The Game
Purdue and Central Michigan meet for the sixth time in series history.
Purdue is 1-3 all-time in games played on Sept. 6, including 0-2 vs. teams from the Mid-American Conference.
Central Michigan is the second of three teams from the Great Lakes State that Purdue will host in Ross-Ade Stadium this year (Western Michigan, Michigan State).
This is the first time since 2010 that Purdue has scheduled two MAC teams in the same season.
Central Michigan is coming off a 20-16 win over Chattanooga, after trailing 16-0.
Purdue is coming off a 43-34 win over Western Michigan in the season opener.
Purdue and Central Michigan last squared off on Sept. 20, 2008, in Ross-Ade Stadium. The Boilermakers won 32-25.
Danny Etling picked up his first career win as a quarterback last week against Western Michigan, completing 19 of 38 passes for 181 yards and two touchdowns.
The game begins at noon ET on ESPNews.
Eamon McAnaney will handle play-by-play duties, while Dan Hawkins will serve at his side as analyst.
Tim Newton will handle the play-by-play on the Purdue Sports Properties radio broadcast with Pete Quinn at his side. Kelly Kitchel will join the crew from the sideline.
This is the second game of the 91st season in Ross-Ade Stadium, where the Boilermakers boast a 273-169-13 record.
Saturday is the 456th game to be played in Ross-Ade Stadium.
GAME THEMES
Purdue and Central Michigan meet for the sixth time in series history. Purdue leads the series 5-0.
Purdue and Central Michigan meet for the first time since 2008, when the Boilermakers and Chippewas faced each other on the gridiron three times in a span of 371 days.
Darrell Hazell is 1-0 as a head coach against the Chippewas. While at Kent State in 2011, the Golden Flashes beat Central Michigan 24-21.
Saturday is Purdue's 53rd game against a team currently in the MAC.
The Boilers boast a 41-10-1 all-time record against teams currently in the MAC.
Purdue and Central Michigan are both coming off week one wins.
Purdue has not turned the ball over in its last two games, dating back to last year's game against Indiana.
Purdue established the running game last weekend, with 226 yards on the ground against Western Michigan, while Central Michigan gave up just 106 yards on the ground last week.
Saturday is Band Day/Family Day at Ross-Ade Stadium. Several high school bands will be on hand and play on the field at half time.
Saturday is Purdue's second-straight game against a MAC opponent.
LAST WEEK
Purdue won its 11th-straight home opener, after beating Western Michigan 43-34.
Paul Griggs made three field goals in the first half, including a career-long 51-yarder.
Frankie Williams recorded his fifth career interception, the game's only turnover. Williams finished with 119 return yards on two punt returns and the interception return.
Landon Feichter played only the second half, after serving a first half suspension stemming from a hit during the Indiana game last season, but still led the team in total tackles with eight.
Ryan Watson picked up his first career sack, the game's only one.
Justin Sinz finished with seven catches for 65 yards.
Raheem Mostert ran 22 times for 146 yards, both career highs, and a touchdown.
Danny Etling picked up his first career win as a starting quarterback, after completing 19 of 38 passes for 181 yards and two touchdowns, without an interception.
Purdue did not turn the ball over and was not sacked.
HEAD COACH Darrell Hazell
Purdue head coach Darrell Hazell (Muskingum, 1986) is 2-11 as Purdue's head coach and 18-21 overall. He was 16-10 in two season at Kent State.
Hazell was named the school's 35th head coach on Dec. 5, 2012, after two seasons as the head coach at Kent State.
Hazell's first coaching win at Purdue came on Sept. 7 against Indiana State.
Hazell was named the 2012 MAC Coach of the Year after leading Kent State to 11 wins and its first bowl appearance in 40 years.
Hazell also has served seven years on staff at Ohio State and been an assistant coach at Rutgers, West Virginia, U.S. Military Academy, Western Michigan, Pennsylvania, Oberlin College and Eastern Illinois.
CENTRAL MICHIGAN
Dan Enos is in his fifth year as the head coach of the Chippewas.
The Chippewas rallied from a 16-0 deficit in the second quarter to win 20-16 over Chattanooga last week.
Cooper Rush returns at quarterback after starting in 10 games last season.
Rush completed 15 of 26 passes for 173 yards and two touchdowns, with no interceptions, in last week's win.
After the first week of games, the Chippewas rank 26th in the country in total defense after giving up just 256 yards.
