With Purdue set to face Wake Forest in less than 24 hours, the latest reader check-in offered one more look back at the Boilermakers’ opening-game showing against Indiana State - and whether it actually moved the needle on season expectations.
The answer from most readers was pretty simple: not much changed.
After Purdue’s Week 1 performance, 76% of respondents said their expectations for the rest of the season stayed right where they were. That was the clear majority, and it tracked with a fan base that seemed unwilling to overreact after one game.
Another 22% said their expectations dropped after seeing the Boilermakers against the Sycamores. Only 2% said Week 1 made them more optimistic.
That split followed an earlier grading of Purdue’s opener that leaned heavily toward the middle. In the prior poll, readers were asked to judge the Boilermakers after a game that featured a rough first half, a strong third quarter, and a quieter fourth quarter once substitutions came into play.
The result was a C grade from 61% of voters. Another 21% gave Purdue a B, while 14% landed on a D.
Just 4% handed out an F, and no one gave the Boilermakers an A.
That Week 1 grade helps explain why the expectation poll came back the way it did. A C against a game that was supposed to be manageable wasn’t exactly encouraging, but it also wasn’t the kind of showing that forces a full reset on how people view the season. For most readers, it was enough to hold steady.
There was also a small but notable group that went the other direction and raised expectations after the opener. The only explanation offered was that Fame Ejiobe may have impressed them enough to buy in hard. However you slice it, those are the outliers.
Now the focus shifts to Wake Forest, with Purdue listed as a 2.5-point underdog and the over/under sitting at 49.5.
In Other News...
Purdue Let A Winnable Game Slip Away For One Frustrating Reason
Purdue came out with enough early rhythm to suggest it could control the night against Wake Forest, but the bigger issue quickly became finishing drives. The Boilermakers kept moving the ball, only to settle for field goals far too often, and a missed 49-yard attempt only deepened the sense that a game within reach was slipping through their hands.
Even with the offense fighting back in the second half and Fame Ijeboi providing a major spark, Purdue could never quite close the gap it might have built with a more ruthless red-zone finish. Ijebois production gave the Boilermakers something to lean on, but the frustrating part for Purdue was simpler than any single playcall: too many promising possessions ended with three points instead of seven. [Read more 🡒]
Purdue Faces An Early Barry Odom Test That Could Shape September
Purdues non-conference meeting with Wake Forest carries more weight than a typical September tune-up, especially this early in Barry Odoms tenure. The Boilermakers have already spent enough time sorting out their identity, and this is the kind of game that can help clarify whether the progress is real or still in its early stages. For players and coaches alike, it is a chance to show that the program is ready to handle a test that feels bigger than the calendar suggests.
Ryan Browne is among the names drawing attention as Purdue tries to steady itself and build something that lasts beyond one Saturday. A loss would not end the season, but it would leave the Boilermakers searching for answers and trying to avoid an early hole they can ill afford. A win would do more than brighten the record - it would give Odoms group a much better platform heading into the rest of September, with the pressure of proving it can carry this start forward. [Read more 🡒]
Purdue Defense Faces A Stress Test Wake Forest Just Set Up
Wake Forest arrived in Week 1 with an offense that looked more balanced than explosive, but Gio Lopez gave the Deacons plenty to build on. Against Akron, he pushed the ball around efficiently, leaned on a spread of receiving options and even added a little on the ground, while the offense as a whole showed enough rhythm to suggest it can be more than a one-man operation. The penalty issues were a reminder that cleaner opponents will demand more discipline, though, especially now that the schedule gets less forgiving.
Purdues defense is the unit about to find out how real that opening-week progress was. The Boilermakers just watched Ryan Browne slice through Indiana State in their own opener, and Wake Forests ability to create balance without leaning too hard on one phase could make this a more serious test than the box score from last week suggests. The Deacons were able to limit Akron to 305 total yards, but matching up with Purdue brings a different level of pace and pressure, and the next step for Wakes offense may tell plenty about both teams. [Read more 🡒]