Week Fourteen Primer – No. 2 Indiana Hoosiers at Purdue Boilermakers

As we wrote a couple of weeks ago, every game for the Indiana Hoosiers has escalating stakes and pressure. That’s the nature of being ranked second in the country and being in the driver’s seat for a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game and potentially receiving a bye in the College Football Playoff.

A sports mascot dressed as a buffalo in a red jersey waving a large flag, with fans in the stands blurred in the background. — Nov 15, 2025; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; The Indiana Hoosiers Bison waves a flag after the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images

What: #2 Indiana Hoosiers (11-0) at Purdue Boilermakers (2-9)

When: Friday, November 28 at 7:30 pm

Where: Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, IN

How to Watch: The game will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock and can be heard on the IU Radio Network.

Spread and Total: IU (-28.5) | Total of 54.5

Series History: The Purdue Boilermakers lead the overall series 77-43 with six ties. The past ten meetings have been split evenly between the two rivals and Indiana obliterated the Boilermakers 66-0 last year in Bloomington. That was IU’s largest victory in the series. The Hoosiers last won this matchup in West Lafayette on 2019.

What’s at Stake: As we wrote a couple of weeks ago, every game for the Indiana Hoosiers has escalating stakes and pressure. That’s the nature of being ranked second in the country and being in the driver’s seat for a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game and potentially receiving a bye in the College Football Playoff. The intensity and pressure of being in the chase for a Big Ten Championship and a shot at a national title are thrilling but the pressure is certainly on the Hoosiers.

The stakes are clear: a win for Indiana puts them in the Big Ten Championship Game and nearly ensures the Hoosiers, at minimum, receive a bye in the College Football Playoff. It would be, without any argument, the greatest regular season in IU football history. Purdue is attempting to play spoiler and begin to claw back some of the equity in the battle for state supremacy on the gridiron.

A FEW THINGS TO LOOK FOR

Uncertainty at Quarterback for Boilers

The Purdue Boilermakers have tried a lot of different things on offense to try and find a spark. None of them have really worked. Ryan Browne and Malachi Singleton have rotated at quarterback with Singleton taking the bulk of the snaps in their last outing at Washington. Both quarterbacks will utilize their legs as part of the offense with Browne tied for the team lead with four rushing touchdowns and Singleton at 204 yards rushing but passing has been a real adventure. Neither quarterback is completing better than 60% of his passes and the two have combined to throw 11 interceptions on just 212 attempts. The offensive line has been surprisingly competent, allowing a sack percentage of just 5.11% (47^th nationally) but they have struggled to run the ball since the injury to Devin Mockobee with sophomore Antonio Harris trying to shoulder the load and the receivers have not really been able to threaten defenses consistently. Indiana’s defense is unlikely to help the Boilermakers find any sort of offensive rhythm. IU is tied for second in the country in points allowed per game and they’ll be looking to end the season with another fantastic performance.

2. Defense Does Not Live Here

A sign reading “Defense Lives Here” often hangs at Mackey Arena and it is certainly apt for the successful Purdue basketball program but the mantra does not translate to the gridiron. Purdue is 123^rd in the nation in yards allowed per play at 6.3. That’s ahead of only Rutgers (7.6!) in the Big Ten and Purdue has allowed more than 30 points five times in eight Big Ten contests. Opposing quarterbacks are completing 65.9% of their passes (108^th nationally) and teams are racking up 175 rushing yards per game so they are vulnerable against both the rush and the pass. The only real statistical positives for the Boilers are a top 40 sack percentage and the 18^th ranked red zone defense. If IU’s offensive line was able to utilize the bye week to get a bit healthier and if the weather holds up, it should be a big evening for IU’s offense. Of course, the subplot surrounding this game is the Heisman Trophy candidacy for Fernando Mendoza. Mendoza enters the contest leading the betting odds and another big outing for the transfer from Cal would cement him as the favorite heading into the Big Ten Championship Game.

3. Regaining the Edge

The last couple of games for the Indiana Hoosiers were not quite as sharp or dominant as IU fans had grown accustomed to. It’s not that Indiana played poorly against Penn State or Wisconsin and both of those teams deserve credit for battling but it would be fair to assert that the bye week came at the perfect time for Indiana. The week of rest and healing gives Elijah Sarratt to get back on the field. It hopefully allows the offensive line a week to heal the bumps and bruises and return to dominant form and it brings the return of Drew Evans one week closer to reality. Did IU peak in the win at Oregon or is the best yet to come as the Hoosiers prepare for a shot at a conference title followed by the playoff for the sport’s national championship.