Iowa heads into Saturday night with a few numbers that jump off the page, starting with the matchup itself. Purdue still owns the all-time series, 50-41-3, but the Hawkeyes are laying 16.5 points at home and will try to keep a recent run of success rolling under the lights.
The Boilermakers are seeing Iowa while ranked for the first time since 2021, when Purdue walked into Kinnick Stadium and stunned the second-ranked Hawkeyes 24-7. Iowa has answered by winning the last two meetings, though Purdue has taken two of the last three in Kinnick.
This one also brings a new face to the matchup on the Purdue sideline. Barry Odom is facing Iowa for the first time as a head coach. He was an assistant at Missouri in 2010, the year Iowa beat the Tigers in the Insight Bowl.
Iowa’s offense has been finding ways to finish drives, and L.J. Phillips added to that trend against Northwestern.
His 128-yard day made him the Hawkeyes’ fifth 100-yard rusher this season, which is a program record. The team has also ripped off a 97-yard touchdown drive in three straight games, something no FBS team has done since at least 2015.
The Hawkeyes are putting up 28.3 points per game, while Purdue is at 29.4 through nine games, its best scoring pace since 2018. Iowa’s defense has been even sharper lately, allowing only one touchdown over the past nine quarters.
There are some individual numbers to watch on both sides. Purdue receiver Xavier Townsend, an Iowa State transfer from last season, already has career highs with 41 catches and 438 yards.
Freshman kicker Jacobo Echeverria Lozano has been nearly automatic, ranking second in the country with 21 made field goals and missing just one kick all year. On the ground, Purdue’s Fame Ijeboi is second in the Big Ten in rushing touchdowns with 10, while quarterback Ryan Browne sits second in the conference with 2,260 passing yards.
Iowa has its own weapon in the return game. Braeden Jackson is one of four players in the country with multiple return touchdowns this season.
The numbers get ugly for Purdue on defense. The Boilermakers are near the bottom of the Big Ten in just about every major category, ranking 17th in scoring defense at 32.3 points allowed per game, last in yards per game allowed at 415.4, 17th in yards per carry allowed at 5.2 and last in third down percentage allowed at 47.5.
Saturday night will also be Iowa’s fourth night game of the season, and the Hawkeyes have won the first three against Iowa State, Washington and Northwestern.
One more note from Purdue’s roster: defensive end Jeremy Lewis won a NJCAA National Championship with Iowa Western in 2025.
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