Social media reacts to Big Ten West chaos courtesy of Purdue Spoilermaking Illinois
The Big Ten West is officially open for business thanks to Michigan State and now Purdue.
A week after the Spartans shocked college football by topping then-No. 13 Illinois, 23-15, now the Boilermakers have gotten in on the action. Purdue handed Illinois its second straight loss, capturing the Cannon after beating Illinois, 31-24.
Purdue quarterback Aidan O’Connell led the way in the upset effort by completing 25-of-40 passes for 237 yards and three touchdowns. Two of those touchdown passes went to tight end Payne Durham, while the other went to former Hawkeye receiver Charlie Jones. Meanwhile, Boilermakers running back Devin Mockobee carried 28 times for 106 rushing yards with a score.
Just two weeks ago Illinois was 7-1 and 4-1 in the Big Ten. Everybody else but Purdue had more than two conference losses and Illinois was in complete control of its own fate. Now, after the Illini’s stumbles, it’s a much murkier picture.
Purdue is now even in the conference win-loss column and holds the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Illini. The winner of Iowa–Wisconsin would pull even, too. Both the Hawkeyes and Badgers need another Illinois loss thanks to the Illini’s head-to-head win over both, but that seems likely with a trip to No. 3 Michigan looming. Each are in good shape with wins over Purdue as well.
Naturally, Iowa fans, Wisconsin fans, and college football fans in general were thrilled with the continued chaos. Here were the best reactions from social media.
Spoilermakers!
.@BoilerFootball GETS IT DONE against No. 21 Illinois 👀 pic.twitter.com/bnorWBDqHo
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) November 12, 2022
Control our own destiny, basically...
Unless Illinois wins at Michigan next week, Iowa now controls its own Big Ten West fate.
Win out and they’ll be goin back to Indy
— Chris Hassel (@Hassel_Chris) November 12, 2022
Pop the Champaign
🍾 Pop the Champaign. Purdue wins.
— Purdue Football (@BoilerFootball) November 12, 2022
Chuck Sizzle to celebrate
CHUCK SIZZLE 💥@BoilerFootball ties it up on Charlie Jones' TD before the half. pic.twitter.com/kCbWiJyLLU
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) November 12, 2022
ChamPayne
ChamPayne 🤯
Payne Durham (@pdurham22) got his foot down for the ridiculous @BoilerFootball go-ahead TD. pic.twitter.com/GzGI4LUCeZ
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) November 12, 2022
She's heard this before
Wait Charlie Jones and Aidan O’Connell played youth sports together? I have never heard this before
— Lucy Rohden (@lucysportsjokes) November 12, 2022
Long live the Big Ten West
Illinois has wins vs:
• Wisc, Iowa, MinnPurdue has wins vs:
• Illinois, MinnBoth Iowa & Wisconsin:
• beat Purdue, still play each other and MinnMinnesota:
• still plays Iowa, WiscAll five (5) teams have three (3) losses. Long live the Big Ten West.
— Ben Stevens (@BenScottStevens) November 12, 2022
Guaranteed!
With Illinois losing today, the Big Ten title game is guaranteed to feature a team with at least three losses.
— Heather Dinich (@CFBHeather) November 12, 2022
Leading with losses
With Purdue’s win over Illinois, they are now both among the 5 teams that lead the Big Ten West with 3 conference losses.
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) November 12, 2022
Congrats to all seven schools
The Big Ten West will finish the day with at least a three-way tie at the top
And at least three #B1G losses for everyone
Congratulations to all seven schools — they really have earned this pic.twitter.com/5rdhEhUNFw
— Nate Dickinson (@NateWithSports) November 12, 2022
Big Ten West, baby
With Illinois’ loss to Purdue, the records of current Big Ten West teams:
7-3
6-3
6-4
5-4
5-4
3-6
1-8LOL
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) November 12, 2022
Night and day difference
The Purdue offense that could only muster 3 points against Iowa last week has 28 against the top scoring defense of Illinois.
— Hammer and Rails (@HammerAndRails) November 12, 2022
What could've been
Another demoralizing home loss for Illinois. Crushing. Questionable calls throughout, but you gotta execute. Purdue did.
Illini far exceeded very low expectations this season, but what could’ve been.
— Brad Evans (@NoisyHuevos) November 12, 2022
Oh yeah, this happened
Illinois just kicked off from the Purdue 35!
I love this sport pic.twitter.com/pfDi5s5qc7
— Cam Mellor (@CamMellor) November 12, 2022
All this ‘rivalry’ talk in this Purdue vs Illinois is just excusing bad behavior. Folks are playing dumb today, especially the Illini
— Herb Lawrence (@Ecnerwal23) November 12, 2022
Illinois-Purdue is so toxic
Illinois/Purdue is so toxic
— Lucy Rohden (@lucysportsjokes) November 12, 2022
All we want for Christmas
Dear Santa,
We've been good this year and all we want is:
I͟l͟l͟i͟n͟o͟i͟s͟ ͟v͟.͟ ͟P͟u͟r͟d͟u͟e͟ ͟i͟n͟ ͟9͟O͟T͟— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) November 12, 2022
Smallest cannon coming home with Purdue
Purdue has the momentum heading their direction in the battle with Illinois for the world’s smallest cannon. pic.twitter.com/dHSzcYNhRi
— Sickos Committee (@SickosCommittee) November 12, 2022
Why is the Illinois/Purdue trophy so small lol
— Lucy Rohden (@lucysportsjokes) November 12, 2022
And there were complaints of refs
Refs doing a bang-up job in this Purdue-Illinois game at making sure I just never care about college football again
— Sahadev Sharma (@sahadevsharma) November 12, 2022
I’m not a ‘refs suck’ guy but the ones doing Illinois vs Purdue are #ungood. Now, champions need to overcome these bad breaks
— Herb Lawrence (@Ecnerwal23) November 12, 2022
Okay, these refs in Purdue/Illinois need to be looked at. This is ludicrous.
— Brett Douglas (@BaD0UG) November 12, 2022
And Bielema was animated
Haven't seen #Illini coach Bret Bielema this animated with an official in a long time, not happy with the PI call on Devon Witherspoon that led to a Purdue TD pic.twitter.com/qLAbHqPJRN
— Bret Beherns (@WCIA3Bret) November 12, 2022
Not for the faint of heart
It is so hard to be an Illinois football fan
— Bob Zuppke (@BobZuppke) November 12, 2022
The shock setting in
I’m really shocked, Purdue’s Aidan O’Connell was not sacked once today. Also Illinois has not beaten Purdue at home since 2010. #Illini
— Kedric Prince (@KedPrince4) November 12, 2022
Might never recover
I’m an Illinois fan, obviously, so I’ve seen my fair share of epic collapses across the major revenue sports.
However, if Bielema and co manage to miss out on a Big Ten title after beating Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa, I may never recover.
— Armchair Illinois (@ArmchairIllini) November 12, 2022
Back open for business
In happier news, Purdue just took a 10-point lead in Champaign with 1:05 to go.
The West is back open for business.
— Go Iowa Awesome (@IowaAwesome) November 12, 2022
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