WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Coming off a bye week, Purdue Football welcomes Iowa to a sold out Ross-Ade Stadium to kick off the final month of the regular season. The Big Ten West matchup begins at noon on FS1.
The Boilermakers enter the contest with a 5-3 record, winning four of their past five games. Saturday's game is the second consecutive sellout for Purdue after beating Nebraska in front of 61,320 fans.
LAST TIME WE MET
• The last time the two programs met, the Boilermakers handed the No. 2 Hawkeyes their first loss of the season, 24-7, in Iowa City (Oct. 16, 2021).
• Aidan O'Connell threw for 378 yards, the most allowed by an Iowa defense since fellow Purdue quarterback David Blough chalked up 458 yards through the air (Oct. 15, 2016).
• All-American David Bell torched Iowa with 11 catches for 240 yards, the second-most receiving yards in a single game in Purdue history.
• Purdue's defense recorded four interceptions, including two from Cam Allen and one from Kieren Douglas.
• The victory was one of two Top-5 wins by the Boilermakers throughout last season. Three weeks later, Purdue upset No. 3 Michigan State to hand the Spartans their first loss of the year.
BOILERMAKER CONNECTIONS
• Purdue wide receivers Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Charlie Jones arrived in West Lafayette after spending time at Iowa. The duo has accounted for 1,075 yards of total offense this season.
• Purdue defensive end Joe Strickland and Iowa linebacker Jay Higgins both attended Brebeuf Jesuit Prep High School in Indianapolis, Ind.
• Purdue wide receiver Deion Burks and Iowa defensive backs Deshaun Lee, Brenden Deasfernandes, and Kaevon Merriweather all attended Belleville High School in Belleville, Michigan
CHUCK'S SIZZLIN'
• Wide receiver Charlie Jones has made an immediate impact since transferring to Purdue from Iowa, ranking second nationally in receptions per game (9.0), fourth in receiving touchdowns (9) and sixth in receiving yards (840).
• Jones has recorded five 100-yard games this season, including three in B1G play.
• He is one touchdown away from becoming the 10th receiver in Purdue history to record 10 touchdowns in a single season.
• It's safe to say Jones enjoys the Purdue offense. After making 21 catches for 323 yards and three touchdowns during the entire 2021 season, it only took him three games to surpass last year's totals with the Hawkeyes.
• With three multi-touchdown games, Jones is just the sixth Purdue receiver since 2000 to have three-or-more multi-touchdown games in a season.
B1G LEADERS
• Purdue leads the Big Ten in passing offense (314.2 yards per game) and first downs (201), while allowing the fewest tackles for loss in the conference (3.62 per game).
• In league games, the Boilermakers top the conference in passing offense (327.0 yards per game) and first downs (25.4 per game).
• The Purdue defense has recorded seven interceptions in B1G action, the most in the conference.
• Aidan O'Connell paces the conference in completions per game (29.9), passing yards per game (324.3) and total offense (318.3 yards per game).
• Wide receiver Charlie Jones leads the B1G in receptions per game (9.0), receiving yards per game (105.0) and receiving yards (840).
• In B1G games, O'Connell tops the conference in passing offense (327.0 yards per game) and total offense (317.2 yards per game).
• Jones has hauled in 8.6 receptions per conference games to lead the Big Ten.
BOWLING ON THE HORIZON
• Purdue is one win away from becoming bowl eligible for the fourth time in six seasons under head coach Jeff Brohm.
• Taking the Boilermakers to another bowl game, Brohm would join Joe Tiller as the only coaches in Purdue history to make four bowl appearances in their first six years guiding the program.
• The last time Purdue went to four bowls over a six-year span, Tiller led the Boilermakers for four appearances in five years (2003-2007). In 12 seasons under Tiller, Purdue reached 10 bowls, including a Rose Bowl trip during the 2000 campaign.
ALL ABOARD THE MOCK TRAIN
• Don't underestimate redshirt-freshman Devin Mockobee. The walk-on running back leads the Purdue rushing attack with 561 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 5.4 yards per carry.
• Mockobee's 80.1 yards per game on the ground rank fourth nationally among freshman running backs, while leading the Big Ten.
• All three of Mockobee's 100-yard games this season have come in Big Ten games, and his 5.5 yards per carry rank third in the conference.
• He produced his second straight 100-yard game, rumbling for 108 yards and a touchdown at Wisconsin.
• The Boonville, Indiana, native had his best game as a Boilermaker in the win over Nebraska, recording 206 all-purpose yards (178 rushing, 28 receiving). His 178 yards on the ground set a new single-game record for rushing yards by a Purdue freshman, and Mockobee was rewarded Big Ten Freshman of the Week for his performance.
