Purdue (5-5, 4-3 Big Ten) faces Wisconsin for its home finale Saturday afternoon. The game will kick off at 3:30 p.m. ET and broadcast on BTN.
Senior SaluteSaturday is Senior Day and 29 senior players will be honored during pregame festivities: Aaron Banks, Kirk Barron, Antonio Blackmon, David Blough, Brian Bravo, Jarrett Burgess, Tim Cason, Dennis Edwards, Ray Ellis, Shane Evans, Spencer Evans, Kamal Hardy, Cole Herdman, Jake Herr, Myles Homan, Keiwan Jones, Markell Jones, D.J. Knox, Ben Makowski, Ryan Sadkowski, Joe Schopper, Ethan Smart, Conor Sweeney, Eric Swingler, Jacob Thieneman, Chazmyn Turner, Terry Wright, Bearooz Yacoobi and Isaac Zico. Also being recognized are student managers Matt Keator, Brian McCandless and Jeff Myers and student athletic trainers Michael Lyznicki and Courtney Zickmund.
- Wisconsin leads 48-29-8
- In West Lafayette: Wisconsin leads 21-16-3
- First Meeting: Oct. 19, 1892 – Purdue won 24-6 at home
- Last Meeting: Oct. 14, 2017 – Wisconsin won 17-9 at home
Noteworthy: Two of the Boilermakers' last three wins in the series came against ranked Wisconsin teams – 26-23 over the No. 14 Badgers in Madison in 2003 and 45-20 over the No. 24 Badgers at Ross-Ade Stadium in 1997. Purdue's eight ties with Wisconsin are its most against any opponent.
This Date in History: Nov. 17- Record: 13-7
- 1894 – Won at Illinois 22-2
- 2012 – Won at Illinois 20-17
Noteworthy: On this date in 2001, Purdue defeated Michigan State 24-14 at Ross-Ade Stadium. The win was the Boilermakers' sixth of the season and made them bowl eligible for the fifth time in five years under head coach Joe Tiller. Purdue would go on to play in the Sun Bowl against Washington State on New Year's Eve in El Paso, Texas.
Trending UpAfter leading the nation with an attendance increase of the over 13,000 fans last season, the Boilermaker faithful have continued to return to Ross-Ade Stadium in 2018. Including back-to-back sellouts for the first time since 2007 (Ohio State and Iowa), Purdue is averaging 51,954 fans year and will finish the season averaging over 50,000 for the first time since 2009.
Biletnikoff SemifinalistWide receiver Rondale Moore is a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award. The true freshman had his eighth game of the season with 100-plus all-purpose yards against Minnesota (183) last weekend. He is currently third in the nation in all-purpose yards per game (172.0), leads all the FBS in receptions per game (8.2) and is second in the Big Ten in receiving yards (909) and receiving yards per game (90.9). Moore ranks third in the conference and 20th nationally in receiving touchdowns (8), while his is 82 receptions are tops in the Big Ten and second in the FBS. He is sixth nationally and first in the B1G in combined kick return yards (648).
Wuerffel Trophy SemifinalistDavid Blough was named a semifinalist for the Wuerffel Trophy, which promotes itself as college football's premier award for community service. With his outstanding credentials on the field, Blough has been just as impressive off the field - on campus, in the local community and internationally. A leader of the Purdue chapter of the Fellowship of the Christian Athletes, he volunteers for nearly all team-related community service projects in and around the West Lafayette area. Perhaps most notable are his seven trips to an AIDS orphanage in South Africa during his five years at Purdue, including all five of his spring breaks as a Boilermaker being occupied for the missionary trips. On the field, Blough enters the Minnesota game ninth nationally and second in the Big Ten in passing yards (2,663), 12th in the FBS and second in the B1G in passing yards per game (298.1) and 28th in the nation and second in the conference with 17 passing touchdowns.
Maxwell Award SemifinalistRondale Moore has been named a semifinalist for the Maxwell Award. Moore has held the football 119 times in his young nine-game collegiate career and is averaging 12.9 yards per touch. He has 74 receptions for a team-leading 833 yards, 11 carries for 163 yards, 24 kick returns for 459 yards and 10 punt returns for 82 yards entering the Minnesota game. Moore has 23 plays of 20 or more yards this season, including a 76-yard touchdown rush and a 70-yard scoring reception. Moore's 74 receptions are the most for a Boilermaker in a season since Keith Smith had 91 in 2009.
