First and 10: Nebraska at Purdue

As we start the week, 10 items of interest as the Boilermakers host Nebraska on Saturday (noon, Peacock) at Ross-Ade Stadium:

• Take your pick. Which unit – offense or defense – needs to take a bigger step forward? The vote is the offense. Hudson Card and company haven’t been able to stay on the field the last two games, converting three third downs in 21 attempts. The lack of production in the passing game has been abysmal against FBS competition. Devin Mockobee, Reggie Love III, and the offensive line kept the Boilermakers in the game against the Beavers, but the inability to strike through the air is disturbing for a program with the Cradle of Quarterbacks label.

• The defense isn’t without fault in this two-game stretch. Allowing more than 300 yards on the ground spells doom each time. Purdue is trying to avoid giving up 300 rushing yards in three straight games for the first time since 2016. Notre Dame and Oregon State averaged 351.5 rushing yards in the last two weeks. The Boilermakers are last nationally against the run when facing FBS teams, sitting behind lowly Kent State. And the defense has struggled to contain quarterbacks on the run, adding to the misery. Setting the edge is the top priority since the Irish and the Beavers kept exposing that weakness.

• According to Ryan Walters, Jahmal Edrine will be out for at least a month (knee), and C.J. Smith (hamstring) isn’t close to getting on the field. Who’s the go-to receiver? The tight ends have been the most productive through three games, but can that group stretch the field enough to generate big plays? We haven’t seen enough of Edrine to classify him as a legitimate No. 1, and Smith hasn’t played for the Boilermakers. The offense needs someone on the perimeter to emerge.

MORE: First look: Nebraska | Upon further review

• The lack of playmakers shows up in the inability to create big plays. In the last two weeks, Card has six passing plays for 10 yards or more, the fewest among Big Ten teams. Even Northwestern, which scored five points in Saturday’s loss at Washington, has generated 16 passing plays of 10 yards or more. The offense must start finding those chunk plays.

• Although the Huskers lost to Illinois to prevent a 4-0 start to the season, this is a different team coming to Ross-Ade Stadium. Under Matt Ruhle, Nebraska is more composed, disciplined, and organized than last decade. Those components don’t always lead to victories but if the Huskers keep doing the right things, the wins will start to add up. The bugaboo of losing to ranked teams – it’s now 25 straight since 2016 – remains a cloud over the program. Nebraska isn’t ready to challenge the top teams in the league, but it’s already created separation from the bottom.

• Purdue and Troy have something in common beyond former Boilermaker assistant/interim coach Gerad Parker guiding the Trojans’ program. These are the only two teams in the country without a takeaway. Purdue is -5 in turnover margin.

• For the third straight week, the Boilermakers face a team coming off a loss. Notre Dame lost to Northern Illinois, Oregon State was drilled by Oregon and Nebraska was beaten by Illinois.

• Will the overnight flight back from Oregon cause issues for the Boilermakers this week? There’s a recovery element to these West Coast trips, and we’ll see how Ryan Walters manages the week. In 2009, Purdue played at Oregon and returned to West Lafayette the next morning, but the players 15 years ago talked about being sluggish dealing with the long red-eye flight. The Boilermakers proceeded to lose to Northern Illinois, which dominated the line of scrimmage, generated 454 total yards, and kept the ball for more than 40 minutes. Just because it happened in 2009 doesn’t mean it will happen this week, but take the team’s pulse throughout the week.

• Nebraska freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola’s career is off to a solid start. He missed a touchdown throw against Illinois late in the overtime loss, but the moment isn’t too big for the rookie. Notre Dame and Oregon State completed a combined 28 passes, but there was no need to risk turnovers since both teams ran the ball effectively. Raiola is completing 72.2% of his passes, and the Boilermakers will need to make him uncomfortable. Raiola isn’t a strong runner, but he’s big and hard to bring down. Illinois sacked him five times, a number Purdue must reach to disrupt the Huskers’ offense. Side note: Raiola’s younger brother, Dayton, a 2026 quarterback prospect, committed to the Huskers on Sunday.

• Keep Greg Sharpe in your thoughts. Sharpe is the radio voice of Nebraska football and baseball and was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the spring. He missed last week’s Illinois game due to a scheduled procedure but hopes to return on Saturday. He broadcast the Huskers’ first three games. Sharpe is near the top of the good guy list in an athletic department filled with quality people. He also hosts “Sports Nightly” on a state-wide radio network, keeping fans updated about what’s happening around the Big Ten. When Nebraska joined the league, Sharpe always included the Purdue perspective during his Big Ten Blitz segment and just didn’t focus on the big brands. Let’s hope Sharpe can travel to West Lafayette – and the rest of the league schedule – and keep calling games for his cavalcade of followers who rely on his descriptions and analysis.