WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Following a difficult, last-second loss to Syracuse, Purdue Football returns to Ross-Ade Stadium to host FAU for Homecoming. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.
The Boilermakers and Owls meet on the gridiron for the first time ever. Purdue will wear special helmets for the 100th Homecoming contest, featuring a vintage logo of mascot Purdue Pete.
HOMECOMING
• Saturday's game will be Purdue's 100th Homecoming game.
• The Boilermakers are 52-43-4 in Homecoming contests.
• The last time the Boilermakers faced a non-conference opponent for Homecoming, they knocked off No. 23 Boston College 30-13 during Jeff Brohm's second season as Purdue head coach (Sept. 22, 2018).
• Seven of Purdue's Homecoming victories have been against ranked opponents.
HONORARY CAPTAIN - JOHN LUCKHARDT
• Purdue will welcome back former offensive lineman John Luckhardt as the Homecoming honorary captain.
• Luckhardt played center and linebacker during Purdue's historic 1966 campaign that ended with a 14-13 win in the 1967 Rose Bowl.
• Luckhardt shared the field with College Football Hall of Fame inductees Leroy Keyes and Bob Griese.
• Following his playing days, Luckhardt was a stalwart on the Western Pennsylvania football scene for the better part of three decades.
• Luckhardt turned Washington & Jefferson and NCAA Division II member California University of Pennsylvania into national contenders.
• He amassed a 225-70-2 career coaching record over 27 seasons, winning 21 conference titles in the process.
• He will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame at the 64th NFF Annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 6.
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 early this season.
• O'Connell already ranks in the program's Top 10 in several career categories: completion percentage (1st – 67.9%), 500-yard games (T1st – 2), 400-yard games (2nd – 5), 300-yard games (T4th – 10), touchdown passes (6th – 51), passing completions (7th – 592) and passing yards (8th – 6,729).
• Leading the Big Ten in passing yards and total offense, O'Connell ranks top 10 nationally in both categories. His 1,000 passing yards rank fourth nationally, while he stands ninth in total offense with 330 yards per game.
• Since 2000, O'Connell is one of just three Big Ten quarterbacks to throw for 1,000 yards over the first three games of a season (Christian Hackenberg – 1,008 yards, 2014; Richard Lagow – 1,002 yards, 2016).
• In last week's matchup, he torched the Syracuse defense with 424 passing yards and three touchdowns.
• O'Connell now has five 400-yard passing games; only Drew Brees has more (7).
CHUCK'S SIZZLIN' START
• Wide receiver Charlie Jones has gotten his Purdue career off to a strong start, leading the Big Ten in receptions (32), receiving yards (474) and receiving touchdowns (5) through the first three games of the season. Jones leads the nation in receptions per game (10.7), while ranking second in receiving touchdowns and receiving yards.
• He is the only wide receiver in the country with at least 400 yards and five touchdown receptions.
• Jones' 474 receiving yards are most by a Big Ten player through the first three games over the past 15 seasons, and he joined former Purdue All-American David Bell as the only two Big Ten receivers to haul in at least 30 receptions over the first three games since 2000.
• Jones ranks among the nation's best in several statistical categories, including leading the country in receptions per game (10.7).
PURDUE VS. CONFERENCE USA
• Saturday's matchup will be only Purdue's sixth against a current member of Conference USA.
• Four of the five previous meetings were against Rice, with the Boilermakers splitting the series.
• The last time the Boilermakers faced a Conference USA team, they opened the 2011 season with back-to-back C-USA opponents, beating Middle Tennessee 27-24 before falling on the road to Rice.
WALK-ONS
• While Aidan O'Connell has gone from a former walk-on to one of the best quarterbacks in the country, another walk-on is becoming a factor in the Purdue offense.
• Redshirt freshman Devin Mockobee leads the Boilermakers' ground attack, despite playing in only two games.
• Mockobee's 100 yards are a team-high, and his 4.8 yards per carry sits atop the running back room.
• Against Indiana State, Mockobee made his Purdue debut by rushing for 78 yards and his first career touchdown.
