Purdue came up just short on Saturday, but the box score still told a story worth paying attention to. In a 38-36 loss to Wake Forest at Ross-Ade Stadium, the Boilermakers showed real offensive punch, even as the same defensive problems kept showing up in the wrong moments.
The biggest positive was simple: Purdue moved the ball. The Boilermakers topped 30 points against a Power Four opponent for the first time since Oct. 12, 2024, when they lost to Illinois in overtime. That alone marked a noticeable step forward for an offense that had been waiting to break through.
The day started with a near-perfect opening drive, and Fame Ijeobi helped set the tone. He ended up accounting for three of Purdue’s touchdowns and continued to look like a player on the rise. Purdue scored on five of its eight drives in regulation, then added two more touchdowns in overtime.
Ryan Browne was right there at the center of it. The junior finished with 329 passing yards, one touchdown and zero turnovers, and he did a strong job distributing the ball to nine different Boilermakers. Just as important, he handled pressure well and kept the offense out of trouble when things started to tighten.
That kind of control matters, especially when the defense is still trying to find answers. Purdue has now allowed quarterbacks to run wild in back-to-back weeks. Indiana State’s Elijah Owens rushed for 60 yards in Week 1, and Wake Forest quarterback Gio Lopez added 59 more on Saturday, pushing the total to 119 rushing yards by quarterbacks against Purdue through two games.
Lopez’s legs repeatedly rescued Wake Forest when plays broke down, and that’s an issue Kevin Kane will have to clean up as Purdue moves deeper into the schedule.
The pass rush also needs a jump start. Purdue got to Lopez only twice, and Iowa Western Community College transfer Jeremy Lewis was involved in both sacks.
But that wasn’t enough pressure, especially with former Georgia edge rushers C.J. Madden and Elo Modozie still not producing the kind of disruption the Boilermakers were expecting.
Purdue was inches away from ending the longest active losing streak against Power Four opponents in college football, but instead Wake Forest became the 21st straight Power Four loss for the Boilermakers. Barry Odom will be trying to end that drought this season, and Saturday’s result showed how close Purdue is to turning the corner, even if the record still says otherwise.
The next stretch won’t make things easier, with UCLA, Notre Dame and Illinois coming up. But if Purdue can keep getting this version of Browne and this level of offensive efficiency, there’s reason to believe the wins will follow.
In Other News...
Purdue Let A Winnable Game Slip Away For Two Brutal Reasons
Purdue had its chances in a 38-36 loss to Wake Forest, and the frustration came from how close the Boilermakers were to turning it into a good road win. Late in regulation, the offense got all the way to a 1st-and-goal from the 8-yard line and still came away with only a field goal, leaving points on the table in a game that was there to be won.
The bigger gut punch arrived in double overtime, when the defense gave up a 4th-and-15 conversion that helped seal the loss. Purdue's coach and defensive coordinator both pointed to areas that need improvement and took responsibility for some of the breakdowns, an acknowledgment that should resonate in a game where the margin was so thin. [Read more 🡒]
Former Purdue Standout Made The Loudest NFL Statement In Week 1
Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season gave Purdue fans a little of everything, from impact defense to a reminder that even a solid opener can come with a few rough edges. George Karlaftis helped Kansas City get past Denver with three tackles and steady pressure on the quarterback, while Derrick Barnes was active in Detroits overtime win, piling up six tackles, a sack and an interception in a game that asked plenty of its defense.
Tyrone Tracy Jr. also got his first work of the year in the Giants win over Dallas, though his night was quieter and came with a fumble on two carries for 14 yards. For Purdue, the early snapshot was encouraging overall, with former Boilermakers showing up in meaningful moments across the league, even if the full Week 1 story still has room to develop. [Read more 🡒]
Purdue Faces A Dangerous Week 3 Test It Hasn't Seen Yet
Purdue heads into Week 3 with a defensive problem it has not really been asked to solve yet. UCLA has leaned on a rushing attack that has been productive through its first two games, with Wayne Knight and Anthony Woods helping drive the ground game, and that creates a different sort of stress than the Boilermakers have faced so far.
The matchup gets even trickier with Nico Iamaleava expected to play, because Purdue has been solid against more traditional rushing attacks but has had trouble when quarterbacks can threaten the edge and extend plays. This game will show whether the Boilermakers can do both parts of the job - slow UCLA on the ground and keep its quarterback from turning broken plays into gains. [Read more 🡒]