First Look: Northwestern
Here’s an early look at Purdue’s eighth opponent of the 2024 season, the Northwestern Wildcats:
Date/Time: Saturday, November 2, Noon E.T.
Location: Ross-Ade Stadium
Surface: Bermuda Grass
Capacity: 61,441 (sold out)
Weather: Very early forecast shows a high of 64 with partly cloudy skies
2024 schedules/records: Purdue 1-6 (0-4 Big Ten), Northwestern 3-5 (1-4 Big Ten)
Series notes: The longtime Big Ten rivals will meet for the 89th time, as Purdue enters with a 53-34-1 advantage. Purdue and Northwestern met each of the last ten years as members of the Big Ten West, and the Wildcats took seven of those contests. Ryan Walters and David Braun squared off a year ago in Evanston, where Northwestern held on for a 23-15 win against a Purdue offense primarily led by Ryan Browne. The last time Northwestern came to Ross-Ade Stadium, Purdue won a 17-9 defensive battle with wind chills in the single digits in one of the coldest games in stadium history.
TV: BTN
Early line: Northwestern -1
STORYLINES TO WATCH
Fresh off a bye?
Purdue will enter this game off a bye week, which is much needed after six consecutive losses. The Boilermakers struggled to compete in most of its losses, losing by an average of 35 points per game. During that span, Purdue dismissed offensive coordinator Graham Harrell, promoted Jason Simmons to interim offensive coordinator, and then offensive play calling became Walters’ in-game task. How’s that for some in-season change?
Per Walters following the Oregon game, Purdue will spend the bye week tweaking and improving both sides of the ball, and the staff will get out and hit the recruiting trail. Both sides of the ball could use improvement, too. Purdue ranks 129th out of 134 FBS teams in scoring defense, allowing 38.43 points per game, including the shutout of Indiana State. On the offensive side, Purdue ranks 116th in scoring offense with 20.3 points per game, a number bolstered by two 49-point outbursts.
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Michigan vs. MSU fight
Big Ten will not punish Wolverines or Spartans following the end-of-game fight on Saturday.
Decision at quarterback
Purdue started Browne again against Oregon, as Hudson Card appeared as “OUT” on the availability report due to his concussion suffered in the Nebraska game. With Card likely cleared to return, what will Purdue do at the quarterback position? Purdue drastically shifted its offensive philosophy when Browne took the reigns, deploying a run option-based attack. Does it want to continue down that path with Browne, or does it look to throw the football down the field more with Card?
Another sell-out
Despite the struggles of the Purdue football program, Ross-Ade Stadium is sold out of tickets for Saturday’s contest. It marks the third sell-out of the season for the Boilermakers, and the Indiana State and Oregon games weren’t far off. The Purdue faithful continues to fill the stands, as it appears Saturday will see another packed house at Ross-Ade.