Butkus Award SemifinalistJunior linebacker Markus Bailey was named a semifinalist for the Butkus Award, which is presented annually to the nation's top collegiate linebacker. Bailey leads the Boilermakers with 77 total tackles, 52 solo, with six tackles for loss. His 3.5 sacks ties for second on the team. He had a career-high 15 total tackles and returned an interception 41 yards for a touchdown against his hometown team, No. 2 Ohio State, on Oct. 20.
Ranked OpponentsThe Boilermakers have hosted, and defeated, three Associated Press top 25 teams this season - No. 23 Boston College 30-13 on Sept. 22, No. 2 Ohio State 49-20 on Oct. 20 and No. 19 Iowa 38-36 on Nov. 3. This season marks the first that the Boilermakers have knocked off three top 25 opponents in the same year since besting No. 20 Wake Forest 16-10, No. 14 Wisconsin 26-23 and No. 10 Iowa 27-14 in 2003. In the three wins vs. ranked opponents this season, Purdue is averaging 39.0 points and 448.3 yards of total offense per game, while limiting its opposition to an average of 23.0 points and 389.3 total yards.
Knocking off No. 2The Boilers' triumph over Ohio State on Oct. 20 was the first over the second-ranked team in the nation since defeating the No. 2 Buckeyes 28-23 on Oct. 6, 1984, and the fifth time in school history to knock off a school in that slot.
Defeating No. 2- Oct. 24, 1953 - Purdue 6, No. 2 Michigan State 0
- Sept. 28, 1968 - No. 1 Purdue 37, No. 2 Notre Dame 22
- Sept. 28, 1974 - Purdue 31, No. 2 Notre Dame 20
- Oct. 6, 1984 - Purdue 28, No. Ohio State 23
- Oct. 20, 2018 - Purdue 49, No. 2 Ohio State 20
Terry Wright's six receptions for 146 yards with three touchdowns and Spencer Evans' game-winning field goal against No. 19 Iowa on Nov. 3 earned the duo Big Ten Offensive and Special Teams Player of the Week recognition, respectively. Purdue's 10 player of the week selections this season is the most in a year in school history, breaking the tie of eight shared by 2000 and 2001 teams ... Since the Big Ten began naming an Offensive, Defensive, Special Teams and Freshman of the Week in 2010, no school had ever swept all four categories. That is, until Oct. 22. After knocking off No. 2 Ohio State, David Blough (O), Markus Bailey (D), Joe Schopper (ST) and Rondale Moore (F) made history by being the first quartet from same school to be recognized by the conference office for the weekly honor.
2018 B1G Weekly Honors- Sept. 3 – Rondale Moore (Freshman)
- Sept. 17 – David Blough (Offense)
- Sept. 24 – Rondale Moore (Freshman)
- Oct. 1 – Joe Schopper (Special Teams)
- Oct. 22 - David Blough (Offense), Markus Bailey (Defense), Joe Schopper (Special Teams), Rondale Moore (Freshman)
- Nov. 5 - Terry Wright (Offensive), Spencer Evans (Special Teams)
Quarterback David Blough has thrown for over 300 yards in a game five times this season. That feat alone places him tied for third in a year at Purdue, but when it's added to the six previous 300-yard games over his career, only Drew Brees (16) and Curtis Painter (12) eclipsed the mark more often.
Bowling 300sDavid Blough's three straight games with 300 or more yards passing against Nebraska, Illinois and Ohio State placed him among the most celebrated quarterbacks in school history. Merely four other signal callers in the Cradle of Quarterbacks had achieved the feat in so many straight games. Jim Everett and Drew Brees did it twice in their Purdue careers, while Kyle Orton and Curtis Painter accomplished it once apiece. Blough, Everett and Brees are the only three to pull it off against three straight Big Ten opponents. No player in school history has thrown for over 300 yards in four straight games.