SERIES INFORMATION
Series record: Purdue leads 5-0 (First meeting: 1999 / Last meeting: 2008)
Purdue points: 234
Central Michigan points: 111
Series record in West Lafayette: Purdue leads 4-0
Decided by 3 points or less: Purdue leads 1-0
Decided by 7 points or less: Purdue leads 2-0
Largest Purdue victory: 48-0 in 2000
Most points scored by Purdue: 58 in 1999
Most points scored by Central Michigan: 48 in 2007 Motor City Bowl (teams met twice in 2007)
THIS DATE IN BOILERMAKER HISTORY
Purdue is 1-3 all-time in games played on Sept. 6.
Purdue is 0-2 all-time vs. teams from the MAC on Sept. 6.
Purdue is 1-1 in home games player on Sept. 6, including a win in 2008 over Northern Colorado 42-10.
FIRST TIME FIRST TEAMERS
Despite returning significant experience, Purdue had five first-time starters on defense last Saturday (Ja'Whaun Bentley, Ra'Zahn Howard, Jake Replogle, Jimmy Herman and Austin Logan).
Offensively, Purdue had one first-time starter, with Cameron Cermin at left tackle.
On special teams, Thomas Meadows made his first start at punter (after starting as kickoff specialist the previous two seasons) and Ian MacDougall made his first Purdue start as kickoff specialist.
BALL SECURITY
Purdue did not commit a turnover last week against Western Michigan, which marks the second-consecutive game the Boilermakers did not give the ball away by fumble or interception dating to last season's game against Indiana.
The last time Purdue did not commit a turnover for two consecutive games was 2004 when the Boilermakers were turnover free for their first four games.
FRESHMAN IMPACT
Gregory Phillips appeared in his first career game and had Purdue's longest reception last weekend. Phillips caught one pass for 29 yards in the second quarter.
Ja'Whaun Bentley started in his first collegiate game and made an impact. Bentley recorded five tackles and a pass breakup.
Danny Ezechukwu finished with a tackle in his first game as a redshirt freshman.
BENTLEY IN ELITE COMPANY
Since 2000, just 17 freshmen, including Ja'Whaun Bentley, have made a start for Purdue's defense in the opening month of the season.
Bentley's start at linebacker makes him just the sixth true freshmen at Purdue to make a defensive start in the opening month.
Bentley joins Bernard Pollard, Royce Adams, Brandon Erwin, Ricardo Allen and Bruce Gaston as the true freshmen to start defensively in the opening month.
Bentley also joins the likes of Landon Johnson, Shaun Phillips and Kawann Short as Boilermaker freshmen (true or redshirt) to start a game in the opening month.
Current Boilermakers Ryan Russell and Frankie Williams both had starts as redshirt freshman in the opening month.
Bentley is the first true freshman to start at linebacker in the opening month since before 2000. Landon Johnson, Stanford Keglar and Joe Holland had linebacker starts as redshirt freshmen in the month of September.
BAND DAY/FAMILY DAY
High school bands from around the state will be in Ross-Ade Stadium on Saturday for the annual Band Day.
The high schoolers will perform during half time, including a performance alongside Purdue's All-American Marching Band.
Saturday is also Family Day.
Families are encouraged to come out to the game against Central Michigan and see campus and the fun activities going on.
HAZELL ERA BESTS
Points: 43 (Aug. 30, 2014 vs. Western Michigan)
Total Yards: 516 (Nov. 30, 2013 at Indiana)
Passing Yards: 485 (Nov. 30, 2013 at Indiana)
Rushing Yards: 226 (Aug. 30, 2014 vs. Western Michigan)
Total Yards: 516 (Nov. 30, 2013 at Indiana)
First Downs: 29 (Sept. 28, 2013 vs. Northern Illinois)
Rushing Touchdowns: 3 (Aug. 30, 2014 vs. Western Michigan)
Touchdown Passes: 4 (Nov. 30, 2013 at Indiana)
Field Goals Made: 3 (Aug. 30, 2014 vs. Western Michigan)
Longest Play from Scrimmage: 80 yards (Nov. 30, 2013 Danny Etling to Danny Anthrop at Indiana)
Individual Rushing Yards: 146 (Aug. 30, 2014 Raheem Mostert vs. Western Michigan)
Individual Receiving Yards: 151 (Nov. 30, 2013 Danny Anthrop at Indiana)
Sacks: 5 (Sept. 7, 2013 vs. Indiana State)
Turnovers Forced: 4 (Nov. 23, 2013 vs. Illinois)
Time of Possession: 34:51 (Sept. 7, 2013 vs. Indiana State)
Fewest First Downs Allowed: 16 (Sept. 7, 2013 vs. Indiana State)
Fewest Rushing Yards Allowed: 39 (Sept. 7, 2013 vs. Indiana State)
Fewest Passing Yards Allowed: 112 (Oct. 19, 2013 at Michigan State)
Fewest Total Yards Allowed: 294 (Oct. 19, 2013 at Michigan State)
Fewest Penalties-Yards: 2-20 (Nov. 9, 2013 vs. Iowa)
BABY BOILERS
Purdue ranks seventh in the country in terms of most underclassmen (Fr., R-Fr., So., R-So.) in fall training camps. 70 of the 101 players in Purdue's camp were sophomores or younger.
