Indiana Lets 10-Point Fourth Quarter Lead Slip Away in 35-31 Loss at Purdue
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Like so many times this season, Indiana faltered when it mattered most.
The Hoosiers held a 10-point lead heading into the fourth quarter but allowed Purdue to score 17 points in the final 15 minutes. Their 35-31 loss at Purdue was another case of failing to finish games strong, something that’s become all too common the last three seasons.
With this loss, Indiana finished the season with only one conference win and the Big Ten’s worst record, 3-9.
"Disappointing is not even the right word,” Indiana coach Tom Allen said. “It's just devastating."
The first half came with some good and some bad from redshirt freshman quarterback Brendan Sorsby. His first pass attempt sailed high of his intended receiver, which was hard to decipher as Donaven McCulley and E.J. Williams Jr. converged around the middle of the field. Purdue freshman Dillon Thieneman returned the interception to the Indiana 12-yard line, but Ben Freehill missed a 30-yard field goal attempt.
After Purdue and Indiana traded six combined punts, Sorsby began to redeem himself. He drove the Hoosiers into Purdue territory with an 11-yard completion to McCulley and an 11-yard rush on his own. Then on play-action, he hit DeQuece Carter in stride across the middle for a 33-yard touchdown.
The scoring picked up, as Purdue responded with a 33-yard touchdown from George Burhenn. Indiana answered right back. Kick returner Jaylin Lucas ran the ball back to the 35-yard line, and Purdue gave the Hoosiers an additional 15 yards on a late hit. A few plays later, Sorsby threw a crisp back-shoulder ball to McCulley for a 10-yard touchdown. Despite an otherwise disappointing season, the developing connection between those two has been a bright spot in the final month.
But right as Indiana gained momentum and forced another three-and-out, Sorsby gave it right back. He slung the ball deep down the sideline to Andison Coby, who deflected the ball to Purdue’s Cam Allen for an interception, despite never looking back for the ball as it fell to Coby.
On Indiana’s following drive, on a similar throw from Sorsby but to the opposite sideline, Purdue intercepted him a third time. McCulley had a step on the cornerback, but Sorsby didn’t see the safety, Thieneman, sprinting over the top to snag his second interception of the half.
The up-and-down first half performance was indicative of the nature of Sorsby’s first year at the helm. Starting seven games and playing in 10, Sorsby finished with a 57.2 completion percentage, 1,587 yards, 15 touchdowns and five interceptions.
Purdue took its first lead of the game early in the second half with a 33-yard field goal, improving an otherwise dismal kicking season to 6-for-15.
As the reigning AP first-team All-American kick returner, Lucas entered the year with high hopes to be a game-changing player for Indiana. But defenses have largely bottled him up. He broke through in the final game, though, getting his first kick-return touchdown of the season. Lucas found a hole near the 20-yard line and left the Boilermakers in the dust for a 100-yard return, giving Indiana a 21-15 lead.
The game turned in Indiana’s favor after a costly special teams mistake by Purdue. Indiana was lined up to punt on 4th and 5, but Purdue was whistled for offsides, giving Indiana a fresh set of downs.
Sorsby immediately hit Williams for a 24-yard gain, then picked up 11 yards with his legs, which got an additional 15 yards on a Purdue unnecessary roughness penalty. The Hoosiers ultimately capitalized on two killer Purdue penalties with a 9-yard swing pass touchdown to Josh Henderson, putting Indiana on top 28-18.
But right as Indiana started to take control of the game, it suffered a blatant defensive breakdown. Purdue quarterback Hudson Card faked a dive up the middle, then threw the ball to a wide-open Devin Mockobee for a 38-yard touchdown. The Hoosiers bit hard on the fake because Card shredded them for 85 rushing yards and a touchdown Saturday, but they forgot about Mockobee coming out of the backfield, trimming Indiana’s lead to 28-25.
En route to a game-tying field goal, Card dodged several pass rushers in a drive aided by more missed tackles by Indiana. The defensive line brought pressure, but Card slipped away in inexcusable fashion. Indiana answered on the next possession, regaining the lead at 31-28 with 5:09 left.
"I have no words,” Allen said. “I've never seen that many missed opportunities on sacks in one game."
Purdue Boilermakers quarterback Hudson Card (1) breaks the tackle of Indiana Hoosiers linebacker Jacob Mangum-Farrar (7) on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023 at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind. Purdue won 35-31.
Alex Martin/Journal and Courier / USA TODAY NETWORK
The defensive struggles continued, as Indiana cornerback Kobee Minor simply fell down when attempting to change direction, which led to a 44-yard gain for Deion Burks. Card capitalized shortly after with a 10-yard touchdown run to give Purdue a 35-31 lead with 2:39 remaining.
With one final chance to win the game, Sorsby was sacked immediately on 4th and 1. He knelt on the turf for a second in disappointment, knowing the season was over.
The No. 1 question on Indiana fans’ minds – for most of the season, but especially now – is Allen’s job status. Through seven full seasons and the 2016 bowl game, Allen has a 33-49 overall record and an 18-43 record in Big Ten play.
Allen led the Hoosiers to the Gator Bowl in 2019 and the Outback Bowl in 2020 as part of a 14-7 stretch across two seasons, including AFCA Coach of the Year honors in 2020. But everything collapsed from there, and the Hoosiers are 9-27 across the last three seasons.
Saturday’s style of loss became the norm this season. Indiana had chances to defeat Louisville, Penn State, Illinois, Michigan State, and Purdue but got outplayed in the fourth quarter of each game.
It’s no easy decision, though, as Allen would be owed a roughly $20 million buyout. Not only is it expensive to simply get rid of him, but hiring a new coach, funding NIL, and renovating facilities for one of college football’s historically worst programs comes with a steep price, too.
Indiana athletic director Scott Dolson must decide Allen’s fate soon, as transfer portal mayhem and the coaching carousel starts immediately.