Consecutive Games with 300 Yards Passing- 1985 - Jim Everett (398 at Pitt, 340 vs. Ball State, 368 vs. Notre Dame - 796 total)
- 1985 - Jim Everett (464 vs. Illinois, 497 at Ohio State, 315 vs. Michigan State - 1,276 total)
- 1998 - Drew Brees (522 vs. Minnesota, 494 at Wisconsin, 361 at Penn State - 1,377 total)
- 1999 - Drew Brees (317 vs. Notre Dame, 320 vs. Central Michigan, 405 vs. Northwestern - 1,042 total)
- 2004 - Kyle Orton (329 vs. Ball State, 366 at Illinois, 385 at Notre Dame - 1,080 total)
- 2007 - Curtis Painter (348 vs. Eastern Illinois, 360 vs. Central Michigan, 338 at Minnesota - 1,046 total)
- 2018 - David Blough (328 at Nebraska, 377 at Illinois, 378 vs. Ohio State - 1,083 total)
Whether Purdue or the opposition has pushed the ball in the red zone this season, the Boilermakers have thrived. When possessing the ball inside the opponent's 25, Purdue is converting the drive into points 93 percent of the time (38 of 41 - 24 touchdowns, 14 field goals), a figure that ranks ninth nationally and third in the Big Ten. Conversely, when the opposing team has penetrated inside the Boilers' 25-yard line, they are converting at a rate of 81 percent (33 of 41 - 21 touchdowns, 12 field goals), a mark that ranks 42nd nationally and fourth in the B1G.
An Exclusive ClubWith nine straight starts this season, David Blough is the fifth quarterback at Purdue (since 1960) with 34 or more career starts.
Purdue Quarterback Career Starts (Since 1960)
- 45 - Mark Herrmann, 1977-80
- 41 - Curtis Painter, 2005-08
- 37 - Drew Brees, 1998-2000
- 35 - Kyle Orton, 2001-04
- 34 - David Blough, 2015-Present
Purdue's defense limited Ohio State to 76 yards rushing on Oct. 20 The run-stoppage marked the fourth time this season that Purdue's D has held an opponent to double digits on the ground, and the ninth time in 23 games to do so under second-year head coach Jeff Brohm's staff.
Brothers in ArmsWhen Jacob and Brennan Thieneman took the field together against No. 23 Boston College on Sept. 22, it marked the first time in 16 years that a pair of Boilermaker brothers shared the field at the same time. The last siblings to play together at Purdue were offensive lineman Rob and Matt Turner, who started five games together in 2002.
Staying on ScheduleThe Boilermakers have been very successful when playing in front of the chains this season. Purdue is converting 67 percent of its third downs (29 of 43) when facing three or less yards (including a nearly perfect 18 for 20 on third-and-1). Overall, the Boilers are converting on third down 39 percent of the time.
No Ordinary FreshmanTrue Freshman Rondale Moore has been a revelation in his initial season at Purdue. The first-year Boilermaker already has five 100-yard receiving games. He needs merely two more games with 100 or more yards receiving to tie Steve Griffin (1984) and John Standeford (2002) for the most in a season at Purdue.
Most Games with 100-plus Yards Receiving (Season)- 7 - Steve Griffin (1984), John Standeford (2002)
- 6 - Keith Smith (2009)
- 5 - Rondale Moore (tied with six others)
Purdue's 39-point margin of victory at Illinois on Oct. 13 was the largest since a 48-6 win over Eastern Kentucky on Sept. 1, 2012; largest against an FBS opponent since a 62-10 win over Indiana on Nov. 22, 2008; and largest in a Big Ten road game since a 56-7 win at Indiana on Nov. 22, 1997. The Boilermakers boast seven Big Ten road wins by 30-plus points in the last 50 seasons and 16 in school history.
