How to Watch Purdue vs. Illinois on DIRECTV: Channel, Kickoff Time and Streaming
Purdue visits Illinois on Saturday, October 3, at 4:15 p.m. ET at Gies Memorial Stadium in Champaign, with the Purdue Cannon rivalry trophy on the line. The Big Ten game airs on Big Ten Network (BTN), which is channel 610 on DIRECTV. It's Homecoming at Illinois, and the Illini have won the Cannon two years running.
Here's how to watch on DIRECTV, how to stream it on FOX One and where to listen.
Quick answer
- Date and time: Saturday, October 3, 2026, 4:15 p.m. ET (3:15 p.m. CT).
- Network: Big Ten Network, with Chris Vosters, Anthony Herron and Dannie Rogers.
- DIRECTV channel: 610, included with CHOICE and higher packages.
- Streaming: FOX One, or the DIRECTV app if BTN is in your package.
- Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network (SiriusXM 257) and Purdue's network on WAZY 96.5 FM.
Purdue vs. Illinois: date, time and channel
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday, October 3, 2026 |
| Kickoff | 4:15 p.m. ET / 3:15 p.m. CT |
| Stadium | Gies Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Ill. |
| TV | Big Ten Network (BTN) |
| DIRECTV channel | 610 |
| Broadcast crew | Chris Vosters (play-by-play), Anthony Herron (analyst), Dannie Rogers (reporter) |
| Streaming | FOX One |
| Records | Illinois 2-2 (0-1 Big Ten), Purdue 1-3 (0-1 Big Ten) |
| Trophy | The Purdue Cannon (Illinois holds it) |
What channel is Purdue vs. Illinois on DIRECTV?
Tune to channel 610, Big Ten Network. BTN is included with DIRECTV's CHOICE package and above. If you have ENTERTAINMENT, DIRECTV lets you add BTN through the Sports Pack for $14.99 a month, which also includes SEC Network and a long list of other sports channels.
Press Guide and go to 610 ahead of kickoff. If it says the channel isn't in your package, upgrade or add the Sports Pack from your DIRECTV account or call us before Saturday afternoon.
Big Ten games on TV Saturday, October 3
| Game | Time (ET) | TV | DIRECTV channel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan at Minnesota | 12 p.m. | FOX | Local FOX station |
| Ohio State at Iowa | 3:30 p.m. | CBS | Local CBS station |
| Maryland at Nebraska | 4 p.m. | FS1 | 219 |
| Purdue at Illinois | 4:15 p.m. | BTN | 610 |
| Washington at USC | 7:30 p.m. | NBC | Local NBC station |
| Indiana at Rutgers | 8 p.m. | BTN | 610 |
See our guides to Michigan vs. Minnesota and Ohio State vs. Iowa. FS1 is in every DIRECTV package. Here's more on FS1 on DIRECTV.
Watching Purdue vs. Illinois with DIRECTV streaming
DIRECTV's streaming service carries BTN in the same tiers as satellite, with no dish and no annual contract.
| Option | Big Ten Network? | Advertised price |
|---|---|---|
| ENTERTAINMENT | No (add Sports Pack, $14.99/mo) | $89.99/mo |
| CHOICE | Yes | $94.99/mo |
| ULTIMATE | Yes | $124.99/mo |
| PREMIER | Yes | $169.99/mo |
| MySports Genre Pack | Yes | $64.99/mo ($44.99/mo for 6 months for qualifying new customers through Oct. 3) |
Prices are before taxes and fees, and introductory discounts may lower the first months. A regional sports fee may apply to CHOICE and higher depending on your ZIP code. The MySports Genre Pack includes BTN alongside FS1, ESPN, SEC Network and local channels where available, so it covers most of the Big Ten slate in the table above. Call 1-855-690-9884 to check availability at your address.
How to stream Purdue vs. Illinois
- FOX One: FOX lists the game as streaming on FOX One, which carries BTN along with FOX, FS1 and FS2. A standalone subscription is $19.99 a month with a three-day free trial, and some pay-TV customers can sign in with their provider account instead. Here's whether FOX One is free with DIRECTV.
- DIRECTV app: stream BTN on your phone, tablet or streaming device if it's part of your package.
Purdue vs. Illinois on the radio
- Illinois: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network, with Brian Barnhart, Carey Davis and Kevin Mitchell. It's also on SiriusXM 257, the Fighting Illini app and the Varsity app.
- Purdue: the Boilermakers' radio network, with flagship WAZY 96.5 FM in Lafayette and Tim Newton on play-by-play. You can also listen at PurdueSports.com.
Purdue vs. Illinois storylines
- The Cannon is at stake. Illinois won it the last two years, including 43-27 in October 2025, and is trying to keep it in Champaign for three straight seasons for the first time since a six-year run from 1988 to 1993.
- It's one of the closest long-running series in the Big Ten. Purdue leads 48-47-6, and Saturday is the 102nd meeting, dating to 1890.
- Purdue is 1-3 after facing No. 3 Notre Dame last week. Quarterback Ryan Browne has thrown for 1,135 yards with one interception through four games.
- Illinois is 2-2 after a trip to Ohio State and is playing its 116th Homecoming game. Former Illini captain and retired NASA astronaut Mike Hopkins is the grand marshal.
Need Big Ten Network for the rest of the season? Call American TV at 1-855-690-9884.
Frequently asked questions
What channel is Purdue vs. Illinois on DIRECTV?
Big Ten Network, channel 610. It's included with CHOICE and higher packages.
What time does Purdue vs. Illinois start?
Kickoff is 4:15 p.m. ET (3:15 p.m. CT) on Saturday, October 3, 2026.
Can I stream Purdue vs. Illinois?
Yes. It streams on FOX One, and on the DIRECTV app if BTN is in your package.
Is Big Ten Network included with DIRECTV ENTERTAINMENT?
No. You'll need CHOICE or higher, the MySports Genre Pack, or the $14.99-a-month Sports Pack on top of ENTERTAINMENT.
What trophy do Purdue and Illinois play for?
The Purdue Cannon. Illinois has won it the last two years.
Questions about your DIRECTV package? Call 1-855-690-9884.
Details reviewed October 2, 2026. Kickoff times and networks are set by the Big Ten and its TV partners and may change. Records are as of the week of September 28. Channel lineups, package contents, offers and prices vary by address and may change. Big Ten, BTN, DIRECTV, FOX One and related marks belong to their respective owners. American TV is an independent dealer and resource site.
More October 3 college football: Vanderbilt vs. Georgia, Auburn vs. Tennessee, Florida vs. Missouri, Purdue vs. Illinois and Baylor vs. Arizona State.