Sophomore quarterback (and former Boilermaker) Jeff George threw for one touchdown and running back Keith Jones ran for another to lead Illinois to a 20-0 victory Saturday over Purdue in a Big Ten conference game. Illinois, 3-2 overall and 2-0 in the Big 10, opened up a 10-0 lead midway through the second quarter and never looked back. The loss put the Boilermakers at 2-3 overall and 1-1 in conference play. Illinois took a 7-0 lead with 5:38 left in the first quarter on a 1-yard pass from George to reserve tight end Dan Donovan that capped a 10-play, 81-yard drive. Illinois went ahead 13-0 on two second-quarter field goals by kicker Doug Higgins, who hit from 33- and 34-yards out. Illinois completed the scoring with nine seconds left in the third quarter on a 1-yard dive by Jones that highlighted an eight-play, 56-yard drive. George, who transferred from Purdue after his freshman year, finished with 15 of 34 pass completions for 152 yards. Jones finished with 128 yards on 25 carries. The Illini defense kept the Boilermakers out of Illinois territory in the first half when Purdue was held to just 34 yards rushing and 25 yards passing. The closest Purdue came to scoring was in the third quarter when the Boilermakers drove to the Illinois 10. But kicker Larry Sullivan was wide to the left on a 27-yard field-goal attempt.
The 1988 Purdue Boilermakers football team represented Purdue University as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1988 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by second-year head coach Fred Akers, the Boilermakers compiled an overall record of 4–7 with a mark of 3–5 in conference play, placing sixth in the Big Ten. Purdue played home games at Ross–Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana.
The 1988 Illinois Fighting Illini football team was an American football team that represented the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1988 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their first year under head coach John Mackovic, the Fighting Illini compiled a 6–5–1 record (5–2–1 in conference games), tied for third place in the Big Ten, and outscored opponents by a total of 235 to 229. They concluded the season with a loss to Florida and freshman running back Emmit Smith in the 1988 All-American Bowl. The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Jeff George (2,257 passing yards, 57.9% completion percentage), running back Keith Jones (1,108 rushing yards, 60 points scored), and Steve Williams (38 receptions for 523 receiving yards). Three Illinois players won first-team honors on the 1988 All-Big Ten Conference football team: defensive lineman Moe Gardner (AP-1, UPI-1); defensive back Glenn Cobb (AP-1, UPI-1); and linebacker Darrick Brownlow (AP-1).