30-Plus Point Big Ten Road Wins Last 50 Seasons| 49 | Purdue 56, Indiana 7 | Nov. 22, 1997 |
| 45 | Purdue 48, Illinois 3 | Oct.25, 1997 |
| 42 | Purdue 49, Northwestern 7 | Oct. 27, 1984 |
| 39 | Purdue 46, Illinois 7 | Oct. 13, 2018 |
| 37 | Purdue 51, Indiana 14 | Nov. 24, 1995 |
| 35 | Purdue 35, Northwestern 0 | Oct. 17, 1981 |
| 35 | Purdue 56, Northwestern 21 | Nov. 7, 1998 |
Brycen Hopkins' 103 receiving yards against Nebraska on Sept. 29 marked his second 100-yard receiving game of the season (also 136 vs. Missouri). He is the first Purdue tight end to reach triple-digit yards through the air more than once in a season since Dustin Keller did so three times in 2007.
Rewriting the Record BookThrough 10 games, Jeff Brohm's offense has rewritten decades-old records both at Purdue and in the Big Ten. The Boilermakers have established new high-water marks four different times this season alone. See the notes below for more details on the record-setting feats.
| Record | New Record | Old Record |
|---|---|---|
| All-Purpose Yards | 313, Rondale Moore vs. Northwestern | 312, Otis Armstrong vs. IU, 11/25/72 |
| Passing Yards | 572, David Blough vs. Missouri | 546, Curtis Painter vs. CMU, 12/26/07 |
| Total Offense | 590, David Blough vs. Missouri | 540, Curtis Painter vs. CMU, 12/26/07 |
| Completion Pct. (50-59 att.) |
.709, David Blough vs. Missouri | .702, Drew Brees vs. MSU, 10/16/99 |
Standing 5-foot-7 and 5-foot-9, respectively, D.J. Knox and Rondale Moore have been two of the Boilermakers' most productive players this season. Combined, the compact duo have accounted for 81 of Purdue's 194 non-penalty first downs (41 percent), 18 of 38 touchdowns (47 percent), 950 of 1,488 rushing yards (64 percent) and 1,043 of 3,118 receiving yards (33 percent).
Bloughing ThroughAgainst Missouri, senior quarterback David Blough set the Purdue game passing yards record (572) and the Big Ten game total offense mark (590). The previous standards were 546 passing yards by Curtis Painter against Central Michigan in the Motor City Bowl on Dec. 26, 2007, and 585 yards of total offense by Dave Wilson of Illinois against Ohio State on Nov. 8, 1980. Blough's passing yards rank second in Big Ten history, trailing only Wilson's 621 in that game (he had -36 yards rushing).
Finding PaydirtSenior running back Markell Jones' one-yard touchdown run against No. 19 Iowa was the 20th total score of his career (18 rushing, two receiving). He is tied with former teammate DeAngelo Yancey for 17th in school history.
Career Touchdowns| 15. | Otis Armstrong (1970-72) | 24 |
| 16. | Taylor Stubblefield (2001-04) | 21 |
| 17. | DeAngelo Yancey (2013-16) | 20 |
| Markell Jones (2015-P) | 20 |
With 12 carries for 109 yards against Eastern Michigan on Sept. 8, senior running back Markell Jones moved past two-time consensus All-American and 1968 Heisman Trophy runner up Leroy Keyes on Purdue's career rushing yardage list. Jones has rushed for 2,435 yards in his four-year Boilermaker career and currently sits ninth all-time.
