WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue Football remains on the road, the team's third time away from home in the past four games. The Boilermakers travel to Ann Arbor to face No. 3 Michigan in a rematch of the 2022 Big Ten Championship Game. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC.
Purdue has 17 victories against AP Top 5 opponents as an unranked team. No other school in the AP Poll era (since 1936) has more than 11 wins vs. Top 5 teams. The Boilermakers have seven wins over Top 25 opponents over the past five seasons, including three against Top 3 teams.
QUARTERBACKS BEWARE
• With Halloween this week, it is spooky season, and Big Ten quarterbacks definitely need to beware of two Boilermakers on both sides of Ryan Walters' defense.
• Outside linebackers Kydran Jenkins and Nic Scourton have wreaked havoc throughout the season, the only defenders in the conference to reach double digits in tackles-for-loss.
• Jenkins' paces the Big Ten with 11.5 TFLs, while Scourton is close behind with 10 TFLs.
• The two Boilermakers have also combined for the most sacks (12.0) by a duo in the Big Ten.
• Jenkins leads the Big Ten in sacks (7.0), cracking the country's Top 10. With all of them being solo, Jenkins sits sixth nationally in solo sacks.
• Scourton has 5.0 sacks of his own to rank third in the conference.
2022 B1G CHAMPIONSHIP REMATCH
• The Boilermakers and Wolverines face off in a rematch of last season's Big Ten Championship Game.
• Purdue won the Big Ten West outright, claiming a division title for the first time in program history, while Michigan captured the Big Ten East for the second straight season.
• Despite each team scoring six times, five by Purdue were field goals as the Wolverines used their six touchdowns to win the conference title 43-22.
• Purdue outgained Michigan 456 to 386 in total offense led by 366 passing yards from quarterback Aidan O'Connell (Las Vegas Raiders).
• Charles Jones (Cincinnati Bengals) caught 13 passes for 162 yards, setting Big Ten Championship Game records for both statistical categories.
• Mitchell Fineran went 5-for-5 on field goals to set a new Big Ten Championship Game record.
• Purdue trailed by one at halftime (14-13), the closest halftime margin in Big Ten title game history.
• Devin Mockobee paced the ground attack with 71 yards on 17 carries and a touchdown, while also hauling in six receptions for 31 yards.
• Sanoussi Kane led the Purdue defense with six tackles.
UPSET MINDED
• The Boilermakers have beaten seven ranked teams over the past five seasons, going 7-8 against Top 25 opponents despite being the underdog in each one of those games.
• Three of those wins were against Top 3 teams, while Purdue handed five of those ranked teams their first loss of the season.
• In 2021, Purdue knocked off previously unbeaten No. 2 Iowa and No. 3 Michigan State, giving the Boilermakers two wins over Top 5 teams for the first time since 1960.
• Five of the seven wins have been by double digits, the biggest being a 29-point victory over No. 2 Ohio State in 2018.
• Three of the victories have been on the road, including a pair last season at Minnesota and Illinois; both teams were ranked No. 21 heading into their game against Purdue.
THIENEMAN EARNS THIRD B1G FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK HONOR
• Another week, another Big Ten Freshman of the Week accolade for Dillon Thieneman. The Purdue defensive back collected the weekly honor for the third time this season following his play at Nebraska.
• Thieneman forced two fumbles to tie a school record for a single game, the first two forced fumbles of his career.
• The Westfield, Indiana, native led Purdue in tackles for the fifth time in 2023, recording 12 for his most in a Big Ten game.
• It's another first for Thieneman, as no Purdue defender was a three-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week honoree.
• He became the first Boilermaker to earn the recognition at least three times since wide receiver David Bell was named B1G Freshman of the Week four times throughout the 2019 season. Bell went on to become the Big Ten Freshman of the Year.
OPPONENT SNAPSHOT
• No. 2 Michigan enters Saturday's matchup a perfect 8-0, including 5-0 in conference play.
• The Wolverines' defense leads the nation in defensive touchdowns (4), first downs allowed (92), passing yards allowed (141.0 ypg), red zone defense (33.3%), scoring defense (5.9 ppg) and total defense (226.8 ypg).
• Quarterback J.J. McCarthy leads the Michigan offense, throwing for 1,799 yards and ranking second nationally in completion percentage (.781). His favorite receiver is Roman Wilson, who paces the Wolverines in receptions (27), receiving yards (446) and receiving touchdowns (10).
• Running back Blake Corum has a nation-best 13 rushing touchdowns to go along with 605 yards on the ground.
• Jim Harbaugh is in his ninth season as Michigan's head coach, returning to his alma mater after four years as head coach of the San Francisco 49ers.
HISTORY WITH MICHIGAN
• While the series history does not favor Purdue, the Boilermakers have been underdogs in the majority of the matchups against Michigan.