• With starting running back King Doerue missing the Syracuse game, Mockobee found the end zone from 15 yards out for Purdue's first touchdown of the game and the walk-on's second of the season.
DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE DEFENSE
• While a Jeff Brohm team is usually known for its offense, the Purdue defense is making its presence felt this season.
• The Boilermakers have forced four turnovers, including a pair of interceptions that were returned for touchdowns.
• Purdue is one of five teams nationwide with multiple pick sixes.
• The Purdue defense ranks 15th nationally in red zone defense, while allowing only 285.7 yards per game to rank 25th in the country.
PAYNE TRAIN
• Tight end Payne Durham broke his early season scoring drought with a pair of touchdown receptions on the road at Syracuse.
• Durham moved into a tie for 13th in program history with 15 receiving touchdowns.
• Durham is now fourth on the career list for touchdown receptions by a tight end, trailing Dave Young (27, 1977-80), Jim Beirne (17, 1965-67) and Dustin Keller (16, 2004-07). He is tied with Tim Stratton (15, 1998-01).
BOILERMAKER CONNECTIONS
• Purdue receiver Elijah Canion and FAU wideout BJ Alexander played for Chaminade Madonna in Hollywood, Fla.
• Canion and FAU offensive lineman Kamaar Bell crossed paths for the 2020 season at Auburn.
• Purdue cornerback Jamari Brown and FAU's BJ Alexander played the 2018 and 2019 seasons together at Kentucky.
• Purdue linebacker OC Brothers and FAU defensive end Dorien Josey are both played at Rockledge in Southwest Brevard County, Fla.
• Boilermaker running back Kobe Lewis and FAU defensive back Daemon Hill spent two seasons together at Central Michigan.
• Purdue defensive lineman Prince James Boyd Jr. and quarterback Tyriq Starks played the 2021 season together at Independence CC.
• Purdue defensive lineman Joe Anderson and defensive lineman Keem Green played the 2020 season together at South Carolina.
• Purdue head coach Jeff Brohm was the quarterbacks coach at FAU for the 2009 season.
The Boilermakers and Owls meet on the gridiron for the first time ever. Purdue will wear special helmets for the 100th Homecoming contest, featuring a vintage logo of mascot Purdue Pete.
HOMECOMING
• Saturday's game will be Purdue's 100th Homecoming game.
• The Boilermakers are 52-43-4 in Homecoming contests.
• The last time the Boilermakers faced a non-conference opponent for Homecoming, they knocked off No. 23 Boston College 30-13 during Jeff Brohm's second season as Purdue head coach (Sept. 22, 2018).
• Seven of Purdue's Homecoming victories have been against ranked opponents.
HONORARY CAPTAIN - JOHN LUCKHARDT
• Purdue will welcome back former offensive lineman John Luckhardt as the Homecoming honorary captain.
• Luckhardt played center and linebacker during Purdue's historic 1966 campaign that ended with a 14-13 win in the 1967 Rose Bowl.
• Luckhardt shared the field with College Football Hall of Fame inductees Leroy Keyes and Bob Griese.
• Following his playing days, Luckhardt was a stalwart on the Western Pennsylvania football scene for the better part of three decades.
• Luckhardt turned Washington & Jefferson and NCAA Division II member California University of Pennsylvania into national contenders.
• He amassed a 225-70-2 career coaching record over 27 seasons, winning 21 conference titles in the process.
• He will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame at the 64th NFF Annual Awards Dinner on Dec. 6.
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 early this season.
• O'Connell already ranks in the program's Top 10 in several career categories: completion percentage (1st – 67.9%), 500-yard games (T1st – 2), 400-yard games (2nd – 5), 300-yard games (T4th – 10), touchdown passes (6th – 51), passing completions (7th – 592) and passing yards (8th – 6,729).
• Leading the Big Ten in passing yards and total offense, O'Connell ranks top 10 nationally in both categories. His 1,000 passing yards rank fourth nationally, while he stands ninth in total offense with 330 yards per game.
