First Look: Nebraska
Here’s an early look at Purdue’s fourth opponent of the 2024 season, the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Date/Time: Saturday, September 21, Noon E.T.
Location: Ross-Ade Stadium
Surface: Bermuda Grass
Capacity: 61,441 (sold out)
Weather: Early forecast shows a high of 77 degrees with a chance of rain
2024 schedules/records: Purdue 1-2 (0-0 Big Ten), Nebraska 3-1 (0-1 Big Ten)
Series notes: Since joining the Big Ten in 2011, Nebraska and Purdue have enjoyed a competitive series. The all-time series is deadlocked, with each side taking six contests. This will mark the 12th straight season with a Purdue vs. Nebraska meeting, dating back to 2013. A season ago, Nebraska downed Purdue 31-14 in a meeting between two first-year coaches, Matt Rhule and Ryan Walters. In games played in Ross-Ade Stadium, Purdue holds a 4-3 advantage.
TV: Peacock
Early line: Nebraska -9.5
STORYLINES TO WATCH
Conference play begins
Non-league play didn’t go as the Boilermakers hoped, as they enter Big Ten play with a 1-2 record for the second consecutive season. However, it presents an opportunity to focus on a new task at hand. Much was made about Purdue’s preseason prognostication of finishing last in the league, and the Boilermakers still hope to prove the media wrong.
Homecoming
Purdue returns home following an underwhelming loss at Oregon State to a sold-out crowd for Homecoming weekend. Purdue left the alumni smiling each of the last two seasons on Homecoming with wins over Florida Atlantic and Illinois. Though the Boilermakers enter as underdogs, they will hope to close out September with a win.
Second year coaches
Rhule and Walters began their tenures at Nebraska and Purdue just days apart, and both entered year two hoping for a breakthrough. A four-game losing streak in November prevented Rhule from reaching a bowl in year one, but the Husker faithful expects the Big Red to return to postseason play. Meanwhile, Walters’ second season didn’t start as Purdue fans hoped. He enters Big Ten play eager to flip the script and find the win column.
Ryan Walters on the Cornhuskers
Comments will be added following Walters’ Monday afternoon press conference
