- Purdue - average 29.8 points on offense in Big Ten play. They have scored at least 20 points against Iowa, since 2015. In 2014, Iowa went into West Lafayette and beat Purdue 24-10. Very important win that season, as Iowa ended the regular season 7-5.
- Purdue - allow 29.2 in opening 3-2 in Big Ten play in 2022. Since 2016, Iowa has scored 49 points, 36 points and 20 points over the last 3 games played in West Lafayette. In 2018, the Hawkeyes had a very controversial PI call in the end zone, which set up the final Boilermaker score. In 2020, Iowa fumbled twice in the fourth quarter to lose 24-20.
- Iowa - 11th in offensive scoring at 18 points per game, including three loses to Michigan, at Illinois and at Ohio State, who are the Top 3 scoring defenses in Big Ten play and are a combined 14-1 to open the 2022 season in Big Ten play. Purdue's opponent's are combined 12-13, with Penn State and Maryland 3-2 in the Big Ten.
- Iowa - 5th in scoring defense at 22.6, behind Minnesota, who Purdue beat 20-10 in Minneapolis, with the Gophers without their #1 RB.
The Hawkeyes have a tall order in West Lafayette on Saturday. Kirk Ferentz has won three of the last five played in West Lafayette, but like the 2022 Hawkeye team, he is .500 as a head coach in Ross Ade Stadium. On the flip side, many Purdue fans are afraid of the Boilermakers playing in the rain.
5 key players for Purdue against Iowa on Saturday, sorry Charlie:
- QB Aiden O'Connell - in the opening season game, against Penn State, he was just over 50% passing. Wow, and he has thrown 8 interceptions over 8 games, in leading Purdue to a 5-3 season! In three games, Penn State, at Maryland and at Wisconsin, the defenses kept him from running the ball, and he was sacked, for negative yardage. 1-2 over those three B1G games. Last game played, he threw three interceptions at Wisconsin, in a 35-24 loss, which was a 35-10 game, after 3 quarters. As Steve Batterson pointed out, O'Connell is making his third start against Iowa, completing 61 of 90 passes for 657 yards and five touchdowns, with 2 interceptions versus the Hawkeyes.
- TE Payne Durham - watch out for him, in the 32-29 win at Maryland, he went 7 for 109 yards, one TD. CJ was 3 for 15 yards. Durham is a 6-5, 255 senior out of Georgia. In Iowa's lone win over Jeff Brohm, in 2019, Durham scored on a one-yard reception at No. 23 Iowa on Oct. 19 in the 26-20 Iowa win. In the 24-20 Purdue win in 2020, he had four receptions for 41 yards vs. Iowa on Oct. 24. Last year, Iowa held Durham to 5 catches for 15 yards in Purdue's 24-7 win.
- First-year freshman RB Devin Mockobee - didn't play against Penn State, as starting RB King Doerue opened the season. Last year, he ran 18 times for 48 yards against Iowa, including a long of 16 yards. Mockobee has averaged 106 yards a carry in the four B1G games he has played for the Boilermakers in his first season. Averaging 5.5 yards per carry, with a long of 68 yards, and four TDs in B1G play. Note: Maryland stopped the Boilermakers running game, but Durham played a B1G game.
- LB/S Jalen Graham - He ranks 24th in B1G games in tackles, and leads Purdue. For comparison, Iowa LB's Jack Campbell and Seth Benson are #4 and #8 in tackles in B1G games. Graham broke up 2 passes in last year's game, along with 4 tackles. In 2020, Graham recorded three solo tackles and forced one of Iowa's two critical fourth quarter fumbles in West Lafayette. He assisted on a TFL and had two total stops in the 2019 game.
- Purdue front 4 (includes a stand up LEO, like IU) - Three of Purdue's front four are in the Top 12 in Big Ten games, in sacks. senior DE Jack Sullivan and reserve freshman DE Khordae Sydnor and junior LEO Kydran Jenkins leads the Boilermakers in sacks in B1G games.
The Iowa offensive line and Iowa defensive line are going to need to step up, play physical and win their share of plays in the line of scrimmage. Two years ago, both Iowa QB Spencer Petras and QB Aiden O'Connell threw the ball plenty in West Lafayette. Despite his two interceptions, O'Connell lead the Boilermakers to that 24-20 win throwing for 282 yards and 3 TDs. TE Sam LaPorta and WR Nico Ragaini were Iowa's top two receivers for Petras back in the 2020 game. Spencer was 22 for 39, with 265 yards. Iowa was able to hold on and win in 2019. It wasn't the case in 2020, at Purdue. Last year's 24-7 was one the ugliest feelings, dating back to the twenty year drought with the Boilermakers.
Starting in 2019, Iowa faced Purdue's WR David Bell over three seasons. Iowa finished 1-2 against the Boilermakers.
Iowa often plays well in November. At 4-4, 2-3 in the Big Ten. Iowa truly needs to step up. All four games should provide opportunities. It all begins Saturday, in West Lafayette.
Something will have to give on Saturday. For Iowa, it starts with this one.
