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Purdue Football: 3 takeaways from blowout loss vs. Illinois

By Dante Pryor

WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA - OCTOBER 26: Jack Plummer #13 of the Purdue Boilermakers fumbles the ball after the hit in the second half from Dele Harding #9 of the Illinois Fighting Illini at Ross-Ade Stadium on October 26, 2019 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA - OCTOBER 26: Jack Plummer #13 of the Purdue Boilermakers fumbles the ball after the hit in the second half from Dele Harding #9 of the Illinois Fighting Illini at Ross-Ade Stadium on October 26, 2019 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – OCTOBER 05: Head coach Lovie Smith of the Illinois Fighting Illini looks on during the first quarter of the game against the Minnesota Gophers at TCF Bank Stadium on October 5, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – OCTOBER 05: Head coach Lovie Smith of the Illinois Fighting Illini looks on during the first quarter of the game against the Minnesota Gophers at TCF Bank Stadium on October 5, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

1. Lovie Smith is saving his job

An upset win against the Badgers was a watershed moment for the Fighting Illini. The follow up game is equally important, however. It was critical the Illini play well against Purdue. They had all the advantages coming into this game.

Although they were on the road, they were facing a team with nine players out due to injury including their two best offensive players. They were coming off the biggest win in the Lovie Smith era at Illinois.

There were a series of calamities at the beginning of the season for Smith and the Illini.

First, MK Rivers decided to transfer at the beginning of the year and you are forced to start Brandon Peters. Blown leads against Eastern Michigan and Nebraska led to a four-game losing streak. After a blowout loss against Minnesota, glimpses of life began to show against Michigan.

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Illinois had every reason to lie down and go away against the Wolverines, but the Illini fought back before the Wolverines pulled away. Then the upset against Wisconsin and Saturday’s win might have saved Smith’s job for now.

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