Who is Illinois Football's X-Factor Against Purdue in Week 6?

Illinois (4-1, 1-1 Big Ten) enter the Battle for the Cannon riding high after its most impressive win of the season – a last-second thriller over a heavily favored USC squad. Next up is Purdue, a program that has made strides under Barry Odom but still isn’t considered one of the Big Ten’s heavyweights (or even middleweights).

On paper, it’s a matchup Illinois should control. But the same was true last season, when the Illini needed overtime to escape against a one-win Purdue team. Bret Bielema and his staff know the dangers of a letdown and will look to use this week to clean up the details before an even bigger showdown looms with Ohio State.

That’s why the X-factor against Purdue isn’t a player but rather Illini defensive coordinator Aaron Henry. Illinois' defense had plenty of bright spots in the USC win. The line was disruptive all night – even if the stat sheet showed just one sack - and last week’s X-factor, linebacker Gabe Jacas, again spearheaded the pressure. Defensive back Tanner Heckel did have a tough time sticking with Trojans star receiver Makai Lemon, but that was more about Lemon’s elite ability and quarterback Jayden Maiava’s precision than it was about poor effort or blown technique.

Jayden Maiava with an impressive throw @USCfb #Collegegameday pic.twitter.com/yHz3fYk8h1
— Jay Henry (@jayhenry79) September 27, 2025

The trouble came on money downs. Illinois simply could not get off the field when the rubber met the road. USC converted 8 of 14 third downs and 4 of 5 fourth downs, several of them back-breakers that extended drives and wore down the Illini defense. And USC wasn’t just a one-off – at Indiana a week earlier, the Hoosiers went 8-for-11 on third down and 1-for-1 on fourth. Through two Big Ten games, Illinois has been unable to get stops when it matters most – and that, ultimately, falls on Henry.

USC is 6/11 on third down and 3/4 on fourth down. It’s keeping the Trojans in the game
— Glenn Kinley (@glenn_kinley) September 27, 2025

That’s what makes this Purdue matchup so important. A year ago, quarterback Ryan Browne torched Henry’s defense and nearly handed the Boilermakers a shocking upset in Champaign. Shutting down the Purdue offense this time around would be a welcome sign for Henry and a valuable confidence boost the defense with Ohio State waiting on deck. If Henry can’t steady his unit now, OSU's Jeremiah Smith, arguably the best receiver in college football, will be next in line to exploit those same flaws.

At times last season, Illinois’ defense looked elite. The Illini held Penn State to just 21 points, limited Michigan to seven and kept an explosive South Carolina offense in check (17 points allowed). Those performances proved Henry can scheme with the best of them – but the game-to-game consistency has been lacking. If Illinois wants to stay in the hunt for unprecedented postseason opportunities, Henry has to start dialing up the right calls with more regularity.

The Illini have talent at every level, but it won’t matter if the scheme fails to put them in position to make stops and end drives. Henry's bend-don’t-break approach can work – but not with endless bending. Purdue may not give much pushback, but this game is the perfect proving ground for Henry to show he can get it right before the season’s toughest test arrives.