Purdue walks into Friday night with momentum and a chance to keep climbing. The Boilermakers have won two straight Big Ten games, and now they get Washington, a team that has dropped three in a row and opened conference play at 0-3.
That makes this a real opportunity for Purdue, but Washington still arrives with reasons to fight. The Huskies have only three wins, and those came against Washington State, Utah State and Eastern Washington.
They do not have a quality win yet, which has only added to the pressure as they try to steady themselves in West Lafayette. Even so, Purdue should expect Washington to come out swinging.
The biggest problem for the Huskies has been their slow starts. In Big Ten play, they’ve been outscored 30-7 in the first quarter, including a 14-0 hole against common opponent Minnesota. That is exactly the kind of trend Purdue can exploit, because the Boilermakers have looked their best when they get ahead early.
Washington has also struggled to get anything going on its opening possessions. The Huskies have scored on their opening drive only once all season, and that came against Eastern Washington.
Purdue, by contrast, has scored on five of its six opening drives. That gives the Boilermakers a clear opening to seize control right away, though they’ll need touchdowns instead of settling for field goals to make the most of those chances.
Quarterback uncertainty only makes the task tougher for Washington. Demond Williams is expected to miss Friday’s game, which removes a dual-threat option who can hurt defenses with his arm and his legs.
Junior Elijah Brown has taken first-team reps this week and is expected to start. Brown showed last week against Iowa that he can move the ball through the air, going 28 of 39 for 251 yards and three touchdowns.
It wasn’t enough to erase an early deficit, but it was a productive outing.
Brown is not Williams, though, and Purdue can’t assume the change at quarterback means the passing game disappears. The junior doesn’t bring the same running threat, but his performance against Iowa was a reminder that he can operate effectively if the offense gives him room.
Friday also brings Ryan Walters back to Ross-Ade Stadium. The former Purdue head coach now coordinates Washington’s defense, and his return adds another layer to a game that already has plenty riding on it for the Boilermakers. A win would give Purdue three straight while putting another spotlight on the coach whose time in West Lafayette ended with the program in a difficult spot.
Walters has done well with Washington’s defense, which is ranked 48th nationally and is allowing 330.3 yards per game. That’s a sharp contrast to the 400.7 yards per game Purdue’s defense is giving up under Kevin Kane. Purdue has faced a tougher schedule, but the matchup still gives its offense a real test, especially against Walters’ five-man front.
Washington’s most dangerous offensive weapon may be a freshman. Brian Bonner Jr. has given the Huskies a lift in a difficult season, rushing for 232 yards on 51 carries and averaging 4.5 yards per attempt, though he has not scored yet. Purdue has its own standout in the backfield with Fame Ijeobi, who has rushed for 549 yards at 4.7 yards per carry and scored nine touchdowns.
With Williams likely out, Washington could lean even harder on Bonner to carry the offense. That puts more pressure on Purdue to shut down the run and avoid letting the freshman turn into the kind of game-changer that can flip the night.
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Purdues Turnaround Has Fans Arguing About One Surging Unit
Purdues two-game winning streak has changed the conversation around the program, and it has also made it harder to isolate which part of the team deserves the most credit. The defense has been trending in the right direction, the offense has looked far more functional, and staff members have pointed to coaching adjustments as a big reason the Boilermakers have started to look like a team that can hold up against a demanding schedule of ranked opponents.
Ryan Browne has been one of the biggest reasons for that offensive lift, giving Purdue a steadier presence at quarterback while the line has played with much better control up front. The Boilermakers are still sorting out exactly how this turnaround should be defined, but the recent stretch has given them something they have lacked for much of the season: proof that the pieces are starting to fit together. [Read more 🡒]