WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Following a bye week, Purdue Football returns to the gridiron for a Big Ten battle. The Boilermakers host the Northwestern Wildcats in a sold-out Ross-Ade Stadium. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. ET on BTN.
Saturday's game marks the third sellout at Ross-Ade this season (vs. Notre Dame, vs. Nebraska). The matchup is Purdue's first Saturday home game since Sept. 28 (vs. Nebraska).
QUICK HITS
• Purdue and Northwestern first met exactly 129 years ago (Nov. 2, 1895). Ninety years later (Nov. 2, 1985), the Boilermakers beat the Wildcats 31-7 on this date.
• The Boilermakers have won three of the past five meetings, starting with a victory in 2019 that snapped a five-game losing streak in the series (2014-18).
• A season ago, Purdue ran for 303 yards against the Wildcats, their second straight 300-yard rushing game after racking up 353 rushing yards in the win over Minnesota one week prior; the Boilermakers recorded back-to-back 300-yard rushing games for the first time since 1968.
• As a true freshman, quarterback Ryan Browne made his collegiate debut, rushing for 85 yards and passing for 104 yards (12-of-16), while splitting time with Bennett Meredith in place of an injured Hudson Card.
• The last time these two teams met in West Lafayette, the Boilermakers protected their frozen tundra (wind chills in single digits) with a 17-9 victory (Nov. 19, 2022); Kydran Jenkins tallied team highs in tackles (7) and TFLs (2.0).
• Purdue has rushed for at least 200 yards in three games this year, the most 200-yard games in a season since 2018.
• Tight end Max Klare leads the Boilermakers in receptions (24), receiving yards (384) and receiving touchdowns (2). Klare is on pace to become the first Purdue tight end to lead the team in receptions since current tight ends coach Justin Sinz hauled in 41 receptions (240 yards, four touchdowns) during the 2013 season.
• One of the nation's leading tacklers as an All-American a season ago, sophomore Dillon Thieneman ranks second in the Big Ten and 13th nationally in solo tackles (5.0 per game) this year. The 2023 Big Ten Freshman of the Year leads the Boilermakers in total tackles (54) and solo tackles (35) once again this season.
• Kydran Jenkins ranks fourth in the Big Ten in sacks (0.71 per game). Jenkins is the conference leader in sacks wearing a Big Ten uniform, recording 21.5 throughout his career to also rank sixth in Purdue history.
• Devin Mockobee ranks fifth in the Big Ten in yards per carry (6.30).
• Starting center Gus Hartwig has a 81.4 pass blocking grade from PFF, not giving up a sack and allowing only one hit on the quarterback.
• Kyndrich Breedlove has recorded all three of Purdue's interceptions this season, ranking third in the Big Ten and 13th nationally.
• In his first season as a Boilermaker, Keelan Crimmins is on pace for the second-best punting average (44.4 yards per punt) in program history, behind only 2001 Ray Guy Award winner Travis Dorsch (48.1 yards per punt).
SERIES HISTORY
• Purdue and Northwestern will square off for the 89th time on Saturday.
• The Boilermakers' 53 wins over the Wildcats is just the second highest tally against an opponent, trailing 77 wins over Indiana.
• The two clubs have faced each other every year since 2014. The Boilermakers have won three of the last five matchups.
• Otis Armstrong rushed for a then-school record 233 yards on 32 carries in the 1972 matchup, before later rushing for 276 yards against Indiana, a record still unbroken.
ON THIS DATE
• Purdue and Northwestern met for the first time (Nov. 2, 1895). The matchup took place at Stuart Field, which also served as the home of Purdue Baseball as well as the practice field for the Purdue Student Artillery Training Corps.
• The Boilermakers beat Northwestern 31-7 at Ross-Ade Stadium (Nov. 2, 1985).
• No. 6 Purdue celebrates Homecoming with a 35-17 victory over Illinois (Nov. 2, 1968), part of an 8-2 season for Jack Mollenkopf's Boilermakers.