| Career Rushing Yards | ||
|---|---|---|
| 7. | Harry Szulborski (1946-49) | 2,478 |
| 8. | Corey Rogers (1991-95) | 2,436 |
| 9. | Markell Jones (2015-P) | 2,435 |
| Career Rushing Attempts | ||
|---|---|---|
| 7. | Edwin Watson (1994-97) | 530 |
| 8. | Perry Williams (1966-68) | 514 |
| 9. | Markell Jones (2015-P) | 511 |
| Career Rushing Touchdowns | ||
|---|---|---|
| 7. | Scott Dierking (1973-76) | 25 |
| Edwin Watson (1994-97) | 25 | |
| 9. | Stan Brown (1968-70) | 19 |
| 10. | Markell Jones (2015-P) | 18 |
In Purdue's 49-20 win over No. 2 Ohio State on Oct. 20, there were apparently only two options for the Boilermakers - score a touchdown or punt. On 12 offensive possessions, Purdue scored six touchdowns and punted on six others. Linebacker Markus Bailey added the defense to the mix with an interception return for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
Brohms AwayDavid Blough's school-record performance against Missouri ranked among the top five individual efforts in the history of Jeff Brohm's head coaching career. A look at where it stands:
Passing Yards- 593, Brandon Doughty at Middle Tennessee (Sept. 13, 2014)
- 572, David Blough vs. Missouri (Sept. 15, 2018)
- 569, Brandon Doughty vs. Bowling Green (Aug. 29, 2014)
- 517, Mike White vs. Rice (Sept. 1, 2016)
- 491, Brandon Doughty at Marshall (Nov. 28, 2014)
- 46, Brandon Doughty vs. Bowling Green (Aug. 29, 2014)
- 43, Brandon Doughty at Middle Tennessee (Sept. 13, 2014)
- 39, David Blough vs. Missouri (Sept. 15, 2018)
- 38, Brandon Doughty at Navy (Sept. 27, 2014)
- 37, Brandon Doughty at LSU (Oct. 24, 2015)
- 37, Elijah Sindelar at Northwestern (Oct. 11, 2017)
- 66, Brandon Doughty at Middle Tennessee (Sept. 13, 2014)
- 61, Brandon Doughty at LSU (Oct. 24, 2015)
- 60, Elijah Sindelar at Northwestern (Nov. 11, 2017)
- 56, Brandon Doughty vs. Bowling Green (Aug. 29, 2014)
- 55, David Blough vs. Missouri (Sept. 15, 2018)
When D.J. Knox (152) and Markell Jones (109) both topped the century mark in rushing yards against Eastern Michigan on Sept. 8, it was the first time a pair of Boilermakers went for 100-plus yards in the same game since 2002 (Brandon Jones, 131, and Joey Harris, 102). It was merely the 27th time in school history that the feat has been accomplished and only the fifth time in the last 35 years. Please see page 101 of the Purdue Records Book for the entire list of the previous 26 100-yard rushing duos. It was the fifth time Jones rushed for over 100 yards in a game in his career and the third, and also a career-high, for Knox.
100-Yard Rushing Duos Since 1984- Sept. 17, 1994 vs. Ball State - Mike Alstott (156) and Corey Rogers (124)
- Nov. 4, 1995 vs. Wisconsin- Mike Alstott (204) and Edwin Watson (194)
- Oct. 26, 2002 at Northwestern - Brandon Jones (165) and Joey Harris (132)
- Nov. 23, 2002 vs. Indiana - Brandon Jones (131) and Joey Harris (102)
- Sept. 8, 2018 vs. Eastern Michigan - D.J. Knox (152) and Markell Jones (109)
True freshman Rondale Moore became a household name when he electrified the nation with a record-breaking performance in his collegiate debut against Northwestern on Aug. 30. With a FBS-best 313 all-purpose yards against the Wildcats (79 rushing, 109 receiving, 125 kickoff return), Moore eclipsed Otis Armstrong's single game school record of 312 yards set Nov. 25, 1972. Moore had a huge first half, racking up 302 all-purpose yards in the initial 30 minutes. That alone would have placed him third in the Purdue record book. With the Boilermakers trailing 14-0 in the first 10 minutes of the opening quarter, Moore hauled in a 32-yard touchdown reception from Elijah Sindelar and ripped off a 76-yard scoring run to even the score before the quarter ended.
Iron ManJunior linebacker Markus Bailey has been a mainstay in Purdue's lineup over the last three season. The Columbus, Ohio, native has started 33 consecutive games for Purdue and rarely, if ever, takes a defensive snap off. After leading Purdue in tackles as a redshirt freshman (97) in 2018 and placing second on the team last season (89), Bailey currently paces the Boilers with 86 total stops in 2018.
Sneaky SchopperSenior Joe Schopper has quietly moved his was up among the national leaders in punting. Topping the Big Ten and placing 21st nationally, the fourth-year Boilermaker is averaging 44.2 yards per kick this season. Punting 43 times for 1,900 yards, he has placed 16 kicks inside the opposition's 20-yard line, seen 23 fair caught and booted 10 of his punts over 50 yards.