• Mockobee produced his first 100-yard game at No. 21 Minnesota, recording 112 yards rushing on only 11 carries to average 10.2 yards per rush. Late in the fourth quarter with Purdue ahead by three points, Mockobee broke free for a 68-yard run and motored into the end zone from two yards out on the following play to put the game on ice.
• Mockobee became the first Purdue freshman to rush for 100 yards since Brian Lankford-Johnson in 2016 (127 yards at Illinois – Oct. 8, 2016).
• The 68-yard rush at Minnesota was the longest run by a Boilermaker since Rondale Moore scampered 76 yards against Northwestern (Aug. 30, 2018).
BRING ON THE PAYNE
• Tight end Payne Durham has been an important piece of the Purdue offense, hauling in 39 catches for 376 yards and four touchdowns to rank second among Boilermakers in all three categories.
• Durham's 39 catches rank fifth in the nation among tight ends, including second in the Big Ten.
• In the win over Nebraska, Durham eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards for his career to become just the eighth Purdue tight end to accomplish the feat.
• Durham came through in the clutch against Maryland (Oct. 8), catching the go-ahead touchdown pass before rumbling 56 yards to set up another late Purdue touchdown. He made seven catches for 109 yards, both team highs, to record the third 100-yard game of his career.
• Durham sits into a tie for 10th in program history with 17 receiving touchdowns, second among tight ends, trailing Dave Young (27, 1977-80). He is tied with Jim Beirne (1965-67) and Calvin Williams (1986-89) on Purdue's all-time receiving TDs list.
• Durham's progression in college from backup to all-conference caliber is made more impressive when you consider he played one year of high school football after playing lacrosse all his life.
AIDAN ADDING TO HIS LEGACY
• Beginning his career as a walk-on and eighth on the quarterback depth chart, Aidan O'Connell worked his way up to the starting role and didn't stop there. The sixth-year QB has etched his name in the school record books, and he continued to rise up the career charts this season.
• O'Connell already ranks in the program's Top 10 in several career categories: completion percentage (1st – 68.0%), 500-yard games (T1st – 2), 400-yard games (2nd – 5), 300-yard games (2nd – 13), touchdown passes (6th – 58), passing completions (6th – 715) and passing yards (6th – 7,999).
• Aidan O'Connell paces the Big Ten in passing yards and total offense. Completing nearly 30 passes per game, he sits second in the country. His 324.3 passing yards per game rank fifth nationally, while he stands 12th in total offense with 318.3 yards per game.
• O'Connell has kept up his game against conference opponents, throwing for an average of 327.0 yards in B1G games to lead the league.
• In his 13 300-yard games over his career, O'Connell has eclipsed 350 yards in 12 of them. He has thrown for more than 300 yards in each of the past three games, accomplishing the feat for the second time in his career. Drew Brees and Jim Everett are the only other QBs in Purdue history to produce three straight 300-yard games twice over a career.
• O'Connell torched the Syracuse defense with a season-high 424 passing yards and three touchdowns. He has five career 400-yard passing games; only Brees has more (7).
STRENGTH ON THE LINE
• Purdue veteran offensive line has been a major factor for success on that side of the ball.
• The Boilermakers allow only 3.62 tackles-for-loss per game, leading the B1G and ranking sixth in the nation.
• The trio of Gus Hartwig, Spencer Holstege, and Eric Miller have started the past 23 games alongside one another. Holstege leads the way with 26 straight starts, followed by Hartwig (24) and Miller (32).
• In the win over Nebraska, the line paved the way for 217 rushing yards, the most by a Purdue offense in four years.
DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE DEFENSE
• The Purdue defense ranks Top 20 nationally in third down defense (13th), rushing defense (20th) and fourth down defense (18th).
• Purdue has recorded 10 interceptions through the first eight games, ranking third in the Big Ten and 15th nationally.
• The Boilermakers have tallied a B1G-best seven interceptions in conference contests.
HONORARY CAPTAINS - MATT LIGHT & DORIEN BRYANT
• Purdue will welcome back offensive lineman Matt Light and wide receiver Dorien Bryant back to Ross-Ade Stadium as this week's honorary captains.
• Light anchored the left side of the offensive line that guided the Boilermakers to a 2000 Big ten title and Rose Bowl Game bid.
• Light then embarked on an 11-year NFL career, all with the New England Patriots, that netted him three Super Bowls, three Pro Bowl appearances and spots in the Patriots Hall of Fame, All-Dynasty Team and 50th Anniversary Team.