• In Mollenkopf's second season, the Boilermakers took down the Illini 21-6 in Champaign (Nov. 9, 1957).
• As part of the 1929 perfect season (8-0, 5-0 Big Ten), Jim Phelan led Purdue to a 13-0 shutout victory at Wisconsin.
LEADING THE O-LINE
• Center Gus Hartwig and right tackle Marcus Mbow have been the leaders on Purdue's offensive line this season.
• Both Boilermakers have started all seven games this season, bringing a total of 70 starts between the duo (Hartwig - 43, Mbow - 27).
• Hartwig has earned an 81.4 pass blocking grade from PFF, not allowing a sack and only surrendering one hit on the quarterback.
• Going up against No. 2 Oregon, Mbow earned a spot on the PFF National Team of the Week for battling the Ducks' difficult defensive line.
MAD MAX
• Max Klare has not missed a beat since he returned to the lineup at the start of the season.
• The sophomore tight end leads Purdue in receptions (24), receiving yards (384) and receiving touchdowns (2).
• He had his best game as a Boilermaker at No. 23 Illinois (Oct. 12), hauling in six receptions for a career-high 133 yards. It marked the most receiving yards by a Purdue tight end since Payne Durham's 150-yard night in the 2021 season opener and the sixth most by a Boilermaker tight end since 1996. Klare added 76 yards after catch as part of his receiving total.
• Klare was on pace to be one of the best tight ends in the country before his 2023 season was cut short. However, the sophomore bounced back in the 2024 season opener with five catches for 71 yards, both team highs.
• He also caught Purdue's first touchdown of the season, a 9-yard strike from Hudson Card on the opening drive.
• Klare was also tabbed to the Comeback Player of the Year Award Watch List ahead of the year.
HERE COMES THE MOCK TRAIN
• From walk-on to phenom, Devin Mockobee has certainly made a name for himself in his time in West Lafayette.
• With 11 carries for 102 yards at No. 23 Illinois (Oct. 12), Mockobee became the seventh Boilermaker to produce at least eight 100-yard rushing games over a career and the first since Kory Sheets (2005-08) recorded nine over his career.
• He rushed for a season-high 168 rushing yards at Oregon State (Sept. 21), becoming the sixth Boilermaker since 1996 to record a 100-yard rushing game in three separate seasons.
• Breaking open a 63-yard rush against the Beavers, he eclipsed 2,000 rushing yards for his career.
• Mockobee sits 11th on Purdue's all-time rushing list (2,289), passing legendary All-American running back Leroy Keyes (2,094) against Nebraska (Sept. 28). He also sits in a tie for 11th with 17 rushing touchdowns.
• He started his career by setting a new Purdue freshman record with 968 rushing yards while also adding nine touchdowns.
• After being put on scholarship in the first official act of the Walters era, he led the team in rushing once again with 807 yards and six touchdowns in 2023.
• In doing so, Mockobee became the first Boilermaker to lead the team in rushing in back-to-back seasons since Markell Jones, who did it three years running (2015-17).
• The Boonville, Ind., native is one of only four Big Ten players to rush for more than 800 yards in each of the past two seasons.
TACKLES-4-LOSS
• One of the major anchors of the defense is senior Kydran Jenkins (KAY-dran), who ranks sixth in Purdue history with 21.5 career sacks and 12th with 39.5 tackles-for-loss.
• The senior linebacker leads the Boilermakers in TFLs (8.0) and sacks (5.0), while ranking second in tackles (52).
• Jenkins sacks per game (0.71) ranks fourth in the Big Ten.
• Jenkins had a huge game against Oregon State (Sept. 21), recording a career-high 16 tackles to go along with 3.0 TFLs and 2.0 sacks. With his second sack of the contest, he became the eighth Boilermaker in program history to make 20 career sacks.
• As a junior, Jenkins finished second in the Big Ten in tackles-for-loss with 15.5 on the year, ranking 18th in the country and the most by a Boilermaker since George Karlaftis in 2019 (17.0).
