Old National Presents: 3-2-1

Three things learned. Two questions. One bold statement. It’s time for the 3-2-1, a look at Purdue football.

Three things learned

1 – Purdue has kicking competition

Spencer Porath has been solid most of the season, but he is in a funk. The true freshman–Indiana Mr. Football 2023 position award winner and a U.S. Army Bowl All-American–missed two field-goal attempts at Ohio State. Porath has hit just 2 of his last 5 field-goal attempts, missing from 21 and 38 at Ohio State and from 36 vs. Oregon. In 2024, he is 1-of-4 from beyond 30 yards with a long of 45. Overall, Porath has hit 7-of-11 field-goal attempts (64 percent), which ranks 14th in the Big Ten.

Is the job open?

“Yeah, absolutely,” said Ryan Walters on Monday.

Porath will battle Ben Freehill, who has been the kickoff man this season. But he was the primary option on placements last year, hitting 6-of-11. The sixth-year senior dealt with a blood clot issue early in 2023, which caused some struggles. Freehill came back to finish strong.

Walters will declare a winner after practice on Thursday.

2 – Fans showing out

Despite the trying season, fans have shown up.

Purdue is averaging 60,195 through five games at 61,441-seat Ross-Ade Stadium. And plenty of tickets have been sold for this Saturday’s tilt vs. Penn State. But how many will show up?

The program has sold out three games (Notre Dame, Nebraska and Northwestern). And the crowd of 59,488 vs. Indiana State was the largest in a season-opener since 2005.

Impressive numbers for a 1-8 program.

3 – Toothless offense

Purdue is averaging 18.0 ppg, which ranks 127th in the nation out of 134 teams. (Take away the 49 points scored vs. FCS Indiana State, and that average dips to 14.1 vs. FBS opponents.) In 2023, Purdue averaged 23.9 points. So, the offense is averaging about a TD less this season.

You have to go back to 2013 to find a lower overall scoring average. That season, Purdue averaged 14.9 points. And that 2013 squad won just one game … a likelihood for this year’s team, too.

How bad has it been? Purdue has been shutout two of the last three games. The last time it was blanked twice in a season was 2013. On and on it goes for an attack that has had three play-callers.

Seasons since 1990 averaging less than 20 points

Season	Average
2013	14.9
2010	19.7
1996	17.6
1992	19.2
1991	19.9
1990	16.1

Two questions

1 – Does Purdue have personnel to run this defensive scheme?

It’s a fair question to pose. Time and again, the unit has been shredded. How bad is it? Purdue is 129th out of 134 schools in scoring defense, yielding 37.8 points per game. That’s last in the Big Ten, a season after Purdue also finished last in the league in scoring defense (30.4).

The school record for average points allowed is 38.2 set in 2016.

Want more? Purdue is last in the Big Ten in total defense (446.4 ypg), last in rush defense (199.9 ypg) and 16th in pass defense (246.6 ypg).

Clearly, something is missing. You can’t change the players in-season, so why not adjust/change the scheme? It’s the old round peg in a square hole.

Seasons since 1995 allowing over 30 points per game

Season	Average
2023	30.4
2019	30.6
2018	30.0
2016	38.2
2015	36.5
2014	31.7
2013	38.0
2012	31.2

2 – How will the QBs be handled?

Play under center has been a mixed bag most of the year. There have been spurts of positive play, but not many last week at Ohio State.

“I’m sure there’s a couple throws that (Hudson Card) would like back and a couple reads he would like back, and again, you also have to look at it as that is an elite defense and that has posed a lot of people problems,” said Walters. “The No. 4 team in the country didn’t get in the end zone either against them.”

Ryan Browne only played mop-up minutes in Columbus after taking over for the third and fourth series the week before vs. Northwestern. Could we see him used more this week? After all: Browne was the quarterback for the team’s most brilliant effort of 2024, a 50-49 OT loss at Illinois.

“We’ll keep those decisions in house, but yeah, if I was Penn State, I would be preparing for both,” said Walters on Monday.

One bold statement: Freehill will handle placements

He has a strong leg and is a proven commodity. The sixth-year senior, who began his career at Oklahoma State, deserves a shot. After starting 2023 hitting 1-of-3 field goals, Freehill connected on 5 of his last 7. He’s ready, willing and able.

MORE: First look: Penn State | Three thoughts | First and 10 | Walters has learned a lot in 2024