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GOLDANDBLACK EXPRESS • VOLUME 25, EXPRESS 6 • 9 BY BRIAN NEUBERT BNeubert@GoldandBlack.com W hen Purdue takes the field at noon Saturday at Illinois' Memorial Stadium, it'll be looking across at the most beatable oppo- nent on its remaining schedule, for all intents and purposes. Illinois, coming off a dreadful 2013 season, is 3-2, needing sec- ond-half rallies to get past the likes of Youngstown State and Texas State earlier this season. Of course, the middling Fighting Illini will also smell blood Saturday against struggling Purdue, as two programs badly needing some posi- tive momentum will share the field. All eyes will be on the quarter- backs. For Illinois, it's Wes Lunt, the Big Ten's leading passer who sat out last week at Nebraska with a knee injury. The Fighting Illini held the sophomore out as heavy under- dogs against the Cornhuskers, per- haps in part to take the long view and ensure he's healthy as can be the remainder of the season. Illinois needs him badly. The Oklahoma State trans- fer stepped right into the start- ing lineup for Illinois after sitting out last season and has paced the conference in passing to this point. Through the four games he's played in, Lunt has completed 66 percent of his throws for nearly 1,200 yards and 11 touchdowns, with three interceptions. He's the centerpiece of an Illi- nois offense run by coordinator Bill Cubit, who Purdue should know well. Coach Darrell Hazell worked alongside Cubit at Rutgers from 2001-02, when Hazell was the Scar- let Knights' receivers coach and Cubit its coordinator. Hazell, while head coach at Kent State, also coached against Cubit-led Western Michigan. Cubit will direct Saturday what will likely be the most drop-back- oriented passing offense Purdue's seen to this point this season. With or without Lunt, Illinois has thrown the ball, on average, nearly 40 times per game. "We know we're going to have a fun day back there as DBs," Purdue safety Landon Feichter said, "and Game 6 Opponent Preview: Illinois Noon ET • Memorial Stadium • TV: ESPN2 PURDUE MUST STOP THE PASS, RUN THE BALL EFFECTIVELY AT ILLINOIS Illinois Quarterback Wes Lunt leads the Big Ten in passing to this point in the season. Illinois Running back Josh Ferguson is Illinois' most important skill-position offensive player.