• He garnered All-Big Ten Honorable Mention for the second straight year in 2023.
• A versatile player, Jenkins moved from RUSH END to middle linebacker ahead of the 2024 campaign, a position he played in high school and a spot the coaching staff believed would do more to impress NFL scouts.
DT THE TACKLING MACHINE
• After pacing Purdue and becoming one of the nation's leading tacklers as a freshman, Dillon Thieneman is back atop the Boilermakers' chart for tackles in 2024.
• The sophomore defensive back leads Purdue in total tackles (54) and solo tackles (35), ranking second in the Big Ten solo tackles and sixth in total tackles.
• Thieneman's 5.0 solo tackles per game rank 13th nationally.
• A season ago, Thieneman led the team with 106 tackles, ranking fifth in the Big Ten among all players and the most by any freshman in the country
• His 74 solo tackles in 2023 led all freshmen nationwide and set a new Purdue freshman record.
HIGHWAY TO HELDT
• After recording only 12 tackles throughout his freshman season, sophomore rush end Will Heldt has made 34 tackles this season. He is tied for the team lead in sacks (5.0), while ranking second in tackles-for-loss (6.5).
• Heldt recorded his first career touchdown with a 16-yard scoop-and-score at No. 23 Illinois (Oct. 12).
• At Wisconsin (Oct. 5), Heldt recorded a career-high eight tackles to pace Purdue.
• Heldt started the season with a team-high seven tackles, 3.0 tackles-for-loss and 2.0 sacks in the win over Indiana State. Prior to the season opener, Heldt's career high in tackles were two.
LOVIN' THE INTs
• An important part of Purdue's nickel defense, Kyndrich Breedlove produced a breakout game at Wisconsin (Oct. 5).
• The Nashville, Tennessee, native hauled in interceptions on back-to-back drives in the second quarter for Purdue's first INTs of the season.
• Breedlove's performance marked just the eighth time in the last decade that a Boilermaker recorded two interceptions in one game and the first since Dillon Thieneman did it in the 2023 season finale victory over Indiana.
• He added his third INT of the season against No. 2 Oregon (Oct. 18), accounting for all three of Purdue's interceptions to become the 13th Boilermaker over the past decade to pick off three passes in a season.
• Breedlove also leads the Boilermakers with four pass breakups on the season.
SPECIAL TEAMS BEING SPECIAL
• Pro Football Focus graded the Boilermakers' special teams at 91.1, the best in the nation, through the first four games of the year. The Boilermakers are now 11th at 88.2.
• Purdue was ranked atop the ESPN Football Power Index Special Teams Efficiency at 80.5 through the first four games, as well.
• Purdue is one of eight teams nationally and the only one from the Big Ten with three blocked kicks this season (2 - FG, 1 - Punt).
• Purdue ranks eighth in the Big Ten in kickoff return average (20.9), seventh in kick return defense (16.1) and eighth in net punting (41.4).
• Elijah Jackson is fifth in the conference with 18.1 yards per kick return this season.
• Punter Keelan Crimmins is 20th nationally and fourth in the Big Ten with a 44.6 punt average on the year.
• In his second year with the program, special teams coach Chris Petrilli has boosted the Boilermakers' special teams, including the kickoff return for a touchdown last season, the program's first in more than a decade.
Saturday's game marks the third sellout at Ross-Ade this season (vs. Notre Dame, vs. Nebraska). The matchup is Purdue's first Saturday home game since Sept. 28 (vs. Nebraska).
QUICK HITS
• Purdue and Northwestern first met exactly 129 years ago (Nov. 2, 1895). Ninety years later (Nov. 2, 1985), the Boilermakers beat the Wildcats 31-7 on this date.
• The Boilermakers have won three of the past five meetings, starting with a victory in 2019 that snapped a five-game losing streak in the series (2014-18).