• Bryant was a four-time All-Big Ten honoree from 2004-07. He ranks third in program history with 292 receptions, third in receiving yards with 3,548 and fifth with 21 touchdown catches.
The Boilermakers enter the contest with a 5-3 record, winning four of their past five games. Saturday's game is the second consecutive sellout for Purdue after beating Nebraska in front of 61,320 fans.
LAST TIME WE MET
• The last time the two programs met, the Boilermakers handed the No. 2 Hawkeyes their first loss of the season, 24-7, in Iowa City (Oct. 16, 2021).
• Aidan O'Connell threw for 378 yards, the most allowed by an Iowa defense since fellow Purdue quarterback David Blough chalked up 458 yards through the air (Oct. 15, 2016).
• All-American David Bell torched Iowa with 11 catches for 240 yards, the second-most receiving yards in a single game in Purdue history.
• Purdue's defense recorded four interceptions, including two from Cam Allen and one from Kieren Douglas.
• The victory was one of two Top-5 wins by the Boilermakers throughout last season. Three weeks later, Purdue upset No. 3 Michigan State to hand the Spartans their first loss of the year.
BOILERMAKER CONNECTIONS
• Purdue wide receivers Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Charlie Jones arrived in West Lafayette after spending time at Iowa. The duo has accounted for 1,075 yards of total offense this season.
• Purdue defensive end Joe Strickland and Iowa linebacker Jay Higgins both attended Brebeuf Jesuit Prep High School in Indianapolis, Ind.
• Purdue wide receiver Deion Burks and Iowa defensive backs Deshaun Lee, Brenden Deasfernandes, and Kaevon Merriweather all attended Belleville High School in Belleville, Michigan
CHUCK'S SIZZLIN'
• Wide receiver Charlie Jones has made an immediate impact since transferring to Purdue from Iowa, ranking second nationally in receptions per game (9.0), fourth in receiving touchdowns (9) and sixth in receiving yards (840).
• Jones has recorded five 100-yard games this season, including three in B1G play.
• He is one touchdown away from becoming the 10th receiver in Purdue history to record 10 touchdowns in a single season.
• It's safe to say Jones enjoys the Purdue offense. After making 21 catches for 323 yards and three touchdowns during the entire 2021 season, it only took him three games to surpass last year's totals with the Hawkeyes.
• With three multi-touchdown games, Jones is just the sixth Purdue receiver since 2000 to have three-or-more multi-touchdown games in a season.
B1G LEADERS
• Purdue leads the Big Ten in passing offense (314.2 yards per game) and first downs (201), while allowing the fewest tackles for loss in the conference (3.62 per game).
• In league games, the Boilermakers top the conference in passing offense (327.0 yards per game) and first downs (25.4 per game).
• The Purdue defense has recorded seven interceptions in B1G action, the most in the conference.
• Aidan O'Connell paces the conference in completions per game (29.9), passing yards per game (324.3) and total offense (318.3 yards per game).
• Wide receiver Charlie Jones leads the B1G in receptions per game (9.0), receiving yards per game (105.0) and receiving yards (840).
• In B1G games, O'Connell tops the conference in passing offense (327.0 yards per game) and total offense (317.2 yards per game).
• Jones has hauled in 8.6 receptions per conference games to lead the Big Ten.
BOWLING ON THE HORIZON
• Purdue is one win away from becoming bowl eligible for the fourth time in six seasons under head coach Jeff Brohm.
• Taking the Boilermakers to another bowl game, Brohm would join Joe Tiller as the only coaches in Purdue history to make four bowl appearances in their first six years guiding the program.
• The last time Purdue went to four bowls over a six-year span, Tiller led the Boilermakers for four appearances in five years (2003-2007). In 12 seasons under Tiller, Purdue reached 10 bowls, including a Rose Bowl trip during the 2000 campaign.
ALL ABOARD THE MOCK TRAIN
• Don't underestimate redshirt-freshman Devin Mockobee. The walk-on running back leads the Purdue rushing attack with 561 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 5.4 yards per carry.
• Mockobee's 80.1 yards per game on the ground rank fourth nationally among freshman running backs, while leading the Big Ten.
• All three of Mockobee's 100-yard games this season have come in Big Ten games, and his 5.5 yards per carry rank third in the conference.
• He produced his second straight 100-yard game, rumbling for 108 yards and a touchdown at Wisconsin.
• The Boonville, Indiana, native had his best game as a Boilermaker in the win over Nebraska, recording 206 all-purpose yards (178 rushing, 28 receiving). His 178 yards on the ground set a new single-game record for rushing yards by a Purdue freshman, and Mockobee was rewarded Big Ten Freshman of the Week for his performance.
