First and 10: Purdue at Oregon State
As we start the week, 10 items of interest as the Boilermakers travel to face Oregon State (8:30 p.m. CW Network) on Saturday in Corvallis.
• When you went through game-by-game in the offseason, nearly everyone had Purdue with a 1-1 record after two games. Well, the Boilermakers are 1-1. No surprise. However, how Purdue fares against the Beavers and Nebraska will likely determine whether games in late October and November are meaningful.
• Remember, we still don’t know who the Boilermakers are. The win over Indiana State didn’t reveal much, and losing to Notre Dame in this fashion should be an outlier. An identity has yet to emerge.
• Call this matchup an early season Response Bowl. Both teams are coming off lopsided losses. Purdue set program records for most points allowed and margin of defeat, losing to Notre Dame 66-7. The Beavers were hammered by rival Oregon 49-14. Purdue and Oregon State allowed more than 500 total yards to in-state rivals.
BIG PICTURE: Loss to Notre Dame shouldn’t define Purdue, not this early
• Purdue had only one third-down conversion against Notre Dame. No surprise, considering the Boilermakers had an average of 10.6 yards to gain on their 12 attempts. It’s next to impossible to stay on the field facing those numbers. Improved performances on first and second down will put Purdue in better third-down situations.
• While the circumstances were in the Boilermakers’ favor against the Fighting Irish – a week off after facing an FCS team and playing at home – this week has the opposite feeling. Forced to make the long trip to the Pacific Northwest against an unfamiliar team after playing one of the most recognizable programs in the country, don’t expect a lot of support for coach Ryan Walters’ team. Coming off the embarrassing loss adds to the storyline, as the Boilermakers are dealing with many hurdles.
• How does Walters make sure his team is more physical this week? The second-year coach said the lack of physicality against Notre Dame played a role throughout the loss, but how do the Boilermakers recapture that element?
• There’s a lot to clean up from the first two games for Purdue, and penalties are near the top of the list. The 11 against Indiana State were likely overlooked by those outside the program, and the Boilermakers committed seven more against the Irish. The 18 penalties rank the most in the country by teams that have played two games. The current trend must slow down.
PHOTO GALLERY: Purdue-Notre Dame
• Players who transfer to another school usually don’t return. Oregon State running back Jam Griffin might be the rare case. He played for the Beavers in 2022, rushing for 488 yards and four touchdowns, but transferred to Mississippi before last season. Guess who’s back? Yes, Griffin. He’s averaging 6.13 yards per carry and scored three touchdowns for OSU, which ranks No. 17 in the country in rushing (243.3 yards).
• Expect to see a rotation of running backs by both teams. Purdue features Devin Mockobee and Reggie Love III and OSU has Griffin and Anthony Hankerson. Love was one of the bright spots against the Irish, gaining 61 yards on 10 carries. OSU’s duo has put up good numbers through three games, averaging a combined 5.6 yards per carry. Griffin and Hankerson rank among the top 26 nationally in rushing yards.
• Will receiver Kam Brown add to the offense’s big-play potential? The UCLA transfer had a 52-yard reception that led to the team’s only score. It’s no secret that the Boilermakers will need big plays throughout the season, and maybe Brown will help deliver.