• • Saturday's contest marks the 38th time Purdue faces a ranked Michigan, including the 13th game against a Top-5 Michigan team.
• Throughout history, Purdue has beaten the Wolverines five times when they were ranked in the Top 10.
SEASON-ENDING INJURIES
• Several Boilermakers that have or would have made an impact on the field suffered season-ending injuries.
• Jahmal Edrine looked to be one of Purdue's top receiving threats after transferring from FAU. Unfortunately, an injury during fall camp has forced him to miss the entire 2023 campaign.
• Max Klare got off to a hot start through the first four weeks of the season, ranking among the nation's best tight ends and leading all freshman tight ends in several statistical categories. He started the first five games, but an injury in Purdue's win over Illinois ended his season early (Sept. 30).
• Defensive back Marquis Wilson also suffered a season-ending injury in the Cannon Trophy victory (Sept. 30). Wilson was leading the Big Ten in pass breakups (6) at the time.
• Marcus Mbow made 20 consecutive starts dating back to his 2022 redshirt freshman season. An injury late in the Iowa game (Oct. 7) was season-ending for Purdue's starting right tackle.
• Filling in for Mbow, Luke Griffin suffered a season-ending injury against Ohio State (Oct. 14).
KJ KA-BOOM
• Kydran Jenkins has been a force in creating negative plays for opposing offenses.
• The senior outside linebacker is the Big Ten's leader in both sacks (7.0) and tackles-for-loss (11.5). He ranks ninth nationally in sacks, while sitting 11th in TFLs.
• Jenkins had arguably the best game of his career at Nebraska (Oct. 28), recording career highs in TFLs (4.5) and sacks (2.0) while forcing a fumble and returning it 55 yards for his first career touchdown.
• The 4.5 TFLs against Nebraska were the most by a Boilermaker since Gelen Robinson recorded 5.5 TFLs against Nebraska exactly six years to the day (Oct. 28, 2017).
• Against Wisconsin (Sept. 22), paced Purdue with a career-high nine tackles.
B1G WINS AWAY FROM HOME
• The Boilermakers have won seven of their past 11 conference games away from home.
• Three of those victories were over ranked teams. Purdue beat No. 2 Iowa 24-7 in 2021 before knocking off No. 21 Minnesota and No. 21 Illinois a season ago.
• Purdue was 4-1 in conference road games in 2022, while going 3-1 in B1G matchups away from Ross-Ade Stadium in 2021.
Purdue has 17 victories against AP Top 5 opponents as an unranked team. No other school in the AP Poll era (since 1936) has more than 11 wins vs. Top 5 teams. The Boilermakers have seven wins over Top 25 opponents over the past five seasons, including three against Top 3 teams.
QUARTERBACKS BEWARE
• With Halloween this week, it is spooky season, and Big Ten quarterbacks definitely need to beware of two Boilermakers on both sides of Ryan Walters' defense.
• Outside linebackers Kydran Jenkins and Nic Scourton have wreaked havoc throughout the season, the only defenders in the conference to reach double digits in tackles-for-loss.
• Jenkins' paces the Big Ten with 11.5 TFLs, while Scourton is close behind with 10 TFLs.
• The two Boilermakers have also combined for the most sacks (12.0) by a duo in the Big Ten.
• Jenkins leads the Big Ten in sacks (7.0), cracking the country's Top 10. With all of them being solo, Jenkins sits sixth nationally in solo sacks.
• Scourton has 5.0 sacks of his own to rank third in the conference.
2022 B1G CHAMPIONSHIP REMATCH
• The Boilermakers and Wolverines face off in a rematch of last season's Big Ten Championship Game.
• Purdue won the Big Ten West outright, claiming a division title for the first time in program history, while Michigan captured the Big Ten East for the second straight season.
• Despite each team scoring six times, five by Purdue were field goals as the Wolverines used their six touchdowns to win the conference title 43-22.
• Purdue outgained Michigan 456 to 386 in total offense led by 366 passing yards from quarterback Aidan O'Connell (Las Vegas Raiders).
• Charles Jones (Cincinnati Bengals) caught 13 passes for 162 yards, setting Big Ten Championship Game records for both statistical categories.
• Mitchell Fineran went 5-for-5 on field goals to set a new Big Ten Championship Game record.
• Purdue trailed by one at halftime (14-13), the closest halftime margin in Big Ten title game history.
• Devin Mockobee paced the ground attack with 71 yards on 17 carries and a touchdown, while also hauling in six receptions for 31 yards.
• Sanoussi Kane led the Purdue defense with six tackles.
UPSET MINDED
• The Boilermakers have beaten seven ranked teams over the past five seasons, going 7-8 against Top 25 opponents despite being the underdog in each one of those games.