Purdue looks to start up to 15 underclassmen Saturday, including at quarterback, three receivers and seven of the offensive and defensive line spots.
Sophomore DeAngelo Yancey led the team in receiving yards with 546 as a true freshman in 2013. His total ranked 13th among freshmen in FBS.
Yancey was sixth among freshmen in FBS with 49.6 receiving yards per game.
The Boilers return 35 players who have made at least one start in their career.
Of the 35, 20 have at least one more year of eligibility remaining.
WILLIAMS DOES IT ALL
Junior Frankie Williams switched to safety in the offseason, after playing his first two years at cornerback.
In his first game at his new position last week, Williams recorded the games only turnover with an interception in the second quarter, setting up a Purdue touchdown three plays later.
Williams also had two huge pass breakups in the final four plays, including on fourth down, securing the win for Purdue.
Williams has also made a name for himself as a punt returner. He had two returns for 63 yards last week, an average of 31.5 yards per return, which ranks him fourth nationally this season.
WHERE IT RANKS
Purdue's 43 points in the season opener was the 33rd-best among all FBS teams in week one. It was also the fifth-best in the Big Ten, and third-best among conference teams that faced another FBS team.
Raheem Mostert's 146 rushing yards was the 19th-best total in week one and the fifth best in the Big Ten.
Purdue ranks sixth in the country in team punt return yards average, with an average of 31.5 yards per return. That average ranks second nationally among teams with multiple punt returns.
Akeem Hunt is 12th among active players in FBS with 3,428 all-purpose yards in his career. That total is second in the Big Ten.
Mostert ranks second nationally among active FBS players in kickoff return average. Mostert averages 28.9 yards per kickoff return.
Hunt ranks 40th on the kickoff return average chart with 23.7 yards per return.
Purdue's game against Western Michigan lasted three hours and 44 minutes, the fifth-longest game in the country last week.
SOPHOMORE STARTERS
Purdue's sophomore class could make an argument for the most talented class on the team.
Last Saturday, Purdue started six sophomores on offense, with four linemen, a receiver and the quarterback.
Defensively, four sophomores were starters, with linemen Jake Replogle and Ra'Zahn Howard, linebacker Jimmy Herman and safety Austin Logan.
CHAIN MOVERS
Purdue picked up 22 first downs, including one by penalty last week against Western Michigan.
Raheem Mostert did most of the heavy lifting with seven first downs, all by rushing.
Akeem Hunt accounted for five of the first downs, with four rushing and one receiving.
Justin Sinz caught four first down passes for the Boilermakers last Saturday.
B.J. Knauf had three receiving first downs, including two on third and long.
ROSS-ADE STADIUM updates
Ross-Ade Stadium has a new look this year, after taking out 5,264 seats in the south end zone.
The bleachers, which had been modified from Lambert Fieldhouse, were in need of repair, but with future plans for a permanent structure, it was decided to remove them during the first and second week of July.
The new South End Zone Patio is a temporary design, ahead of a final major renovation plan that is yet to be finalized for the coming years.
The patio is available to football season-ticket holders and Purdue students who have purchased the VIP Card. It will open one and a half hours before kickoff and close at the end of the game.
Anchored by a 3,200-square-foot high-peak tent, the space will also feature several pergolas and an array of patio-style furniture, including tables with umbrellas.
Fans are able to purchase typical tailgate food and beverage, including beer and wine. Six 46-inch televisions will be mounted throughout.
Week one against Western Michigan drew rave reviews from the fans about the patio setup.
Space is limited to 1,500 fans at a time.
NATION'S BIGGEST, NATION's FASTEST
Purdue guard Corey Clements is the largest player in FBS football for the 2014 season.
The junior, in his first year at Purdue, checks in at 6'8" and 400 pounds. No other player in FBS is as big as Clements.
Raheem Mostert is widely considered the fastest man in college football.
