ESPN Bet · as of July 8, 2026
Purdue defeated Southern Illinois 34–17 to secure a comfortable win. Southern Illinois covered by 5.5; Game went Under by 1.5. The market closed at Purdue -22.5 and the Blue Chip model made it Purdue -11.5 - a gap of 11.0 points toward Southern Illinois, of which 10.2 points were beyond the model's measured factors. That was an information gap - the market pricing something the model does not carry - rather than a measured edge.
Southern Illinois led 7-0 and 14-7 in the first quarter, showing they can compete early against FBS opponents, but they failed to maintain momentum, allowing Purdue to score 24 points in the first half and control the game thereafter.
The Salukis were flagged for pass interference twice, roughing the passer, and a late hit out of bounds on Purdue's four first-half scoring drives, which directly contributed to 24 points and undermined their competitive effort.
Senior quarterback DJ Williams had a touchdown pass and a scoring run in the first quarter, while senior linebacker Andrew Behm recorded a game-high 16 tackles (10 solo), highlighting individual bright spots despite the loss.
Purdue's Devin Mockobee rushed for 126 yards and two touchdowns, including two 1-yard scores on direct snaps, indicating Southern Illinois had difficulty stopping the run, which could be a concern for future games.
Southern Illinois will travel to face UT Martin next, needing to address defensive discipline and consistency to avoid a similar letdown after a strong start.
At kickoff, conditions at Ross-Ade Stadium were Clear, 56°F with winds of 7 mph. Weather is not expected to be a meaningful factor in this game. Historical weather data for this game is preserved in the panel alongside. Weather data is sourced from WeatherAPI.com.
Clear
56°F
| Measure | Southern IllinoisAway | PurdueHome |
|---|---|---|
| This week | 225 miles | 0 miles |
| Last week | Bye week | Home game |
| Season total | 225 miles | 0 miles |
| Body clock | 18:30 | 19:30 |
| Rest | 7 days | 7 days |
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