Know Your Opponent: Week Fourteen Purdue Boilermakers

Written By Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

The No. 10 Indiana Hoosiers return home for the Old Oaken Bucket game against the Purdue Boilermakers. The Hoosiers are coming off their first loss of the season while the Boilermakers are 1-10 and winless in conference. 

Head Coach: Ryan Walters (2nd full Year at Purdue)
Overall Record: 5-18 (.217) 2nd Season
At Purdue:  5-18 (3-14)
Purdue Bowl Games: 21 (11-10)
Last Year’s Record: 4-8 (3-6)
This Year’s Record: 1-10 (0-8)
Mascot: Boilermaker Special
Colors: Black and Gold
Outfitter: Nike
National Titles: 0
Conference Titles: 12
Heisman Winners: 0

Things to Know

1. There is Some Offensive Talent for the Boilermakers

This Purdue team is one of their all-time worst squads, but they are not devoid of talent. The Boilermakers have three very good players on offense that the Hoosiers need to make sure don’t give Purdue any hope. It starts with quarterback Hudson Card who beat IU last year with a performance that had Boiler fans and media thinking Heisman sleeper. He’s not even close to that in 2024, but he can still make plays. Card has thrown for 1,606 yards and nine touchdowns. He does have six interceptions and is completing under 60-percent of his throws.

Devin Mockobee has been very good averaging 5.4 yards per carry and has 666 yards and four touchdowns on the year. IU has shut down better rushing attacks this season, but Mockobee can still rip off the occasional long run. 

In the passing game tight end Max Klare is the most dangerous weapon for Purdue. The sophomore tight end leads Purdue in catches (46), receiving yards (649) and touchdowns (4). Klare has made 14 catches over the last two games and will be targeted early and often against the Hoosiers. 

2. Ryan Walters Final Game?

Purdue head coach was labeled as the hot hire by the Indy Star’s Gregg Doyel. I believe he said he had the “it factor” and Purdue would be just fine after Jeff Brohm took the Louisville job. Less than two seasons into the Walters Era it may be over before it really started. Walters is 5-18 at Purdue and does not have an FBS win in 2024. He has fired assistant coaches already and is in danger of going 1-11 and winless in the Big Ten. There Have been rumors swirling about his job security for weeks and whether or not Purdue will pay his buyout. Saturday could be Walters final game, so will the Boilers rise up and try and save their coach’s job or will they pack it in because it could very well already be over.  

3. Rush Defense is Terrible

While the Hoosier offense did not do much of anything against the Buckeyes last week, the run game was a positive. The Hoosiers should have no problem moving the ball on the ground against Purdue. The Boilermakers rank last in the Big Ten in rush defense by a wide margin. They allow 197 yards per game on the ground and have surrendered 30 rushing touchdowns on the year. IU’s rushing offense is 5th in the Big Ten averaging 168.2 yards per game and have reached the end zone 34 times. If the passing game isn’t working, IU should still be able to move the ball well.

4. Would Love Nothing More than to Play “Spoilermaker”

Purdue would love nothing more than to derail Indiana’s best season in history. The Boilermakers have a history of wrecking ranked teams’ seasons earning the nickname the Spoilermakers. Purdue is nearly a 30-point underdog at the time of publishing, but has beaten IU the last three games in the series and four of the last five meetings.