Purdue Football Enters Week as Clear Underdog in Road Matchup With No. 21 Minnesota
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue football is 2-2 following a 28-26 win last week against Florida Atlantic, marking the end of its nonconference schedule. The team jumps right into Big Ten play with a tough road matchup against No. 21 Minnesota.
Recent history is on the side of the Golden Gophers, who have won the last four games against the Boilermakers. Purdue's last win in the series came during the 2017 season when it earned a 31-17 victory at Ross-Ade Stadium in coach Jeff Brohm's first year at the helm.
Entering Saturday's matchup, the Boilermakers are a 10.5-point underdog, according to the SI Sportsbook. The over/under was set at 53.5 points. The game is scheduled to kick off at noon ET inside Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
"We're definitely excited to go on the road and play a really good football team that's currently ranked, and deservedly so," Brohm said during his Monday press conference. "No one's really come close to them, they've dominated in four games. When people have scored, it's been against the backups at the end of the game. This team is really playing efficient football right now."
In its undefeated start to the season, Minnesota has an average margin of victory of 39.75 points per game through four games. It has held its opponents to just six points per contest.
The Golden Gophers currently boast the top-ranked rushing offense in the Big Ten, recording 294.5 yards per game on the ground. They've amassed at least 485 yards of total offense in all four of its victories this season.
Minnesota is coming off a dominant 34-7 victory over Michigan State on the road Saturday in which sixth-year senior quarterback Tanner Morgan registered 268 yards passing and three touchdowns through the air. But this team's bread and butter is its rushing attack.
Sixth-year senior running back Mohamed Ibrahim, despite returning from a ruptured Achilles tendon suffered at the beginning of last season, has recorded 13 straight games of 100 yards or more on the ground dating back to 2019. He has eight touchdowns on the year so far.
"The sound running game, once you start to want to commit more guys they're going to hit you on a deep pass over the top," Brohm said. "If they're allowed to do that, then they're just going to continue to roll. And at the same time, people underestimate their defense. Their defense has been lights out and is shutting people down."
Stories Related to Purdue Football
- What Jeff Brohm Said Ahead of Matchup With Minnesota: Purdue coach Jeff Brohm met with the media on Monday ahead of the team's road game against Minnesota. The Golden Gophers entered the national rankings this week after rolling to a 4-0 start to the season in dominating fashion. CLICK HERE
- Minnesota QB Tanner Morgan Named Co-Big Ten Player of the Week: Minnesota quarterback Tanner Morgan completed 23 of his 26 passes for 268 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-7 win over Michigan State. CLICK HERE
- Minnesota Enters Top 25 Ahead of Game Against Purdue: Purdue football resumes Big Ten play next week on the road against No. 21 Minnesota. The Golden Gophers are 4-0 on the season and are coming off a huge victory over the Michigan State Spartans. CLICK HERE
- Charlie Jones Makes 'Biggest Play of the Game' vs. Florida Atlantic: Purdue wide receiver Charlie Jones registered nine catches for 59 yards receiving and two touchdowns in a 28-26 win over Florida Atlantic. He had just one catch in the second half, which went for 14 yards to move the chains on fourth down. CLICK HERE
- Purdue Wins Homecoming Game 28-26 Against Florida Atlantic: Against Florida Atlantic, backup quarterback Austin Burton made his second career start and threw three touchdown passes for Purdue. Running back Dylan Downing also registered 113 yards and a touchdown on the ground in the win. CLICK HERE
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.