Purdue finally got what it had been waiting on for nearly three years: a Big Ten win.
That alone was enough to make Week 5 feel a little different. There were other results across the conference, sure, but Purdue snapping that drought was the headline that cut through everything else. The Boilermakers beat Illinois 24-17, and after all the near misses, blowouts and ugly Saturdays along the way, that one win was enough to change the mood.
The rest of the top of the league mostly held serve. Indiana stayed perfect by rolling past Rutgers 47-15, while Ohio State went into Iowa City and handled the Hawkeyes 31-14 in what looked like the most complete win of the week.
Oregon and UCLA both had bye weeks, but both remain in the mix near the top of the board, with Oregon recovering from the Oklahoma State loss and UCLA still unbeaten. Nebraska also kept moving at 5-0 after beating Maryland 48-23, though the Huskers had to work through some trouble before a long pick-6 helped swing things.
Northwestern was one of the loudest risers after opening its new stadium with a 34-13 win over Penn State. Minnesota also made noise, taking down Michigan 20-14 at home for the first time in 49 years.
USC stayed in the hunt by outlasting Washington 25-21, using a second-half fumble-six to flip the game. Wisconsin, meanwhile, looked sharp in a 31-3 win over Michigan State.
Indiana remained at No. 1 in the rankings after its 47-15 win over Rutgers, with Ohio State right behind after smothering Iowa. Oregon and UCLA both stayed put during their bye weeks, and Nebraska climbed into the conversation with its 48-23 win over Maryland. The Huskers’ next test against Indiana now looks like a real measuring-stick game.
Northwestern jumped up after its big day against Penn State, and the 413 rushing yards the Wildcats piled up made that result impossible to ignore. Minnesota also surged after its win over Michigan, with the note that the Gophers had beaten the Wolverines at home for the first time in 49 years.
Iowa took the biggest tumble near the top after losing to Ohio State. Washington also slid after falling at USC and is now 0-2 not long after being ranked in the top 25. Penn State dropped hard after getting pushed around by Northwestern, and Michigan’s latest loss produced another familiar-looking 20-14 scoreline.
Maryland’s loss to Nebraska kept it stuck near the bottom of the middle tier, while Illinois drew a harsh line after letting Purdue’s defense look strong. Michigan State stayed buried after Wisconsin beat the Spartans 31-3, and the concern there is simple: the Spartans may be getting worse every week.
Purdue, though, gets the kind of move that only comes with relief and a little bit of overreaction. One conference win was enough to push the Boilermakers up the board, and after nearly three years of waiting, that feels about right.
In Other News...
Purdue Just Found The Big Ten Formula It Has To Repeat
Purdue left Champaign with the kind of Big Ten win that tends to travel well, because it didnt need to be flashy to matter. In a 24-17 conference victory over Illinois, the Boilermakers matched the Illini yard for yard at 345 apiece and still found a way to come out on top, doing the small things better in a game where every possession seemed to carry extra weight.
The difference came in the red zone, where Purdue cashed in on all four chances and Illinois managed only two. A failed fourth-down try, a penalty that wiped out a touchdown and a late interception all helped tilt the afternoon the Boilermakers way, and it left Illinois at 2-3 overall and 0-2 in league play. For Purdue, it looked like a blueprint worth keeping close: stay efficient, avoid the self-inflicted mistakes and let the opponent do the slipping. [Read more 🡒]
Purdue Just Gave Illinois Fans A Loss They Wont Forget
Illinois thought homecoming had a chance to be comfortable, but Purdue turned it into a reminder that Big Ten Saturdays can still get sideways in a hurry. The Boilermakers walked out with a 24-17 win, their first Power Four victory since November 2023, and snapped a 19-game conference losing streak in the process. Ryan Browne gave Purdue the steadier offense, throwing for 255 yards and a touchdown while the Boilermakers did enough to keep Illinois chasing the game.
For Illinois, the bigger frustration was how hard it was to find any rhythm at home. The offense never settled in, with inconsistent execution and penalties piling up at the wrong times, and the matchup also came with a fresh start on defense as Roger Cooper made his debut as coordinator. Instead of a rebound performance, the Illini ended up leaving with a loss that will linger well beyond a single afternoon. [Read more 🡒]
Purdue Finally Has A Few Reasons For Real Hope After Illinois
Purdues trip to Memorial Stadium produced something the Boilermakers had not felt in a long time: a Big Ten win, and the kind that can steady a season already full of pressure. The 24-17 victory over Illinois snapped a 19-game conference losing streak and lifted Purdue to 2-3, with Antonio Harris scoring through the air, Correa making his presence felt on defense and freshman kicker Echeverria Lozano cashing all three field goals to help the Boilermakers keep the game in hand.
There was more to like beyond the final score, too. Freshman offensive lineman Schrieber made his first start and helped the protection hold up, while Saunders was active in the back end and led the team in tackles for loss even with a few penalties mixed in. After so much frustration, Purdue finally has a performance it can point to as evidence there is something to build on, even if the bigger question is whether this can become a turning point or just a rare bright spot. [Read more 🡒]