Purdue’s first three games have laid out a pretty clear split screen: one side is an offense that looks dangerous and efficient, the other is a defense that keeps handing back momentum.
That combination has the Boilermakers sitting at 1-2 heading into Saturday’s home game against Notre Dame, even if the record could look different after close calls against Wake Forest and UCLA. Before Barry Odom’s team gets into the second quarter of the season, the early verdict is pretty simple - there’s plenty to like, plenty to fix, and a few things that are downright ugly.
Start with quarterback Ryan Browne, because he’s been the biggest reason Purdue’s offense has come alive. He’s taken a major step since last season and now ranks second nationally in passing yards per game at 341.3. He’s the only Big Ten quarterback to throw for more than 300 yards in each of the first three games.
The numbers are impressive enough, but the decision-making has been just as important. Browne has thrown only one interception, a late pick against UCLA in the fourth quarter, while piling up seven touchdown passes and completing 73.3% of his throws.
A lot of that growth has come from the group around him. Purdue finally has dependable receivers, and that has changed the feel of the passing game.
Chauncey Magwood, Xavier Townsend and Asaad Waseem have been the most consistent targets so far. Waseem leads the team with 321 receiving yards, Townsend has 267 and Magwood has 110.
Other receivers have chipped in with big catches too, and the drops that often kill drives haven’t been much of an issue.
That’s helped Purdue turn short completions into bigger gains, which is a big part of why the offense has looked so explosive.
Special teams have also been a strength. True freshman kicker Jacobo Echeverria Lozano has been steady, going perfect on extra points and hitting 7-of-8 field goal attempts. Punter Dylan Drennan has been solid as well, averaging 45.4 yards on five punts, and he also delivered a huge fourth-down conversion on a fake punt against UCLA in Week 3.
The only real blemish there has been penalties on returns. If Purdue cleans those up, that unit could be even better.
The defense, though, is where the problems keep stacking up. Purdue has shown it can generate pressure at times, especially against Wake Forest and in stretches against UCLA, but it hasn’t come close to doing it consistently enough.
Jeremy Lewis, Breeon Ishmail and Trey Smith have stood out, but the pass rush needs to last all four quarters. Even more troubling, opposing quarterbacks have repeatedly escaped and turned broken plays into meaningful yardage.
The third-down defense has been the clearest disaster. Purdue is allowing opponents to convert 54.05% of the time, which ranks last among Power Four teams and 135th nationally. UCLA was especially brutal, going 11-of-14 on third down, including seven conversions on third-and-7 or longer.
Kevin Kane has a major problem to solve there, and fast.
The run defense hasn’t held up either. Purdue did a good job against Indiana State in Week 1, though Elijah Owens still ran for 60 yards.
Since then, the Boilermakers have been gashed. Wake Forest ran for 186 yards and three touchdowns, and UCLA piled up 369 yards and four touchdowns.
The quarterbacks Purdue has faced so far - Owens, Gio Lopez and Nico Iamaleava - have all rushed for at least 55 yards against the Boilermakers.
Fame Ijeboi has done his part on offense and has looked strong through three weeks, even if UCLA limited him a bit more than Wake Forest did. He’s brought speed, power and elusiveness to the backfield and has produced a number of big runs. But too often he’s had to make something out of nothing because the blocking in front of him hasn’t held up.
That’s a familiar issue for Purdue. It showed up last season, and it still hasn’t been fixed.
The Boilermakers have already given up 48 plays of 10 yards or more, the most in the Big Ten and 125th nationally. They’ve also allowed six plays of 40 yards or more, making them one of only two Power Four teams in that category alongside Florida State.
The takeaway numbers are just as disappointing. Kane talked during the offseason about being more aggressive and forcing turnovers, but Purdue has only one through three games: Don Slaughter’s pick-six against Indiana State in the opener. That puts the Boilermakers among just 10 teams in college football with one turnover or fewer so far.
For Purdue, the story after three weeks is all too familiar: the offense has enough juice to keep games interesting, but the defense keeps creating too many openings for opponents.
In Other News...
Barry Odom Is Already Facing A Purdue Question Fans Hate
Barry Odom is already dealing with the kind of offseason scrutiny that follows a 2-10 season, and for Purdue fans, the part that stings most is the defense. The Boilermakers spent too much of last season on their heels, and Odom has not tried to duck the responsibility, taking accountability for the results as he tries to reset the program.
Now the question is how hands-on he plans to be on that side of the ball moving forward. Odom has said he intends to be more involved with the defense, which only adds to the attention around a unit that needs a clear turn for Purdue to move forward. For now, there has been no official change or announcement, just a coach under pressure trying to show the fix is already underway. [Read more 🡒]
Purdue Opens Practice With A Few Big Questions Already Looming
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On the court, the staff is already nudging the team toward some adjustments, with a possible increase in three-point shooting and more defensive pressure among the areas being explored. There is also a genuine battle taking shape at point guard, where Omer Mayer and Luke Ertel are both trying to make their case as Purdue sorts out how it wants to look once the season arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Purdue Left A Familiar Frontcourt Option On The Table For Now
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Kaufman-Renn believes he has another year available under the NCAAs new five-for-five rule, and other programs have shown interest. Purdue, though, has not been among them, leaving the Boilermakers to wait on another potential answer in Enzo Shahrvin, whose eligibility decision could help address the need for a more physical post presence. For a team that has long valued toughness around the rim, the next move in the frontcourt still matters. [Read more 🡒]