Even with a high-profile hiccup, No. 22 Illinois Fighting Illini keeps clicking behind an explosive offense entering Saturday afternoon's game against Big Ten Conference rival Purdue Boilermakers in West Lafayette, Ind.

The Fighting Illini (4-1, 1-1 Big Ten) are averaging 35.8 points a game, and yes, that includes the 63-10 loss in its conference opener at then-No. 19 Indiana on Sept. 20.

Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer rallied to rebound last week, earning Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors in a 34-32 home win against then-No. 21 Southern California, passing for 328 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for one TD and even catching a scoring pass.

Altmyer's 11 touchdown passes are tied for ninth-best in the country.

While wideout Hank Beatty has been splashy as the nation's only player with passing, rushing, receiving and punt-return TDs, Justin Bowick is tops on the team with four touchdown receptions.

Illinois offensive coordinator Barry Lunney said he thinks the 6-foot-4 Bowick's size will be a concern for Purdue and going forward. A Ball State transfer, Bowick was limited to 20 receptions and three TDs last season due to injury. He began his collegiate career at Eastern Illinois.

Purdue (2-2, 0-1), meanwhile, is coming off a bye week in which it sought to make bygones out of the past two games.

During a 33-17 home loss to Southern Cal on Sept. 13 and a 56-30 defeat at then-No. 24 Notre Dame a week later, the Purdue defense yielded 32 plays of at least 10 yards. That included 11 plays of more than 20 yards.

Game time is 11 am on Saturday.