• A season ago, Purdue ran for 303 yards against the Wildcats, their second straight 300-yard rushing game after racking up 353 rushing yards in the win over Minnesota one week prior; the Boilermakers recorded back-to-back 300-yard rushing games for the first time since 1968.
• As a true freshman, quarterback Ryan Browne made his collegiate debut, rushing for 85 yards and passing for 104 yards (12-of-16), while splitting time with Bennett Meredith in place of an injured Hudson Card.
• The last time these two teams met in West Lafayette, the Boilermakers protected their frozen tundra (wind chills in single digits) with a 17-9 victory (Nov. 19, 2022); Kydran Jenkins tallied team highs in tackles (7) and TFLs (2.0).
• Purdue has rushed for at least 200 yards in three games this year, the most 200-yard games in a season since 2018.
• Tight end Max Klare leads the Boilermakers in receptions (24), receiving yards (384) and receiving touchdowns (2). Klare is on pace to become the first Purdue tight end to lead the team in receptions since current tight ends coach Justin Sinz hauled in 41 receptions (240 yards, four touchdowns) during the 2013 season.
• One of the nation's leading tacklers as an All-American a season ago, sophomore Dillon Thieneman ranks second in the Big Ten and 13th nationally in solo tackles (5.0 per game) this year. The 2023 Big Ten Freshman of the Year leads the Boilermakers in total tackles (54) and solo tackles (35) once again this season.
• Kydran Jenkins ranks fourth in the Big Ten in sacks (0.71 per game). Jenkins is the conference leader in sacks wearing a Big Ten uniform, recording 21.5 throughout his career to also rank sixth in Purdue history.
• Devin Mockobee ranks fifth in the Big Ten in yards per carry (6.30).
• Starting center Gus Hartwig has a 81.4 pass blocking grade from PFF, not giving up a sack and allowing only one hit on the quarterback.
• Kyndrich Breedlove has recorded all three of Purdue's interceptions this season, ranking third in the Big Ten and 13th nationally.
• In his first season as a Boilermaker, Keelan Crimmins is on pace for the second-best punting average (44.4 yards per punt) in program history, behind only 2001 Ray Guy Award winner Travis Dorsch (48.1 yards per punt).
SERIES HISTORY
• Purdue and Northwestern will square off for the 89th time on Saturday.
• The Boilermakers' 53 wins over the Wildcats is just the second highest tally against an opponent, trailing 77 wins over Indiana.
• The two clubs have faced each other every year since 2014. The Boilermakers have won three of the last five matchups.
• Otis Armstrong rushed for a then-school record 233 yards on 32 carries in the 1972 matchup, before later rushing for 276 yards against Indiana, a record still unbroken.
ON THIS DATE
• Purdue and Northwestern met for the first time (Nov. 2, 1895). The matchup took place at Stuart Field, which also served as the home of Purdue Baseball as well as the practice field for the Purdue Student Artillery Training Corps.
• The Boilermakers beat Northwestern 31-7 at Ross-Ade Stadium (Nov. 2, 1985).
• No. 6 Purdue celebrates Homecoming with a 35-17 victory over Illinois (Nov. 2, 1968), part of an 8-2 season for Jack Mollenkopf's Boilermakers.
• In Mollenkopf's second season, the Boilermakers took down the Illini 21-6 in Champaign (Nov. 9, 1957).
• As part of the 1929 perfect season (8-0, 5-0 Big Ten), Jim Phelan led Purdue to a 13-0 shutout victory at Wisconsin.
LEADING THE O-LINE
• Center Gus Hartwig and right tackle Marcus Mbow have been the leaders on Purdue's offensive line this season.
• Both Boilermakers have started all seven games this season, bringing a total of 70 starts between the duo (Hartwig - 43, Mbow - 27).
• Hartwig has earned an 81.4 pass blocking grade from PFF, not allowing a sack and only surrendering one hit on the quarterback.
• Going up against No. 2 Oregon, Mbow earned a spot on the PFF National Team of the Week for battling the Ducks' difficult defensive line.
MAD MAX
• Max Klare has not missed a beat since he returned to the lineup at the start of the season.
