No. 23 Illinois outlasts Purdue 50-49 in overtime on sack on 2-point conversion

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Luke Altmyer threw a 25-yard touchdown pass in overtime to Pat Bryant, and Dylan Rosiek sacked Purdue's Ryan Browne on a 2-point conversion attempt to give No. 23 Illinois a 50-49 victory Saturday.

Illinois (5-1, 2-1 Big Ten) had lost four straight and seven of its last eight against Purdue (1-5, 0-3). The Illini hadn’t beaten the Boilermakers at Memorial Stadium since 2010.

Illinois’ David Alano made a 38-yard field goal as time expired to tie it at 43 after Purdue rallied to take the lead for the first time.

Ahrmad Branch, on his only carry of the day, scored on a 3-yard run in OT for the Boilermakers.

Purdue coach Ryan Walters said he went for the 2-point conversion in OT “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 ran for 78 yards and two TDs and caught a scoring pass. Bryant caught four passes for 104 yards.

“We did enough bad things to give them the game,” Illinois coach Bret Bielema said. “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 with Hudson Card sidelined by a concussion, rushed for 118 yards on 17 carries and completed 18 of 26 passes for 297 yards and three TDs after throwing for just 9 yards in the first half.

Max Klare caught six passes for 133 yards for Purdue. Devin Mockobee ran for 102 yards on 11 carries.

Down 27-3 at halftime, Purdue launched a comeback.

“We executed. We didn't panic,” Walters said.

The Boilermakers scored two TDs in eight seconds on 53-yard pass from Browne to Jahmal Edrine and a sack of Altmyer by Nyland Green that caused a fumble that Will Heldt returned 16 yards for TD.

After Browne threw a 62-yard strike to Klare on a double-reverse flea flicker, a 24-yard field goal by Spencer Porath made it 27-20. Altmyer ended Purdue’s surge with a 13-yard TD run early in the fourth quarter.

The Boilermakers responded with an 8-yard TD pass from Browne to Jaron Tibbs and a 2-point conversion pass from Browne to Klare, but McCray scored on a 3-yard run to make it 40-28.

Purdue cut the lead to 40-35 with 1:35 left on a 2-yard TD run by Mockobee.

After Ben Freehill recovered an onside kick, the Boilermakers scored again on a 13-yard pass from Brown to Mockobee and a 2-point conversion pass from Browne to Edrine with 46 seconds left to move in front for the first time at 43-40.

THE TAKEAWAY

Illinois: Now that the Illini have vanquished the Boilermakers, the biggest thorn in their side over the past several years, they can focus on back-to-back huge Big Ten games to end the month. They’ll host No. 24 Michigan next week in the culmination of a season-long celebration of Memorial Stadium’s 100th anniversary and travel to No. 3 Oregon the following week.

Purdue: The Boilermakers dropped their fifth straight after a season-opening win over Indiana State, and the Boilermakers have to go up against three of the country’s top four teams (Oregon, Oho State and Penn State) in the next four games.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

Beating one of the country’s worst teams by just one point in overtime shouldn’t propel Illinois higher in the AP Top 25. But the Illini shouldn’t drop, either, because they did what they needed to do against a foe that was desperate for a win.

TOP RUSHER OUT

Illinois rushing leader Kaden Feagin missed the game because of a hyperextended left leg, suffered in practice during the week. Bielema said Feagan will be out “for a little bit.” Feagin had gained 306 yards on 67 carries and run for three touchdowns in Illinois' first five games.

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Illinois running back Josh McCray scores between Purdue defensive back Dillon Thieneman, left, and defensive back Nyland Green during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer (9) touchdown pass to wide receiver Zakhari Franklin during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Purdue on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Illinois wide receiver Zakhari Franklin scores on a pass from quarterback Luke Altmyer during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Purdue on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Purdue quarterback Ryan Browne carries the ball during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Illinois on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Purdue quarterback Ryan Browne carries the ball during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Illinois on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Illinois wide receiver Pat Bryant catches a touchdown pass from quarterback Luke Altmyer as Purdue defensive back Botros Alisandro defends during the overtime period of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Champaign, Ill. Illinois won 50-49. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer heads to the end zone for a touchdown past Purdue defenders during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer celebrates his touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Purdue on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Purdue head coach Ryan Walters watches the video replay screen during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Illinois on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Purdue defensive back Nyland Green (2) tips the ball away from Illinois wide receiver Pat Bryant during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer passes during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Purdue on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Purdue quarterback Ryan Browne is sacked by Illinois linebacker Dylan Rosiek on a two-point conversion giving Illinois a 50-49 win in overtime during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Illinois running back Josh McCray celebrates his touchdown with tight end Carson Goda during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Purdue on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Illinois wide receiver Pat Bryant celebrates with the Purdue cannon after the team's 50-49 overtime win over Purdue in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Purdue quarterback Ryan Browne lays on the ground after being sacked on a two-point conversion giving Illinois a 50-49 win in overtime during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Illinois wide receiver Pat Bryant (13) Declan Duley (31) and Devin Hale (53) celebrate with the Purdue cannon after the team's 50-49 overtime win over Purdue in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos made a flurry of roster moves on Saturday, activating running back Audric Estime, promoting defensive back Tanner McCalister, placing wide receiver Josh Reynolds and center Luke Wattenberg on injured reserve and elevating tackle Cam Fleming and guard Calvin Throckmorton for their game on Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Reynolds (hand) and Wattenberg (ankle) were injured in Denver's win over the Las Vegas Raiders last week, when right tackle Alex Palczewski (ankle) also got hurt. Afterward, the Broncos signed Fleming, a 12th-year veteran who has played in 26 games at tackle for the Broncos over the last three seasons.

Estime, a fifth-round pick out of Notre Dame in April, sprained an ankle on his second carry in the season opener and missed four games. He was a second-team All-American last year when he led the Irish with 1,341 yards rushing and 18 touchdowns in 12 games.

Throckmorton signed with Denver as a free agent last offseason after playing in 46 games with the Saints (2021-22), Panthers (2023) and Titans (2023). He played in nine games last season, including seven starts.

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Denver Broncos tight end Adam Trautman, front, congratulates wide receiver Josh Reynolds after his touchdown catch in the second half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)