Matchup to Watch: Indiana’s Secondary vs. Purdue’s Passing Game

Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

The Indiana Hoosiers close out the 2023 season with the Old Oaken Bucket game against Purdue. While both teams enter at 3-8, this is still a heat rivalry. The Hoosiers enter as a slight underdog, however if they want to end the season on a high note and claim the Bucket, they will need to improve in defending the pass after being gashed the last two weeks. This week’s matchup to watch is Indiana’s secondary against Purdue’s passing game.

The Boilermakers have major questions about the quarterback position as Hudson Card sat out last week with a rib injury, but his status is unknown. Card is completing 58.6-percent of his passes and he has thrown for 2,112 yards, 12 touchdowns along with eight interceptions.

Last week, Purdue played two freshmen quarterbacks in Ryan Browne who threw for 102 yards with two interceptions and Bennett Meredeth who has appeared in three games this season.

Whoever starts at quarterback will have some weapons to throw to including the dynamic Deion Burks who can score from anywhere on the field. After a slow middle of the season Burks has reawakened. He leads Purdue in receiving touchdowns (7) and yards (542). Expect IU to put their best corner on Burks whenever they can, which would probably be Kobee Minor. Injuries have plagued IU’s secondary as Noah Pierre has been out since mid-October and Nic Toomer missed last week’s loss to Michigan State.

In three November games the Hoosier defense has allowed 1,027 yards passing and nine touchdowns. Now, not all of the lack of success falls on the secondary players as the Hoosiers have not pressured the quarterback with just three sacks and four quarterback hurries over the last three games. The good news for the Indiana defense is that they are creating interceptions again. IU has three interceptions over the last two games and six takeaways over the last three games.

If the Hoosiers are to end the season on a high note, they will need to pressure whoever starts at quarterback for Purdue and limit the passing attack.