Boilermakers look to shock Badgers

Purdue football has long been a bottom-feeder in the Big Ten. The Boilermakers have not been ranked since 2003, and have not been to a Rose Bowl or won a conference title since 2000. Unfortunately for the Boilermakers, this season has been no exception.

After losing to Northwestern 45-17 last week, Purdue will miss out on a bowl game for the fourth-straight season. The Boilermakers had a 3-2 start to the season, but a 49-35 loss at home to the Iowa Hawkeyes led them to fire head coach Darrell Hazell. Instead of a new coaching staff giving the team a spark or changing the results, the Boilermakers have consequently lost five games in a row. With the Wisconsin Badgers coming to town Saturday, it’s hard to see a way that losing streak will end.

However, if the Boilermakers want to pull off an improbable upset, they’ll need a big game from wide receiver DeAngelo Yancey. The senior from Atlanta has arguably been Purdue’s top offensive player as he leads the team in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns.

Despite Yancey’s steady contributions, his quarterback has been—to put it lightly—less than consistent this year. Sophomore David Blough will have to be smarter with the football against UW, as he has tossed 13 interceptions this season, and the Badgers’ secondary features several proven ballhawks that recorded four interceptions against Illinois.

Even if Purdue can get its passing game going, the Boilermakers will still struggle defensively to stop the Badger running backs. Purdue’s rushing defense is ranked No. 121 out of 128 teams, giving up an average of 248.3 yards per game. The Wisconsin running backs are coming off their best week of the season, combining for 363 rushing yards against Illinois. Corey Clement, Dare Ogunbowale and Bradrick Shaw can already see the holes in the Boilermakers’ defense and are looking to dominate a Purdue defense that has also given up 37.7 points per game.

Not only is the Boilermakers’ season already essentially over, but they don’t even have much to look forward to in the coming years. Purdue will stay near the bottom of the Big Ten, as of right now, according to Rivals, its recruiting class is rated second to last in the conference, and the head coach vacancy means the program will be facing another tough transition.

There is little evidence to suggest the Boilermakers will be able pull off a stunner in West Lafayette, but at least the basketball team is grooving—and they still have the “World’s Biggest Drum.”