WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Cannon Trophy is not the only thing that is up for grabs when Purdue Football travels west to face No. 21 Illinois. A victory would move the Boilermakers into a tie atop the Big Ten West with just two weeks remaining in the season. Kickoff from Memorial Stadium is set for 12 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
The Boilermakers have won five of the past six Cannon Trophy games, as well as five in-a-row in Champaign dating back to 2010.
CANNON TROPHY HISTORY
• The Cannon was conceived by Purdue students more than 100 years ago but was first presented as a trophy by an Illinois alumnus 76 years ago.
• It all started in 1905 when a group of Purdue students took the weapon to Champaign in anticipation of firing it to celebrate a victory. Although Purdue did win the game 29-0, Illinois supporters, including Quincy A. Hall, had discovered the Cannon in its hiding place – in a culvert near the old Illinois field – and confiscated it before the Purdue students could start their “booming” celebration. Later, Hall moved the Cannon to his farmhouse near Milford, Illinois, where it survived a fire and gathered dust until Hall suggested it be used as a trophy between the two schools when the rivalry was resumed in 1943 after a 12-year lapse.
• The Tomahawk Service and Leadership Honorary at Purdue and Illini Pride now share the maintenance duty.
BATTLE FOR THE CANNON TROPHY
• Purdue leads the Cannon series 38-30-2, including winning five of the past six battles. The Boilermakers have collected 13 wins in the last 17 matchups dating back to 2003.
• The two schools first played in 1890, with Purdue holding a slight 46-45-6 edge in the all-time series.
• The Boilermakers broke the all-time series tie with a 13-9 win in West Lafayette a season ago.
• Purdue has won the five consecutive Cannon Trophy games in Memorial Stadium.
LAST TIME WE MET
• Last year, Aidan O’Connell came off the bench to engineer a clutch fourth-quarter drive, throwing for 89 yards on a 94-yard march up the field that culminated in the game’s lone touchdown and propelling Purdue to a 13-9 victory over Illinois at Ross-Ade Stadium.
• T.J. Sheffield caught the go-ahead 14-yard touchdown pass from O’Connell with 5:44 remaining in the game.
• Purdue racked up a season-high nine tackles for loss, including 2.5 from
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