• Three of those wins were against Top 3 teams, while Purdue handed five of those ranked teams their first loss of the season.
• In 2021, Purdue knocked off previously unbeaten No. 2 Iowa and No. 3 Michigan State, giving the Boilermakers two wins over Top 5 teams for the first time since 1960.
• Five of the seven wins have been by double digits, the biggest being a 29-point victory over No. 2 Ohio State in 2018.
• Three of the victories have been on the road, including a pair last season at Minnesota and Illinois; both teams were ranked No. 21 heading into their game against Purdue.
THIENEMAN EARNS THIRD B1G FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK HONOR
• Another week, another Big Ten Freshman of the Week accolade for Dillon Thieneman. The Purdue defensive back collected the weekly honor for the third time this season following his play at Nebraska.
• Thieneman forced two fumbles to tie a school record for a single game, the first two forced fumbles of his career.
• The Westfield, Indiana, native led Purdue in tackles for the fifth time in 2023, recording 12 for his most in a Big Ten game.
• It's another first for Thieneman, as no Purdue defender was a three-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week honoree.
• He became the first Boilermaker to earn the recognition at least three times since wide receiver David Bell was named B1G Freshman of the Week four times throughout the 2019 season. Bell went on to become the Big Ten Freshman of the Year.
OPPONENT SNAPSHOT
• No. 2 Michigan enters Saturday's matchup a perfect 8-0, including 5-0 in conference play.
• The Wolverines' defense leads the nation in defensive touchdowns (4), first downs allowed (92), passing yards allowed (141.0 ypg), red zone defense (33.3%), scoring defense (5.9 ppg) and total defense (226.8 ypg).
• Quarterback J.J. McCarthy leads the Michigan offense, throwing for 1,799 yards and ranking second nationally in completion percentage (.781). His favorite receiver is Roman Wilson, who paces the Wolverines in receptions (27), receiving yards (446) and receiving touchdowns (10).
• Running back Blake Corum has a nation-best 13 rushing touchdowns to go along with 605 yards on the ground.
• Jim Harbaugh is in his ninth season as Michigan's head coach, returning to his alma mater after four years as head coach of the San Francisco 49ers.
HISTORY WITH MICHIGAN
• While the series history does not favor Purdue, the Boilermakers have been underdogs in the majority of the matchups against Michigan.
• • Saturday's contest marks the 38th time Purdue faces a ranked Michigan, including the 13th game against a Top-5 Michigan team.
• Throughout history, Purdue has beaten the Wolverines five times when they were ranked in the Top 10.
SEASON-ENDING INJURIES
• Several Boilermakers that have or would have made an impact on the field suffered season-ending injuries.
• Jahmal Edrine looked to be one of Purdue's top receiving threats after transferring from FAU. Unfortunately, an injury during fall camp has forced him to miss the entire 2023 campaign.
• Max Klare got off to a hot start through the first four weeks of the season, ranking among the nation's best tight ends and leading all freshman tight ends in several statistical categories. He started the first five games, but an injury in Purdue's win over Illinois ended his season early (Sept. 30).
• Defensive back Marquis Wilson also suffered a season-ending injury in the Cannon Trophy victory (Sept. 30). Wilson was leading the Big Ten in pass breakups (6) at the time.
• Marcus Mbow made 20 consecutive starts dating back to his 2022 redshirt freshman season. An injury late in the Iowa game (Oct. 7) was season-ending for Purdue's starting right tackle.
• Filling in for Mbow, Luke Griffin suffered a season-ending injury against Ohio State (Oct. 14).
KJ KA-BOOM
• Kydran Jenkins has been a force in creating negative plays for opposing offenses.
• The senior outside linebacker is the Big Ten's leader in both sacks (7.0) and tackles-for-loss (11.5). He ranks ninth nationally in sacks, while sitting 11th in TFLs.
• Jenkins had arguably the best game of his career at Nebraska (Oct. 28), recording career highs in TFLs (4.5) and sacks (2.0) while forcing a fumble and returning it 55 yards for his first career touchdown.
• The 4.5 TFLs against Nebraska were the most by a Boilermaker since Gelen Robinson recorded 5.5 TFLs against Nebraska exactly six years to the day (Oct. 28, 2017).
• Against Wisconsin (Sept. 22), paced Purdue with a career-high nine tackles.
B1G WINS AWAY FROM HOME
• The Boilermakers have won seven of their past 11 conference games away from home.
• Three of those victories were over ranked teams. Purdue beat No. 2 Iowa 24-7 in 2021 before knocking off No. 21 Minnesota and No. 21 Illinois a season ago.
• Purdue was 4-1 in conference road games in 2022, while going 3-1 in B1G matchups away from Ross-Ade Stadium in 2021.