Not Your Average Walk-OnSafety Jacob Thieneman has come a long way from his days as a scout team walkon. The fifth-year senior was voted captain by his teammate prior to the season and he has put together a solid final season in the Old Gold and Black. Starting the first nine games, he is third on the team with 71 total tackles on the year. He leads the Boilermakers with five sacks and is tied for second with seven tackles for loss. He has broken up five passes and blocked a field goal against No. 23 Boston College, to boot.
Moving Up The ChartsFifth-year senior David Blough continues to climb further into the Purdue career record book.
| Passing Attempts | |||
| 3. | Kyle Orton (2001-04) | 1,336 | |
| 4. | Mark Herrmann (1977-80) | 1,309 | |
| David Blough (2015-P) | 1,309 | ||
| Completions | |||
| 1. | Drew Brees (1997-2000) | 1,026 | |
| 2. | Curtis Painter (2005-08) | 987 | |
| 3. | David Blough (2015-P) | 791 | |
| Passing Yards | |||
| 3. | Mark Herrmann (1977-80) | 9,946 | |
| 4. | Kyle Orton (2001-04) | 9,937 | |
| 5. | David Blough (2015-P) | 8,854 | |
| Passing Touchdowns | |||
| 3. | Curtis Painter (2005-08) | 67 | |
| 4. | Kyle Orton (2001-04) | 63 | |
| 5. | David Blough (2015-P) | 62 | |
| Total Offense | |||
| 3. | Kyle Orton (2001-04) | 9,653 | |
| 4. | Mark Herrmann (1977-80) | 9,134 | |
| 5. | David Blough (2015-P) | 9,133 |
For just the fifth time school history, Purdue had three different players reach the century mark in receiving yards in the same game. Freshman wide receiver Rondale Moore, junior tight end Brycen Hopkins and senior wide receiver Isaac Zico pulled off the rare feat against Missouri on Sept. 15. It was the first occurrence for the Boilermakers in 11 years.
100-Yard Receiving Trios- Oct. 3, 1998 vs. Minnesota - Randall Lane (137), Gabe Cox (133) and Cliff Jackson (101)
- Oct. 28, 2000 vs. Ohio State - Vinny Sutherland (142), Seth Morales (115) and Tim Stratton (100)
- Nov. 20, 2004 vs. Indiana - Kyle Ingraham (209), Taylor Stubblefield (138) and Dorien Bryant (131)
- Dec. 26, 2007 vs. Central Michigan - Dustin Keller (150), Greg Orton (136) and Jake Standeford (112)
- Sept. 15, 2018 vs. Missouri - Rondale Moore (137), Brycen Hopkins (136) and Isaac Zico (100)
David Blough's one-yard touchdown rush at Nebraska on Sept. 29 improved his career total to 12. He needs four more in his final season in the Old Gold and Black to overtake Mark Vitali as the program's leader among quarterbacks.
Purdue Quarterback Career Rushing Touchdowns| Mark Vitali, 1974-76 | 15 |
| Bob Griese, 1964-66 | 14 |
| Drew Brees, 1997-2000 | 14 |
| Curtis Painter, 2005-08 | 13 |
| Bo Bobrowski, 1972-73 | 12 |
| Eric Hunter, 1989-92 | 12 |
| David Blough, 2015-P | 12 |
The 1,222 combined yards amassed by Purdue and Missouri on Sept. 15 were the most shared with a Boilermaker opponent in school history. The Boilermakers and Nebraska combined for 1,098 total yards two weeks later in Lincoln. Ohio State joined the list with 1,085 combined markers Oct. 20.
1,000-Plus Combined Yard Performances| 1. | 1,222 | Purdue (614) vs. Missouri (608), Sept. 15, 2018 |
| 2. | 1,208 | Purdue (516) at Indiana (692), Nov. 30, 2013 |
| 3. | 1,145 | Purdue (486) vs. Indiana (659), Nov. 28, 2015 |
| 4. | 1,135 | Purdue (514) vs. Notre Dame (621), Oct. 1, 2005 |
| 5. | 1,225 | Purdue (472) at Hawaii (653), Nov. 25, 2006 |