No. 21 Illinois plays host to Purdue with the Big Ten West lead on the line: ‘Definitely a sense of urgency’

About 11 months after transferring from Syracuse, quarterback Tommy DeVito has helped revitalize the Illinois offense and lift the team into the Big Ten West lead with three games remaining.

DeVito and the No. 21 Illini (7-2, 4-2) have an opportunity to become the first team in program history to make an appearance in the Big Ten championship game next month in Indianapolis. To do so, they’ll almost certainly have to get past a dangerous — if streaky — Purdue team Saturday.

Costly turnovers and empty red-zone trips cost Illinois in a 23-15 home loss to Michigan State on Saturday. DeVito said there’s “definitely a sense of urgency” among his teammates ahead of facing the Boilermakers.

“I couldn’t sleep at night (after the loss), all night, just tossing and turning,” DeVito said. “Every time I close my eyes, I just see these plays over and over. And it’s like, what if I were to do this? What if I would’ve done that? It haunts you at night but at the same time makes you better and hungry for the next week.”

Purdue (5-4, 3-3) would love nothing more than to be the source of more Illini nightmares — especially because a win in Champaign would put the Boilermakers in control of their destiny in the West Division.

Purdue hosts lowly Northwestern next week before a rivalry matchup at struggling Indiana, while Illinois will travel to No. 3 Michigan before closing out against Northwestern on Nov. 26 in Evanston.

Losses at Wisconsin and to Iowa in back-to-back weeks have put the Boilermakers in a must-win to keep their division title hopes within reach. If Illinois wins Saturday, it would clinch the division with a win against Michigan or Northwestern; the Illini already hold the tiebreakers over Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota.

Saturday’s stakes could hardly get higher for either program.

“(Our defense) got embarrassed the last three weeks, so guys are coming out with a chip on their shoulder,” Purdue defensive tackle Branson Deen said. “A lot of energy and take no prisoners, we’ve got to go get it, and that’s the motto going into this game.”

Purdue coach Jeff Brohm and Illinois counterpart Bret Bielema have taken distinct approaches in turning longtime Big Ten afterthoughts into West Division contenders.

Brohm found a strong fit for his pass-heavy scheme in quarterback Aidan O’Connell, a former walk-on who ranks first in program history in career completion percentage (67%), second in 400-yard passing games (five), sixth in career passing yards (8,167) and sixth in career completions (735).

“(Purdue’s) weapons, to be able to use the field, Jeff and his brother (offensive coordinator Brian Brohm) both obviously are very talented offensive minds,” Bielema said. “This year they’ve kind of had a variety of different ways of winning games.”

Bielema has built on strengths that were already in place when he took over before last season. Chase Brown leads the nation with 1,344 rushing yards, and a mix of vets and junior college additions are paving the way for the running game and ensuring DeVito has time to pick his receiving targets.

“(Illinois) has beaten the last two teams that beat us,” Brohm said. “Defense is aggressive, they’ve been ranked No. 1 in the country. Done a great job offensively, really good running back. Quarterback’s come in and done a good job. To go to their place is always going to be difficult, so we’ve got our hands full.”

New faces have helped both teams find more balance.

DeVito’s arrival turned Illinois into a multidimensional offense, capable of threatening teams through the air. His 71.8% completion percentage only trails Oregon’s Bo Nix (73.3%).

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Opponents find themselves forced between locking in on Brown or daring DeVito to carve them up. Isaiah Williams and Pat Bryant have emerged as capable receivers.

Deen called Brown a “physical guy, super slippery” who reminds him of his teammate — running back Devin Mockobee. The redshirt freshman has been a revelation for the Boilermakers offense, which already was productive with O’Connell and receiver Charlie Jones.

Jones, tied for fifth nationally with nine touchdown receptions and sixth in receiving yards (944), looks likely to find himself in an all-day duel with lockdown cornerback Devon Witherspoon.

Illinois ranks first in passing defense (152.6 yards per game) and scoring defense (10.44 points per game).

But Michigan State’s talented receivers made just enough plays Saturday, and the Illinois offense converted on just one of six fourth-down attempts.

Witherspoon is determined to help his unit bounce back.

“We’re physical, we like to get after people and impose our will,” Witherspoon said. “That’s what we’re going to do, go out there and dominate.”