Down several key players, Purdue looks to be Spoilermakers vs. Ohio State, again

Look it up. Purdue has had a history of shocking Ohio State. In fact, the last time the Buckeyes visited West Lafayette, the Boilermakers pulled off one of their all-time upsets in taking a 49-20 win vs. No. 2 Ohio State and Urban Meyer.

“We’ll have a team meeting tomorrow, and I’ve got some creative ways to give the history of this game and what it meant the last time they were here, and so (the players will) definitely be aware,” said Ryan Walters.

Walters and Purdue (2-4 overall; 1-2 Big Ten) will look to add to that history when they kick off vs. No. 3 Ohio State (5-0; 2-0) on Saturday at noon ET on Peacock.

This century, the Boilers have knocked off Ohio State in 2000, 2004, 2009, 2011–all in Ross-Ade Stadium–in addition to the aforementioned 2018 upset in what’s known as the “Tyler Trent Game.”

The Buckeyes will arrive fresh off a 37-17 home win vs. an unbeaten Maryland team. Per usual, Ohio State is loaded with talent: WRs Marvin Harrison and Emeka Egbuka, DEs J.T. Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer, MLB Tommy Eichenberg, RB TreVeyon Henderson, TE Cade Stover and CB Denzel Burke, among others. On and on it goes with a deep talent well in Columbus.

“Ohio State is a national brand for a reason, right?” said Walters. “Got a lot of respect for Ryan Day and what he’s done in his career.

“You go play to win the game. That’s the purpose of competition. So, you’re absolutely right, we’re excited to go play, to go compete, and it’s been fun already prepping and game planning against guys that you respect in this profession and against players that you’ve got respect for that play the game.”

If Purdue is gonna pull off the stunner vs. all that talent, it will have to do so without some key personnel. Walters said at his Monday press conference that OT Marcus Mbow, TE Max Klare and CB Marquis Wilson will be out for the year with injuries. Mbow was hurt last week at Iowa, while Klare and Wilson got injured the week before vs. Illinois.

Wait. There is more: RB Tyrone Tracy got injured at Iowa.

“I would be shocked if he played this week,” said Walters.

Also, K Ben Freehill is expected to miss a fourth game, while LB OC Brothers will be evaluated this week after missing last week’s game.

“Comes with the territory,” said Walters of injuries. “It’s a risk that we all signed up for when we decide to play this beautiful game.

“We have a locker room full of guys that are obviously compassionate for the guys that are not playing anymore, but also they’re eager for the opportunity for themselves to go play football. And so it’s always been the next-man-up mentality. We’ll adjust as a staff in the areas we need to, but still very confident and excited to go compete.”

QB Hudson Card also is ailing.

“Hudson got dinged up against Illinois, actually,” said Walters. “He practiced on Thursday and his — the nature of his injury was one that he wasn’t in harm’s way of further damaging the injury, but it was going to be painful.

“I think that speaks to his competitive spirit and his physical toughness. So, every time he was out there and got hit, didn’t feel good, I promise you. So, for him to go through the whole game and compete the way he did, I was proud of that fact.”

Purdue will need Card to grind through another week before the Boilermakers have a bye week following the Ohio State game. But, this is no time to think about the coming off week. Are there any chinks in Ohio State’s armor?

“No, not really,” fessed Walters, who never has faced Ohio State. “You got to execute, make plays, and you have to — you can’t pay attention to the logo, right? Like you can’t get the brand or the history affect how aggressive you play.

“So, that’s what our guys got to understand, is it doesn’t — as long as we make it about us and how we execute, how we play the game, how aggressive our mentality, mindset is, then you go play, you go compete, and you let the game play out and try to go win it.”

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