Purdue doesn’t get many chances to point to a Big Ten game and see something that looks genuinely manageable. That’s what puts Maryland’s Nov. 7 trip to West Lafayette in a different category for Barry Odom’s team.
This is the kind of matchup Purdue has to cash in on. The Boilermakers are still trying to build momentum in Odom’s second season, and the conference slate is not exactly handing out breaks. When a home game lines up against an opponent dealing with its own pressure, that’s the spot Purdue needs to seize.
CBS Sports college football analyst Brad Crawford pegged Maryland as Purdue’s biggest trap game, and the warning is pretty clear: this one can look winnable on paper while still turning dangerous fast.
“The Boilermakers should view this as one of the few winnable Big Ten games on their schedule, but the Terrapins have enough athleticism and offensive firepower to punish a flat performance,” Crawford wrote.
That’s the tightrope here. Purdue can’t roll into this one assuming the breakthrough will just show up because the matchup says it should. Maryland still has enough speed on the perimeter and enough playmaking ability to make things uncomfortable if the Boilermakers come out flat.
For a program still trying to climb, the room for mistakes is tiny. A turnover, a missed tackle, a slow opening stretch - any of those can flip a game that should be there for the taking into a chase.
And Purdue hasn’t done enough yet to suggest it can simply dig out of a multiple-score hole against a team with explosive-play ability.
“Purdue cannot afford sloppy turnovers, missed tackles or another slow start against a program facing similar pressure to reach bowl eligibility,” Crawford wrote.
In Other News...
Purdue Suddenly Has Two Defensive Absences Fans Need To Watch
Purdues defense is dealing with a pair of absences at a time when every available body matters, especially in a linebacker room that does not have much margin for error. Barry Odom said defensive back Smiley Bradford has stepped away from football activities because of a personal matter, and there is no clear timetable for when he might return.
Anthony Specas situation looks much less open-ended, but it still leaves the Boilermakers short for the moment. The Penn State transfer is currently out and is expected back for the Week 1 game against Indiana State, which gives Purdue at least some reason for optimism as it tries to piece together a thinner-than-ideal defense heading into the season. [Read more 🡒]
Barry Odom Draws A Hard Line Purdue Fans Will Notice
Barry Odom has already signaled that he is willing to push back on one of college footballs newest eligibility twists. Purdues head coach came out against the NCAA ruling that lets former NFL players return to college under a new five-for-five setup, a policy that has opened the door for players with pro experience to re-enter the college game.
The ruling has immediate real-world effects, too, with former Ole Miss tight end DaeQuan Wright entering the transfer portal and potentially headed to LSU if he clears waivers. Odoms concern is not just about one player or one roster move, but about what this kind of change could mean for current college athletes and for the broader feel of the sport if more roster spots start tilting toward players who already had a chance at the next level. [Read more 🡒]
Which Purdue Newcomers Could Force Their Way Into Bigger Roles
Purdues depth chart already has a few names penciled in at wide receiver and defensive end, but the newcomers in those rooms still have a chance to make this fall interesting. TraMar Harris, now a sophomore receiver, has seen limited action so far and sits behind several established options, which makes his path more about patience and steady progress than immediate snaps.
At defensive end, Keyshawn Burgos brings a different kind of intrigue as a senior transfer from Virginia Tech who arrived after his former coach was fired. He enters a crowded competition where every rep matters, and Purdue will be watching closely to see whether his experience can separate him from the pack in one of the rosters more competitive position groups. [Read more 🡒]