Iowa hosted Ohio State in an NCAA football game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City on Saturday, Oct. 3. The Buckeyes beat the Hawkeyes 31-14.
What’s at stake
Iowa remains alive for the College Football playoff with back-to-back wins after a stunning loss to Minnesota last month. The Hawkeyes jumped up from No. 19 in the first CFP committee rankings to No. 15 this week. Iowa can continue creeping closer to the 12-team field over the final three games of the season with a light schedule of Purdue, at Illinois and Nebraska.
Purdue surprised Minnesota and Illinois to get out to a 2-1 start in Big Ten play but has lost three straight since. The Boilermakers would not be able to clinch a bowl berth with a loss on Saturday though updated eligibility requirements for 5-7 teams could still make a bowl possible.
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Series history
Purdue leads the all-time series 50-41-3 thanks to a 20-game winning streak that spanned the 1960s and 1970s.
Iowa has won the last two meetings and head coach Kirk Ferentz owns a 13-8 all-time record against Purdue.
The Hawkeyes last lost to the Boilermakers in 2021 when Purdue claimed a 24-7 when David Bell erupted for 240 yards and a touchdown 11 receptions. The Boilermakers also picked off quarterback Spencer Petras four times to spoil No. 2 Iowa’s undefeated, 6-0 start to the season.
Forecast
Fall is officially upon Iowa with temperatures expected to hit lows in the high 20s and highs in the mid 40s on Saturday. Temperatures will be in the high 30s near kickoff and dip to the mid-to-low 30s by the fourth quarter.
Boilermakers to know
QUARTERBACK RYAN BROWNE
A second-year starter for Purdue, Browne has thrown for 2,260 yards and 11 touchdowns this season to just five interceptions. The Clarkston, Michigan, native ranks second in the Big Ten in passing yards.
Browne had his biggest game of the year against UCLA where he threw for 378 yards and three touchdowns against the Bruins.
WIDE RECEIVER ASAAD WASEEM
At his third school in three seasons, the former Colorado and FAU wide receiver is finding success as Browne’s top target. He’s racked up 709 yards and one touchdown on 43 receptions through nine games.
Waseem was on the receiving end of eight passes for 149 yards for his most productive game of the season in Purdue’s 52-38 loss to UCLA.
He has not caught a touchdown in eight straight games.
LINEBACKER JOJO HAYDEN
An Illinois transfer, Hayden appeared in 11 games last season for the Illini before breaking out this season as a Boilermaker.
The East St. Louis, Illinois, native leads Purdue with 70 total tackles and two interceptions this season. He’s also recorded two tackles for loss. Hayden has matched his season-high with 11 total tackles in each of the last two games.
Ethan Petrik is a University of Iowa beat writer for the Lee Enterprises network. Follow him on X or send him an email at ethan.petrik@wcfcourier.com.
