WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Remember when Purdue was 0-3? Seems like ancient history, as the Boilermakers have gone 5-1 since then. Even better: Purdue remains in the hunt to win the Big Ten West, as it heads to Minnesota this Saturday. Amazing.
With a win vs. the Golden Gophers, Purdue will become bowl eligible for the second season in succession. That last happened in 2011 and 2012 in the Danny Hope era. The Boilers never have won at TCF Bank Stadium, going 0-4 since it opened in 2009. The last time Purdue won in the Twin Cities? It was in the Metrodome in 2007 when Joe Tiller beat Tim Brewster. Purdue dumped the Gophers in Ross-Ade Stadium last season, taking a 31-17 decision.
An X-factor: How will Purdue handle success? The Boilers are coming off a big home win vs. a ranked Iowa team. The last time Purdue had an emotional home victory vs. a ranked foe (Ohio State), it lost the next week on the road at Michigan State. Another dynamic: It could be very cold. Will this impact Purdue?
Despite inheriting a team that won nine games, Minnesota remains in rebuilding mode for a second season under P.J. "Row The Boat" Fleck. He went 5-7 (2-7 Big Ten) in his debut and the Gophers are 4-5 (1-5) this season. Minnesota needs two more wins for bowl eligibility, but they may be tough to come by with tilts left vs. Illinois and at Wisconsin to end the season in addition to this game vs. Purdue.
Minnesota hit a low point in last week's 55-31 loss at Illinois, allowing 646 yards. Fleck's response? He canned defensive coordinator Robb Smith. Defensive line coach Joe Rossi is now calling the signals. Stay tuned. Minnesota has allowed 30 or more points in its last eight Big Ten games and in nine of the last 10. FYI: Last year, Missouri fired its DC the week before playing Purdue, and the Boilers won, 35-3.
Here is something that should make Purdue coach Jeff Brohm salivate: Minnesota has given up 17 plays of 40 yards or more, most of any Big Ten team. Purdue has produced 23 such plays, most in the Big Ten. More stats that have to make Brohm smile: The Gophers' 17 turnovers in six Big Ten games are the most in the conference.
Here is a look at the key matchup, key player and key position for Purdue, which has three wins over ranked teams in the same season since 2003.
Key matchup: Purdue DBs vs. Minnesota WRs. If the Gophers have a strong point, it's their wideouts led by Tyler Johnson and Rashod Bateman. The Boilers are last in the Big Ten vs. the pass (296.4 ypg), so corners Kenneth Major and Antonio Blackmon will be on the spot in coverage. Purdue will need to get a pass rush to disrupt the timing of the Minnesota signal-caller, who no doubt will be eyeing Johnson and Bateman.
Key player: D.J. Knox. The fifth-year senior has been one of the most underrated running backs in the Big Ten. And he could be in store for a big game on Saturday going against a porous Gopher defense that got shredded for 430 yards rushing last week at Illinois. Knox has 753 yards rushing on the year, averaging 8.3 yards per carry. Don't be shocked if he and fellow running back Markell Jones each eclipse the 100-yard rushing mark. FYI: The Boilers' season-high in rushing has been 341 yards vs. Eastern Michigan.
Key position: Purdue receivers. The unit is hot, torching Iowa for big plays last week. Terry Wright had a career game with six catches for 146 yards and three TDs. Isaac Zico is another deep threat, while Rondale Moore is the best freshman in the Big Ten with a league-high 74 catches for 833 yards and seven TDs. Add it all up, and Purdue has six players with 19 or more receptions. How will the Gophers cover all of these guys? The Boiler o-line needs to give hot QB David Blough time, which means blocking up star Gopher DE Carter Coughlin—the Big Ten sacks leader. Purdue OT Eric Swingler must be on his game.