Know Your Opponent: Week 13 Purdue Boilermakers

Jamie Sabau, USA TODay

Written by: TJ Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)

Head Coach: Ryan Walters

Overall: 3-8 

Bowl Appearances at Purdue: Zero

2022 Record: 8-6 (6-3) and Big Ten West Champions 

Mascot: Purdue Pete

Colors: Black and Gold 

Outfitter: Nike

National Titles: One - 1931

Conference Titles: 12 (most recently in 2000)

Heisman Winners: Zero

Last Week: 23-15 Loss to Northwestern

Statistical Leaders

Passing: Hudson Card – 194 for 331 (58.6%) for 2112 yards with 12 TDs and 8 INTs

Rushing: Devin Mockobee – 154 carries for 769 yards with 6 TDs (4.99 yards per carry)

Receiving: Deion Burks – 40 catches for 542 yards with 7 TDs

Tackles: Dillon Thieneman – 98 tackles including 66 solo

Stat of the Week: Both teams enter the Old Oaken Bucket Game at 3-8 for a combined record of 6-16. This is tied with the 2014 version of the annual game for worst combined record when both teams also entered at 6-16. IU won that game 23-16.

Boilermakers Talking Points

1. Does Hudson Card Play? 

Purdue quarterback Hudson Card missed the loss to Northwestern with a reported rib injury and his status for the season-finale is unknown. Freshmen Bennett Meredith and Ryan Browne rotated with Ryan Browne proving to be the more effective of the two. Browne was 12 for 16 with 104 yards and added 85 yards on the ground but his interception on the final drive ended the contest. Card is clearly Purdue’s best option at the position and whether or not he can go is a storyline to watch.

2. Coaches Under Pressure

Indiana head coach Tom Allen is very clearly on the hot seat and the game at Purdue could very well be his last one in charge of the Indiana football program. Ryan Walters, in his first season as a head coach, is not on the “hot seat” but there is a significant amount of unrest and disgruntlement about how his initial campaign has played out. The Boilermakers have looked unprepared and have gone just 3-8 against a very weak Big Ten West schedule. Purdue was stopped on two plays inside of the one-yard line against Northwestern which exacerbated frustration with offensive coordinator Graham Harrell’s play-calling. Former Purdue head coach Jeff Brohm has his Cardinals in the ACC Championship Game and Purdue gave Walters a six-year contract. A loss at home to this IU team could put the young head coach under early pressure heading into 2024.

3. Red Zone Woes

Indiana and Purdue are two of the worst red zone teams in the country. The Hoosiers are scoring on only 76.92% of red zone opportunities but they have gotten much better since Brendan Sorsby took over as the starting quarterback, scoring on 100% of chances in the past three games. Purdue is at only 71.05% which places them at 126th in the nation, ahead of only seven teams. Both defenses are poor in the red zone as well with Purdue at 87th and IU at 119th, allowing a whopping 92.31% of red zone chances to be converted into points.