First Look: Indiana

Here’s an early look at Purdue’s final regular season opponent in 2022, the Indiana Hoosiers

Time: Saturday, November 26, 3:30 p.m.

Location: Memorial Stadium

Surface: FieldTurf

Capacity: 52,626, plenty of tickets available

2022 schedules/records: Indiana 4-7 (2-6 Big Ten), Purdue 7-4, (5-3 Big Ten)

Series notes: The Old Oaken Bucket will be on the line when Purdue heads to Bloomington on Saturday for the 124th meeting between the in-state rivals. Purdue holds the all-time series lead with a commanding 75-42-6 record, and they’ve more than held their own in Bloomington with a 35-19-2 record on the road. The last 10 meetings between the Boilermakers and Hoosiers have split 5-5, as the Hoosiers took four-in-a-row over Purdue from 2013 to 2016. Since his arrival at Purdue, Jeff Brohm owns a 3-1 record in the Bucket series. Brohm’s squad won consequential games in 2017 and 2018, where both teams entered with 5-6 records seeking bowl eligibility. Indiana took the Bucket down south in a rain-soaked 2019 game. After COVID cases in both programs caused a cancellation of the 2020 game, Purdue rolled through the Hoosiers in a 44-7 decision last season at Ross-Ade Stadium. Because of that 2020 cancellation, this will be the first meeting in Bloomington since 2018.

TV: Big Ten Network

Early line: Purdue -10

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Lucas Oil a long shot, bowl possibilities

Following Purdue’s upset win over Illinois on Nov. 12, the formula to win the Big Ten West was clear. The Boilermakers needed to win out, and Iowa needed to lose at least one game for Purdue to earn a trip to the Big Ten Championship Game in Lucas Oil Stadium. Though the Boilermakers did their part in Week 12 by beating Northwestern, Iowa took advantage of key turnovers and defeated Minnesota as a slight road underdog.

With just one game left in the regular season, Purdue still does have a chance, but the odds certainly don’t favor them. Before the Boilermakers suit up to take on Indiana, they’ll know whether a trip to Indianapolis remains a possibility. Iowa hosts Nebraska on Friday afternoon, and a Hawkeye win will mean that Kirk Ferentz’s squad will represent the West for the second-straight year. If Nebraska pulls off a sizable upset, then the Boilermakers simply need a win to earn a trip to Lucas Oil Stadium and meet the winner of Michigan vs. Ohio State.

Purdue’s holiday destination is far from certain. A win over Indiana, coupled with three Big Ten teams in the CFP and/or New Year’s Day Six bowl puts the Boilermakers in strong contention for bowl destinations like the ReliaQuest Bowl (Monday, Jan. 2 versus SEC, Noon) in Tampa, or Duke’s Mayo Bowl (Friday, Dec. 30, vs. ACC, Noon) Charlotte. The ReliaQuest Bowl was the Outback Bowl from 1996-2021,

Hope for the Hoosiers?

Indiana began the 2022 season with a 3-0 record, including a win over Illinois to open the season. In Week 4, however, the Hoosiers fell to Cincinnati and began a seven-game losing streak that soured the mood in Bloomington. Though Tom Allen’s job doesn’t appear to be in jeopardy, he made headlines with comments on his weekly radio show last week regarding Indiana’s name, image and likeness (NIL) program and overall investment into football. With bowl eligibility out of the question and just two games remaining, optimism didn’t seem aplenty around the Indiana program.

Despite being a double-digit underdog, Indiana went to Michigan State on Saturday and pulled off a 39-31 upset in overtime. The Hoosiers turned to sophomore quarterback Dexter Williams to provide a spark. Though Williams completed just two passes, he ran for 113 of Indiana’s 295 yards on the ground to lead the upset. Given the approach’s success against the Spartans, look for Indiana to bring a similar game plan to the field on Saturday.

Weather Watch

For the past three games, Purdue’s played in sub-optimal weather conditions, something which Jeff Brohm has referenced when discussing games. The combination of wind and cold hampered Purdue’s offense in its 17-9 win over Northwestern, and the Boilermakers’ pass-heavy offense would like nothing more than clear and calm conditions to operate in. The early outlook for Saturday at Memorial Stadium? Sunny, a high of 53 degrees and winds of 10 to 15 MPH.

Team	Rushing offense	Passing offense	Total offense	Penalty YPG	TO Margin
Purdue	97	23	55	54.82	0
Indiana	120	83	116	46.73	-3

FBS Rankings

Team	Rushing defense	Passing defense	Total defense	Scoring offense	Points allowed
Purdue	27	61	34	67	43
Indiana	103	115	123	94	120

Brohm on the Hoosiers

“It’s a big week for us. Our players and fans know the value of this rivalry. Indiana went with an athletic quarterback and run the ball effectively.

“Defensively they have 10 senior starters and they know their system. They have played a lot of close games and we will have our hands full.

“When you beat Michigan State despite only completing two passes that gets your attention. We will have to be ready for all (offensive) scenarios and it makes for a big challenge.

“They have done an excellent job in special teams, and it’s always important to play well in all phases to win.”