• Mockobee produced his first 100-yard game at No. 21 Minnesota, recording 112 yards rushing on only 11 carries to average 10.2 yards per rush. Late in the fourth quarter with Purdue ahead by three points, Mockobee broke free for a 68-yard run and motored into the end zone from two yards out on the following play to put the game on ice.
• Mockobee became the first Purdue freshman to rush for 100 yards since Brian Lankford-Johnson in 2016 (127 yards at Illinois – Oct. 8, 2016).
• The 68-yard rush at Minnesota was the longest run by a Boilermaker since Rondale Moore scampered 76 yards against Northwestern (Aug. 30, 2018).
BRING ON THE PAYNE
• Tight end Payne Durham has been an important piece of the Purdue offense, hauling in 39 catches for 376 yards and four touchdowns to rank second among Boilermakers in all three categories.
• Durham's 39 catches rank fifth in the nation among tight ends, including second in the Big Ten.
• In the win over Nebraska, Durham eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards for his career to become just the eighth Purdue tight end to accomplish the feat.
• Durham came through in the clutch against Maryland (Oct. 8), catching the go-ahead touchdown pass before rumbling 56 yards to set up another late Purdue touchdown. He made seven catches for 109 yards, both team highs, to record the third 100-yard game of his career.
• Durham sits into a tie for 10th in program history with 17 receiving touchdowns, second among tight ends, trailing Dave Young (27, 1977-80). He is tied with Jim Beirne (1965-67) and Calvin Williams (1986-89) on Purdue's all-time receiving TDs list.
• Durham's progression in college from backup to all-conference caliber is made more impressive when you consider he played one year of high school football after playing lacrosse all his life.
AIDAN ADDING TO HIS LEGACY
• Beginning his career as a walk-on and eighth on the quarterback depth chart, Aidan O'Connell worked his way up to the starting role and didn't stop there. The sixth-year QB has etched his name in the school record books, and he continued to rise up the career charts this season.
• O'Connell already ranks in the program's Top 10 in several career categories: completion percentage (1st – 68.0%), 500-yard games (T1st – 2), 400-yard games (2nd – 5), 300-yard games (2nd – 13), touchdown passes (6th – 58), passing completions (6th – 715) and passing yards (6th – 7,999).
• Aidan O'Connell paces the Big Ten in passing yards and total offense. Completing nearly 30 passes per game, he sits second in the country. His 324.3 passing yards per game rank fifth nationally, while he stands 12th in total offense with 318.3 yards per game.
• O'Connell has kept up his game against conference opponents, throwing for an average of 327.0 yards in B1G games to lead the league.
• In his 13 300-yard games over his career, O'Connell has eclipsed 350 yards in 12 of them. He has thrown for more than 300 yards in each of the past three games, accomplishing the feat for the second time in his career. Drew Brees and Jim Everett are the only other QBs in Purdue history to produce three straight 300-yard games twice over a career.
• O'Connell torched the Syracuse defense with a season-high 424 passing yards and three touchdowns. He has five career 400-yard passing games; only Brees has more (7).
STRENGTH ON THE LINE
• Purdue veteran offensive line has been a major factor for success on that side of the ball.
• The Boilermakers allow only 3.62 tackles-for-loss per game, leading the B1G and ranking sixth in the nation.
• The trio of Gus Hartwig, Spencer Holstege, and Eric Miller have started the past 23 games alongside one another. Holstege leads the way with 26 straight starts, followed by Hartwig (24) and Miller (32).
• In the win over Nebraska, the line paved the way for 217 rushing yards, the most by a Purdue offense in four years.
DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE DEFENSE
• The Purdue defense ranks Top 20 nationally in third down defense (13th), rushing defense (20th) and fourth down defense (18th).
• Purdue has recorded 10 interceptions through the first eight games, ranking third in the Big Ten and 15th nationally.
• The Boilermakers have tallied a B1G-best seven interceptions in conference contests.
HONORARY CAPTAINS - MATT LIGHT & DORIEN BRYANT
• Purdue will welcome back offensive lineman Matt Light and wide receiver Dorien Bryant back to Ross-Ade Stadium as this week's honorary captains.
• Light anchored the left side of the offensive line that guided the Boilermakers to a 2000 Big ten title and Rose Bowl Game bid.
• Light then embarked on an 11-year NFL career, all with the New England Patriots, that netted him three Super Bowls, three Pro Bowl appearances and spots in the Patriots Hall of Fame, All-Dynasty Team and 50th Anniversary Team.
• Bryant was a four-time All-Big Ten honoree from 2004-07. He ranks third in program history with 292 receptions, third in receiving yards with 3,548 and fifth with 21 touchdown catches.