After winning the Big Ten Championship in the indoor 60-meter and 200-meter dashes, and outdoor 100-meter and 200-meter dashes on the track, Mostert was a Second Team All-American in 100m, 4x100m relay and both indoor events, while picking up Honorable Mention honors in the outdoor 200m.
Mostert had a season-best 10.15-seconds time in the 100m dash, and was thus tabbed college football's fastest player by NFL.com. His time was the fastest track time by a football player in 2013-14.
TWO-SPORT STAR
Raheem Mostert has showed his speed on the gridiron on kick returns and on the track as a four-time Big Ten Champion.
The senior starting running back competed in track as a freshman in 2012 and finished fourth in the 60m dash at the Big Ten Championships, before returning to spring practice.
After sitting out the 2013 track seasons with an injury, Mostert returned bigger, stronger and faster.
Mostert won the 60-meter dash and 200-meter dash at the Indoor Big Ten Championships, the 60-meter in a school-record time of 6.63 seconds and the 200m in a Big Ten Championships-record time of 20.73 seconds.
He also ran the anchor leg of the school's 4x400m relay team which finished sixth, which earned him 23 of the team's 61 points.
Mostert advanced to the Indoor NCAA Championships and was Second Team All-America in the 60m and 200m.
After this year's spring football, Mostert was back on the track for his first career outdoor track season. He won the Big Ten Championship in the 100-meter and 200-meter dash, and earned a silver medal in the 4x100m after bringing the relay team from fifth to second in his final leg. The relay team was 0.01 of a second off another gold medal.
Mostert also ran the anchor leg of the 4x400m relay, on the same day as his other three events, and helped the team take fourth.
Mostert earned 33 of the team's 79 points at the outdoor conference championships.
Mostert advanced through the NCAA East Preliminary Round to the NCAA Championships in a team-best three events, the 100m, 200m and 4x100m.
At the Outdoor NCAA Championships, Mostert was Second Team All-American in the 4x100m and 100m, and was Honorable Mention in the 200m.
Mostert had personal bests of: 6.63 seconds in the 60m, 10.15 seconds in the 100m and 20.65 seconds in the 200m.
Mostert was named the Big Ten Male Track Athlete of the Big Ten Championships during both indoor and outdoor seasons.
Mostert was tabbed the Great Lakes Region Men's Track Athlete of the Year after the outdoor season.
In football, Mostert was the NCAA Statistical Champion in kickoff return average as a freshman, with 33.5 yards per return.
Mostert has returned two kickoffs for touchdowns in his career, including a 100-yarder at Penn State last year.
Last week, Mostert led the team with 146 rushing yards on 22 carries, a 6.6 average.
Mostert's rushing total was the highest for a Purdue individual since Dec. 27, 2011 in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl.
WATCH LISTED
Four Boilermakers were named to preseason watch lists for the 2014 season.
Senior Akeem Hunt was named to the Paul Hornung Award (most versatile player) list for the second year in a row.
Junior Robert Kugler was named to the Rimington Award (nation's top center) list.
Hunt and senior defensive end Ryan Russell were named to the Senior Bowl watch list.
CAPTAINS' CORNER
The team voted for captains on Aug. 21 and named Robert Kugler, Sean Robinson, Ryan Russell and Justin Sinz the leaders of the 2014 squad.
The captains could only be chosen from upperclassmen.
DANGEROUS DUO
Akeem Hunt and Raheem Mostert are one of the most electric running back and kick return duos in the country.
Mostert rushed for 146 yards on 22 carries, 6.6 avg., in his first career start last Saturday.
Hunt complimented nicely with 78 yards on 15 carries, 5.2 avg., and had two catches for seven yards. He also returned two kickoffs for 43 yards.
Raheem Mostert's 146 rushing yards was the 19th-best total in week one and the fifth best in the Big Ten.
Akeem Hunt is 12th among active players in FBS with 3,428 all-purpose yards in his career. That total is second in the Big Ten.
Mostert ranks second nationally among active FBS players in kickoff return average. Mostert averages 28.9 yards per kickoff return.
Hunt ranks 40th on the kickoff return average chart with 23.7 yards per return.
Purdue has had six 100-yard kickoff returns for a touchdown in program history and Hunt and Mostert both have one.
Each player has two kickoff returns for a touchdown in his career.
Mostert ranks third among active FBS players with a career kickoff return average of 28.9 yards.
Hunt currently ranks second in Purdue history in career kickoff return yards with 1,666, while Mostert ranks third with 1,558. Dorien Bryant is the school record holder with 2,125.
