Luke Altmyer connected with Pat Bryant for a 25-yard touchdown pass in overtime, and Dylan Rosiek sacked Purdue’s Ryan Browne during a 2-point conversion attempt, leading No. 23 Illinois to a 50-49 win on Saturday.
Illinois (5-1, 2-1 Big Ten) had faced a tough streak, losing four games in a row and seven of the last eight against Purdue (1-5, 0-3). This victory marked their first win over the Boilermakers at Memorial Stadium since 2010.
David Alano kicked a 38-yard field goal just as time expired to tie the game at 43 after Purdue had come back to take the lead for the first time.
In overtime, Ahrmad Branch scored for Purdue with a 3-yard run on his only carry of the day.
Purdue coach Ryan Walters explained his decision to go for the 2-point conversion in overtime, saying, “because we were in control of the game at that point. We clawed back in the game, something we hadn’t done this season, and I wanted to give us a chance to win. I hate losing.”
Altmyer completed 20 of 34 passes for 379 yards and three touchdowns. Josh McCray rushed for 78 yards and scored two touchdowns, adding another touchdown reception. Bryant caught four passes for 104 yards.
Illinois coach Bret Bielema commented, “We did enough bad things to give them the game. If you let a team stick around like that, that’s what happens. I still think we’re a good team knocking on the door of doing something cool.”
Browne, a redshirt freshman making his first career start due to Hudson Card being out with a concussion, rushed for 118 yards on 17 carries and completed 18 of 26 passes for 297 yards and three touchdowns after having only 9 passing yards in the first half.
Max Klare caught six passes for 133 yards for Purdue, while Devin Mockobee rushed for 102 yards on 11 carries.
After being down 27-3 at halftime, Purdue made a strong comeback.
“We executed. We didn’t panic,” Walters said.
The Boilermakers scored two touchdowns in just eight seconds, with a 53-yard pass from Browne to Jahmal Edrine, followed by a fumble recovery for a touchdown after a sack of Altmyer by Nyland Green.
Browne later threw a 62-yard pass to Klare on a double-reverse flea flicker, and Spencer Porath added a 24-yard field goal, bringing the score to 27-20. Altmyer then halted Purdue’s momentum with a 13-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter.
