247.bsky.social
@jwerner247.bsky.socialThree takeaways & three stars from #Illini football's 24-17 loss to Purdue
@jwerner247.bsky.social#illini Bret Bielema on radio said the DBs all got together in one room and the linebackers all got together in one room. Cooper led the play-calling but more assistants got involved in the game plan.
@jwerner247.bsky.social#illini Bret Bielema on radio: "Very frustrating day, but this is the Big Ten, and no one's going to give you anything."
@kshermansports.bsky.socialFINAL: Purdue 24 - #Illini 17
Katin Houser: 21-37, 225 yds, 2 TDs, 1 INT
Ryan Browne: 18-27, 255 yds, 1 TD
@schwarziest.bsky.social#Illini lose to Purdue.
@101espn.comBoilermakers beat Illini
#Boilmakers 24 | #Illini 17
@davidbloomberg.bsky.socialWell that #Illini game sucked.
@andrewdeffley.bsky.socialFormer NFL coworker texted and asked me a few hours before kickoff of the UAB game what I thought of the 2026 #Illini, and I’m hoping I didn’t ask too much.
Just get to six wins, guys.
Don’t care how it happens. Don’t care if it happens on the final week.
Just get to six.
![K. Andrew Deffley - Big Deff - @andrewdeffley.bsky.social Bluesky - @bigdeff72 Threads receives a text from a friend and former coworker with the National Football League on September 3, 2026, hours before the first game of the season :
“Time for some [University of Illinois Fighting Illini] football! What are your thoughts on them for the season?”
Deffley responds, “…I have no idea what to think … just don’t miss a [bowl game] that’s all I ask.”](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_fullsize/plain/did:plc:eezh27s4hocud5k2qpntrhmf/bafkreic5yp6kdlal37ihi5hglc6lc3w7sflfjr6cjbbtjzbr36odmadmui@jpeg)
@kshermansports.bsky.socialA Ty Robinson touchdown cuts Purdue’s lead to 7.
Probably the most efficient drive of the afternoon for the #Illini.
@kshermansports.bsky.socialWhat an awful pass from Katin Houser. He threw up a duck! #Illini
@davidbloomberg.bsky.socialI don’t know what the heck has been going on all day with #Illini QB Houser but yikes. Definitely not what we expected of him.
@kshermansports.bsky.socialCan we just hit the reset button on the entire season? Get the magical remote that Adam Sandler had in Click? #Illini
@davidbloomberg.bsky.socialIt’s a good thing the #Illini parted ways with their Defensive Coordinator. Things have been SO much better this game. Against 1-3 *Purdue*. 😑
@schwarziest.bsky.socialThat's game. Bret is cooked. #Illini
@jwerner247.bsky.social#illini drop two chances at an interception. Xavier Scott and Matthew Bailey both had chances at it.
Xavier Scott having a good game though.
@kshermansports.bsky.socialEthan Moczulski with a 54-yard BOOT to bring the #Illini within 6.
A lot of football left
@jwerner247.bsky.social#illini squib kick costs them 14 yards of field possession. Not ideal with a six-point lead.
@jwerner247.bsky.social#illini Ethan Moczulski 54-yard FG is GOOD.
Purdue 16, Illinois 10; 8:15 left 4Q.
Somehow, we got a one-possession game.
@kshermansports.bsky.social#Illini defense with another 3-and-out to get off the field.
Offense needs to wake up, and QUICK!
@jwerner247.bsky.socialBack-to-back 3-and-outs for #illini defense. Hard to predict, but wouldve liked to have taken those 3 points a few drives ago.