Mostert is the Purdue all-time leader in kickoff return average at 28.9 yards per return (54-1,558), while Hunt is eighth with a 23.8 yard per return average (70-1,666).
Mostert was the NCAA FBS return leader as a freshman in 2011 with a 33.5 yards per return average (25-837). He had four returns of 71 yards or more, including a 99-yard touchdown against Western Michigan in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl.
BOILERMAKER DEPOT
For all information regarding the activities on campus during game week, fans have a one-stop spot for it all.
The "Boilermaker Depot" lists all the happenings on and around campus for the excitement leading up to each big game.
It can be accessed by going to BoilermakerDepot.com.
IRON MEN
Senior defensive end Ryan Russell has started 36 career games over the last three seasons.
Senior linebacker Joe Gilliam has started 22 games in his career.
Junior safety Frankie Williams has started 17 games, including 11 last season.
Junior cornerback Anthony Brown has started 11 consecutive games heading into Saturday.
Senior linebacker Sean Robinson has 17 career starts, 16 on defense, including nine last year.
Junior center Robert Kugler has started 20 consecutive games.
Senior tight end Justin Sinz has 13 career starts, including 10 last year.
Senior Gabe Holmes has started at least two games each of the four years he has been at Purdue and has 12 for his career.
Sophomore quarterback Danny Etling has started eight straight games.
Sophomore Jason King has made six consecutive starts at left guard.
AIR DEFENSE
Despite losing the No. 2 all-time interception leader in program history in Ricardo Allen to the NFL, the Boilermaker secondary is one of the most experienced units on the team.
Junior safety Frankie Williams has 17 starts under his belt and has appeared in all 26 games of his career. Williams has five interceptions in his career\, including one last week against Western Michigan.
Williams returned his second quarter interception 56 yards to the 4-yard line, which set up a Purdue touchdown.
Senior safety Landon Feichter has made 17 career starts, despite missing six games a year ago with an injury. Feichter has five career interceptions.
Junior cornerback Anthony Brown has started 11-straight games and has appeared in 23 games during his career. Brown led the team in tackles last year with 69 stops.
Senior cornerback Antoine Lewis has started four career games and has appeared in 31 games. Lewis has two career interceptions.
Sophomore safety Austin Logan appeared in 11 games last year and had an interception.
Sophomore cornerback Leroy Clark appeared in 11 games last year, including two starts.
YOUNG QBs
The Boilermakers have three scholarship quarterbacks and five total, and all are freshmen or sophomores.
Purdue's quarterbacks have combined for nine career appearances and seven starts, the 15th-most inexperienced group in FBS.
VERY YOUNG O-LINE
The Boilermakers have the ninth-least experienced offensive line returning from last season.
The hog mollies return with a combined 30 career starts among them, including 19 from junior center Robert Kugler, from last season.
Jason King has six starts, while Jordan Roos has five.
J.J. Prince and Cameron Cermin are scheduled to make their first career starts on Saturday.
All of the starting linemen have eligibility left after this season, including King, Roos, Prince and Cermin who are all sophomores.
RECEIVING EXPERIENCE
The Boilermakers return the vast majority of their receptions from last season.
Purdue ranks ninth in the country for the highest percentage of receptions returning from last season.
The group returns 86.4 percent of its receptions last year (203 of 235).
New Big Ten member Maryland leads FBS, returning 93.5 percent of its receptions from 2013 (215 of 230).
"211 SESSION"
The football team brings back the 211 Session for the second-straight year.
The 211 session is a major pep rally hosted inside Mackey Arena before all home games.
The event begins two hours and 11 minutes prior to kickoff and features the "All-American" Marching Band, head coach Darrell Hazell, the team, cheerleaders and Purdue Pete.
The event is designed for fans to have a personal connection with the team and create tremendous excitement heading into the game.
The session is named such because at 211° water is hot, but at 212° water boils and produces steam, which can power an engine. The excitement from the event will help the atmosphere "rise one degree" and make Ross-Ade Stadium, nicknamed "The Furnace," a very difficult place for opponents to play.
STARTERS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY
Purdue's starters on offense, defense and specialists from last Saturday's game come from 13 different states.
Of the 11 starters from last week for Purdue's defense, the group comes from eight different states.
Florida led the way defensively with three starters, while Illinois had two.
Offensively, seven states were represented last week, led by Texas which had three starters, all on the line.
Florida and Indiana each had two offensive starters.
The Boilermakers also had starters from Maryland, Georgia, New Jersey, Ohio, North Carolina, Virginia and Kentucky.
A full list of where the Boilermakers are from is in the right-hand column on page 6.