LIVE BLOG: Follow Saturday's Purdue-Minnesota Game in Real Time; News & Analysis
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Purdue Boilermakers are back at home looking get to 4-1 on the season with a win against the Minnesota on Saturday at Ross-Ade Stadium.
Purdue won 13-9 last week against Illinois, and Minnesota comes in at 2-2. The game is scheduled to kickoff at noon ET. Here's a look at how to watch the game, including TV information and point spreads on the game. CLICK HERE
Here's how our LIVE BLOG works. We'll keep you updated on everything that goes on in the game in real time, keeping you up to date on injuries, scoring plays and trends. Throughout the game, I'll provide my own analysis as well.
The most recent items are at the top, so simply refresh the article to see the latest updates.
It's a big game for the Boilermakers, and both teams have taken the field. Let's have some fun:
3:09 p.m. ET, FINAL — Aidan O'Connell throws an interception, intended for Broc Thompson, that will end the game. Minnesota escapes Ross-Ade with a 20-13 victory. Purdue with four trips to the red zone and only 13 points to show for it.
3:05 p.m. ET — Purdue will have one last chance to tie the game after Minnesota adds a field goal to its score. 20-13 with 1:46 left, and the Boilermakers have no timeouts.
2:36 p.m. ET — The Purdue offense strung together some excellent plays to keep the drive alive. Milton Wright made a 27-yard grab and tip-toed his way for the completion. On fourth down, Garrett Miller was the beneficiary of a pass from Aidan O'Connell.
But one again, the Boilermakers stalled inside the red zone. On third-and-four, O'Connell hurled a pass toward the left sideline, intended for Wright, but it fell incomplete.
Kicker Mitchell Fineran ended the drive with a missed 36-yard field goal. Minnesota still leads 17-13.
2:26 p.m. ET, END Q3 — Purdue's defense comes up big at the end of the third quarter. The team forces a third-and-long situation, and Jalen Graham combines with George Karlaftis for a loss of six yards.
The Boilermaker offense should get the ball in favorable field position to start the fourth quarter. Minnesota still holds a 17-13 lead.
2:17 p.m. ET — Aidan O'Connell is holding the ball far too long looking for big plays down the field. Minnesota is bringing pressure on the quarterback, and O'Connell has had to eat four sacks on the afternoon.
The Boilermakers are coming out to punt for the second drive in a row.
1:47 p.m. ET — The Purdue secondary was caught looking in the backfield on the first play from scrimmage in the second half. Tanner Morgan threw deep to wide receiver Mike Brown-Stephens for a 54-yard gain.
The Golden Gophers ran twice to get into the end zone and take a lead early in the third quarter. They lead the Boilermakers 17-13 with 13:50 left in the third quarter.
1:22 p.m. ET, END Q2 — Purdue rolls down the field, once again getting into the red zone and settles for a field goal. It was an impressive drive to end the half that included a trio of plays that went for 10 yards or more.
🔥 @BoilerFootball's Garrett Miller with the hurdle 😳 pic.twitter.com/VvKmAG5GwM
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 2, 2021
The Boilermakers are up to 224 yards of total offense and have a 13-10 lead heading into the locker room. Minnesota will receive to start the second half.
1:11 p.m. ET — Minnesota has capitalized on some big plays in the passing game. Tanner Morgan fired a deep pass to wide receiver Mike Brown-Stephens for a 51-yard gain.
The play helped set up the Golden Gophers inside Boiler territory, but the defense held strong and only allowed a field goal attempt. Minnesota ties the game 10-10 after a five-play drive.
Purdue will get the ball with 4:47 left in the first half.
12:43 p.m. ET — The Boilermakers call King Doerue's number to pick up the first down on fourth and one. He leapt over the pile to gain two yards.
Two plays later, Aidan O'Connell fired a perfect throw to wide receiver Milton Wright in the end zone. The seven-yard touchdown capped a 14-play, 91-yard drive to take a 10-7 lead with 13:40 left to play in the second quarter.
TOUCHDOWN 🙌
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 2, 2021
Milton Wright gives @BoilerFootball the lead 🔥 pic.twitter.com/hsaM8jLZVO
12:39 p.m. ET, END Q1 — Purdue is putting together yet another solid drive that is starting to slow inside the red zone. Minnesota currently leads 7-3 at the start of the second quarter, and the Boilermakers are faced with fourth and one from the 11-yard line.
12:25 p.m. ET — Purdue kicker Mitchell Fineran comes in after a 10-play, 56-yard drive for a 36-yard field goal.
Minnesota leads 7-3 with 6:07 left in the first quarter.
A promising drive for Purdue stalls inside the red zone. O'Connell started with a 32-yard completion to David Bell. King Doerue, who already has six carries for 32 yards, is picking positive yards on the ground as well.
However, O'Connell missed a huge opportunity to tie the game, overthrowing Bell who was streaking toward the back left corner of the end zone. On the next play, Minnesota gets the sack, forcing fourth down and the field goal attempt.
Right guard Tyler Witt was injured on the play and had to be tended to.
12:08 p.m. ET — Minnesota starts off with a score on its first offensive drive. Quarterback Tanner Morgan passed deep to wide receiver Chris Autman-Bell for a 32-yard touchdown.
Autman-Bell was the only receiver racing down the field on thep play, covered by cornerback Jamari Brown. Brown was in excellent position to make a play on the ball, but the Golden Gophers' pass-catcher made a huge grab in the end zone.
Minnesota up 7-0 early with 10:03 left to play in the first quarter.
12:05 p.m. ET — The rain is starting to come down a big, which certainly doesn't favor Purdue. With Aidan O'Connell under center, the Boilermakers ran seven plays before the Golden Gophers came into the backfield and stripped the football.
Minnesota takes over from the 44-yard line.
12:00 p.m. ET — Minnesota wins the toss and elects to defer to the second half. Purdue will begin the game on offense.
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D.J. Fezler is a staff writer for BoilermakersCountry.com. Hailing from The Region, he is from Cedar Lake in Northwest Indiana and has spent the last two years covering Purdue football and basketball.