Iowa’s Nov. 14 date with Purdue lands in that late-season window where the picture is usually clearer, and the Hawkeyes may like what they see when the Boilermakers come into view.
Purdue has been trying to claw its way back into the Big Ten conversation under head coach Barry Odom, but the results have been rough. The Boilermakers are 7-29 since their Big Ten Championship Game appearance in 2022, and they haven’t beaten a Big Ten opponent in 18 straight tries. That’s the backdrop for a team Iowa will face for the first time in three seasons.
The matchup history has been competitive enough over time - Iowa and Purdue have split plenty of battles across their 94-game series, with the Hawkeyes taking three of the last five - but the recent numbers around Purdue tell a different story. This is a program still searching for traction after back-to-back double-digit losing seasons.
Odom’s staff has made some moves to speed up the rebuild, including bringing back defensive coordinator Kevin Kane after Kane spent last season at Minnesota. The last time Kane was with Purdue, the defense was giving up nearly 40 points per game, which ranked third-worst in the country.
There is at least one proven piece on that side of the ball. Purdue kept linebacker Charles Correa, a major retention for Odom.
Correa earned All-Big Ten Honorable Mention recognition from both coaches and media last season after piling up 96 tackles, 7.5 tackles-for-loss and three sacks. He also had five games with double-digit tackles.
On offense, the Boilermakers are leaning heavily on transfers, but they did hold onto quarterback Ryan Browne as the starter. Browne played in all 12 games last season, throwing for 2,153 yards with nine touchdowns while adding 206 rushing yards and four scores on the ground. He even caught two passes for 11 yards and a touchdown.
The issue for Browne was consistency. He opened the year well, but the finish got shaky, with at least one interception in each of the final three games and three picks against USC. He ended the season with 10 interceptions.
Around him, Purdue’s offensive line, receivers and running backs are all built largely from transfers, including Minnesota running back Fame Ijeboi and Iowa State wide receiver Xavier Townsend. How quickly that group comes together will go a long way toward determining what Purdue looks like in 2026.
The Boilermakers need to find a path to four or five wins, and their nonconference slate includes Indiana State, Wake Forest and Notre Dame. For Iowa, the challenge is simple enough: by mid-November, the Hawkeyes should know exactly what kind of team they are facing.
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Carnegie has had a delayed start after missing time because of Team USA commitments and illness, but her presence gives Iowa a different kind of backcourt option as it tries to reset. She has already sounded upbeat about what the Hawkeyes can become, and for a team looking to turn the page, adding a proven guard who can create offense is a meaningful first step. [Read more 🡒]