• Since 2000, O'Connell is one of just three Big Ten quarterbacks to throw for 1,000 yards over the first three games of a season (Christian Hackenberg – 1,008 yards, 2014; Richard Lagow – 1,002 yards, 2016).
• In last week's matchup, he torched the Syracuse defense with 424 passing yards and three touchdowns.
• O'Connell now has five 400-yard passing games; only Drew Brees has more (7).
CHUCK'S SIZZLIN' START
• Wide receiver Charlie Jones has gotten his Purdue career off to a strong start, leading the Big Ten in receptions (32), receiving yards (474) and receiving touchdowns (5) through the first three games of the season. Jones leads the nation in receptions per game (10.7), while ranking second in receiving touchdowns and receiving yards.
• He is the only wide receiver in the country with at least 400 yards and five touchdown receptions.
• Jones' 474 receiving yards are most by a Big Ten player through the first three games over the past 15 seasons, and he joined former Purdue All-American David Bell as the only two Big Ten receivers to haul in at least 30 receptions over the first three games since 2000.
• Jones ranks among the nation's best in several statistical categories, including leading the country in receptions per game (10.7).
PURDUE VS. CONFERENCE USA
• Saturday's matchup will be only Purdue's sixth against a current member of Conference USA.
• Four of the five previous meetings were against Rice, with the Boilermakers splitting the series.
• The last time the Boilermakers faced a Conference USA team, they opened the 2011 season with back-to-back C-USA opponents, beating Middle Tennessee 27-24 before falling on the road to Rice.
WALK-ONS
• While Aidan O'Connell has gone from a former walk-on to one of the best quarterbacks in the country, another walk-on is becoming a factor in the Purdue offense.
• Redshirt freshman Devin Mockobee leads the Boilermakers' ground attack, despite playing in only two games.
• Mockobee's 100 yards are a team-high, and his 4.8 yards per carry sits atop the running back room.
• Against Indiana State, Mockobee made his Purdue debut by rushing for 78 yards and his first career touchdown.
• With starting running back King Doerue missing the Syracuse game, Mockobee found the end zone from 15 yards out for Purdue's first touchdown of the game and the walk-on's second of the season.
DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE DEFENSE
• While a Jeff Brohm team is usually known for its offense, the Purdue defense is making its presence felt this season.
• The Boilermakers have forced four turnovers, including a pair of interceptions that were returned for touchdowns.
• Purdue is one of five teams nationwide with multiple pick sixes.
• The Purdue defense ranks 15th nationally in red zone defense, while allowing only 285.7 yards per game to rank 25th in the country.
PAYNE TRAIN
• Tight end Payne Durham broke his early season scoring drought with a pair of touchdown receptions on the road at Syracuse.
• Durham moved into a tie for 13th in program history with 15 receiving touchdowns.
• Durham is now fourth on the career list for touchdown receptions by a tight end, trailing Dave Young (27, 1977-80), Jim Beirne (17, 1965-67) and Dustin Keller (16, 2004-07). He is tied with Tim Stratton (15, 1998-01).
BOILERMAKER CONNECTIONS
• Purdue receiver Elijah Canion and FAU wideout BJ Alexander played for Chaminade Madonna in Hollywood, Fla.
• Canion and FAU offensive lineman Kamaar Bell crossed paths for the 2020 season at Auburn.
• Purdue cornerback Jamari Brown and FAU's BJ Alexander played the 2018 and 2019 seasons together at Kentucky.
• Purdue linebacker OC Brothers and FAU defensive end Dorien Josey are both played at Rockledge in Southwest Brevard County, Fla.
• Boilermaker running back Kobe Lewis and FAU defensive back Daemon Hill spent two seasons together at Central Michigan.
• Purdue defensive lineman Prince James Boyd Jr. and quarterback Tyriq Starks played the 2021 season together at Independence CC.
• Purdue defensive lineman Joe Anderson and defensive lineman Keem Green played the 2020 season together at South Carolina.
• Purdue head coach Jeff Brohm was the quarterbacks coach at FAU for the 2009 season.