Big Ten Program Playing Without Starting Quarterback in Week 7

The Big Ten Conference has plenty of intriguing games going into Week 7. Among them are Wisconsin-Rutgers, Washington-Iowa, Penn State-USC and the biggest of them all, Ohio State-Oregon.

However, another top 25 team in the Big Ten is Illinois, and they are hosting the Purdue Boilermakers.

Illinois enters the game as a heavy favorite, and the Illini's chances just got even better as Purdue announced a tough injury blow on Friday.

The Boilermakers will be without starting quarterback Hudson Card due to an injury, per Brett McMurphy of Action Network.

"Purdue QB Hudson Card will not play vs. Illinois w/upper body injury, sources told @ActionNetworkHQ," McMurphy wrote on X. "Card had started 16 games past 2 seasons for Purdue. W/out Card, redshirt freshman Ryan Browne in line to make his 1st career start."

Card, who is in his second season with Purdue, has thrown for 738 yards with seven touchdowns and four interceptions this season.

In the last game against Wisconsin, the entire Purdue offense looked flat in a 52-6 loss in Madison.

Still, Card is the unquestioned QB1 for Purdue.

With him set to miss the game, the Boilermakers will turn to redshirt freshman Ryan Browne.

Browne went 6-for-10 against Indiana State in the opener and threw one pass in garbage time against Wisconsin, so this will be an extended look for the freshman signal-caller.

Purdue has lost four straight since the 49-0 opening week win against Indiana State, and the path got even more difficult with Card out for the game.

To make matters worse, Purdue faces Oregon in Week 8.

Related: Purdue QB Hudson Card, Former Texas Transfer, Makes College Football History in Season Opener