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Want bizarre? Want crazy? Check out Purdue-Minnesota series

On3 imageby:Tom Dienhart•11/09/23•

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There was a 6-3 outcome followed two years later by 59-56 final. And who can forget the surreal play when Purdue’s quarterback and wideout suffered season-ending injuries on the same play?

Welcome to the often enthralling and entertaining Purdue-Minnesota series. The schools will meet again on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET on NBC inside Ross-Ade Stadium.

When the Boilermakers (2-7 overall; 1-5 Big Ten) take on the Golden Gophers (5-4; 3-3), will we witness anything bizarre?

Here’s a look back at some of zany games and moments from this series.

2020: Phantom P.I. call

Purdue was robbed of a potential winning touchdown with 52 seconds left after an official flagged TE Payne Durham for offensive pass interference before he caught a would-be TD pass from Jack Plummer.

What did Jeff Brohm think of the offensive P.I. call?

“I think you know what I think,” Brohm said. “I didn’t like it a lot.”

The Boilers had to settle for a 34-31 loss in a dreary 2020 COVID-addled season that saw the Boilers finish 2-4.

2019: Double injury

In one of the most surreal moments in Ross-Ade Stadium history, Purdue saw QB Elijah Sindelar suffer a left shoulder injury and wideout Rondale Moore hurt his knee … on the same play in the first quarter. Each was finished for the season.

The nightmare moment summed up what turned out to a disappointing 4-8 campaign.

“Just one of those years,” said Brohm afterward. “Some years things happen to go your way, some years they don’t.”

2017: Lightning strikes

This contest was delayed for 1 hour, 28 minutes by rain and lightning, just moments after Purdue made a 19-yard field goal to take a 16-14 lead with 9:58 left in the fourth quarter.

When play resumed, the Golden Gophers took a 17-16 lead on a 38-yard field goal. But the Boilermakers took the lead when Markell Jones hit paydirt from 12 yards with 1:17 left. LB Ja’Whaun Bentley sealed the triumph with a 76-yard interception with 11 seconds left.

The final: Purdue 31, Minnesota 17.

It was Brohm’s first Big Ten win, and the first weather delay in Ross-Ade since 2007.

“Is it Monday night or is still Saturday?” Brohm joked.

LB Ja’Whaun Bentley sealed the lightning-delayed 2017 win with a 76-yard interception with 11 seconds left.

2001: Miracle in the Metrodome

As Purdue fans fondly recall, the Boilermakers were stuck on their own 3-yard line with 19 seconds left and down three points.

Somehow, QB Brandon Hance and WR Taylor Stubblefield were able to get the Boilermakers into field-goal range in time for K Travis Dorsch to connect on a 48-yarder as time expired.

“I honestly don’t know how they can get it off in one second,” lamented Minnesota coach Glen Mason.

The play forced overtime, with Purdue prevailing on the strength of a Hance-to-John Standeford scoring play to take a 35-28 decision.

“Let me put it this way: If one didn’t believe in miracles before yesterday, now you have a reason,” said Joe Tiller. “It was certainly an unbelievable finish to the game.”

1997: Bomb’s away

Joe Tiller introduced the Big Ten to “basketball on grass.” And, many defenses were caught off guard during Tiller’s debut, none more so than Minnesota.

The Boilermakers had heads spinning in the old Metrodome, taking a 59-43 decision as QB Billy Dicken completed just 10 passes that went for 333 yards and five TDs.

WR Brian Alford caught four passes for 215 yards and two TDs, one a 93-yarder. RB Edwin Watson also make four grabs, his going for 115 yards and two scores.

Minnesota was vexed and often clueless.

1993: Score 56 … and lose

It’s not often a team scores over 50 points and loses, but Purdue somehow managed to do so during a wacky Saturday in the Metrodome.

The teams combined for more than 1, 100 yards in total offense with the Golden Gophers prevailing 59-56 on an 18-yard field goal with eight seconds left in the tilt.

FB Mike Alstott rambled for 171 yards and four touchdowns, while sidekick Corey Rogers added 94 yards and three scores. But they were outdone by Minnesota QB Scott Eckers‘ six TD tosses with Omar Douglas catching a Big Ten-record five of them.

“They did whatever they wanted,” said Jim Colletto of Minnesota’s passing attack. “It was like shooting fish in a barrel. It was by far the worst loss I’ve had here at Purdue.”

Defensive coordinator Moe Ankney and defensive line coach Tony Caviglia turned in their resignations to Colletto the next day.

“They offered their resignations and we accepted them,” Colletto said.

1991: Anemic offenses

Two years before the aforementioned barn-burner in 1993 that saw Purdue and Minnesota combine for 115 points, the schools combined for nine in a 6-3 Golden Gopher win in the Metrodome.

Minnesota scored the game’s lone TD on its first possession of the game: A 9-yard TD jaunt by QB Marquel Fleetwood.

Purdue avoided the shutout when K Joe O’Leary connected on a 33-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.

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