• The sophomore tight end leads Purdue in receptions (24), receiving yards (384) and receiving touchdowns (2).
• He had his best game as a Boilermaker at No. 23 Illinois (Oct. 12), hauling in six receptions for a career-high 133 yards. It marked the most receiving yards by a Purdue tight end since Payne Durham's 150-yard night in the 2021 season opener and the sixth most by a Boilermaker tight end since 1996. Klare added 76 yards after catch as part of his receiving total.
• Klare was on pace to be one of the best tight ends in the country before his 2023 season was cut short. However, the sophomore bounced back in the 2024 season opener with five catches for 71 yards, both team highs.
• He also caught Purdue's first touchdown of the season, a 9-yard strike from Hudson Card on the opening drive.
• Klare was also tabbed to the Comeback Player of the Year Award Watch List ahead of the year.
HERE COMES THE MOCK TRAIN
• From walk-on to phenom, Devin Mockobee has certainly made a name for himself in his time in West Lafayette.
• With 11 carries for 102 yards at No. 23 Illinois (Oct. 12), Mockobee became the seventh Boilermaker to produce at least eight 100-yard rushing games over a career and the first since Kory Sheets (2005-08) recorded nine over his career.
• He rushed for a season-high 168 rushing yards at Oregon State (Sept. 21), becoming the sixth Boilermaker since 1996 to record a 100-yard rushing game in three separate seasons.
• Breaking open a 63-yard rush against the Beavers, he eclipsed 2,000 rushing yards for his career.
• Mockobee sits 11th on Purdue's all-time rushing list (2,289), passing legendary All-American running back Leroy Keyes (2,094) against Nebraska (Sept. 28). He also sits in a tie for 11th with 17 rushing touchdowns.
• He started his career by setting a new Purdue freshman record with 968 rushing yards while also adding nine touchdowns.
• After being put on scholarship in the first official act of the Walters era, he led the team in rushing once again with 807 yards and six touchdowns in 2023.
• In doing so, Mockobee became the first Boilermaker to lead the team in rushing in back-to-back seasons since Markell Jones, who did it three years running (2015-17).
• The Boonville, Ind., native is one of only four Big Ten players to rush for more than 800 yards in each of the past two seasons.
TACKLES-4-LOSS
• One of the major anchors of the defense is senior Kydran Jenkins (KAY-dran), who ranks sixth in Purdue history with 21.5 career sacks and 12th with 39.5 tackles-for-loss.
• The senior linebacker leads the Boilermakers in TFLs (8.0) and sacks (5.0), while ranking second in tackles (52).
• Jenkins sacks per game (0.71) ranks fourth in the Big Ten.
• Jenkins had a huge game against Oregon State (Sept. 21), recording a career-high 16 tackles to go along with 3.0 TFLs and 2.0 sacks. With his second sack of the contest, he became the eighth Boilermaker in program history to make 20 career sacks.
• As a junior, Jenkins finished second in the Big Ten in tackles-for-loss with 15.5 on the year, ranking 18th in the country and the most by a Boilermaker since George Karlaftis in 2019 (17.0).
• He garnered All-Big Ten Honorable Mention for the second straight year in 2023.
• A versatile player, Jenkins moved from RUSH END to middle linebacker ahead of the 2024 campaign, a position he played in high school and a spot the coaching staff believed would do more to impress NFL scouts.
DT THE TACKLING MACHINE
• After pacing Purdue and becoming one of the nation's leading tacklers as a freshman, Dillon Thieneman is back atop the Boilermakers' chart for tackles in 2024.
• The sophomore defensive back leads Purdue in total tackles (54) and solo tackles (35), ranking second in the Big Ten solo tackles and sixth in total tackles.
• Thieneman's 5.0 solo tackles per game rank 13th nationally.
• A season ago, Thieneman led the team with 106 tackles, ranking fifth in the Big Ten among all players and the most by any freshman in the country
• His 74 solo tackles in 2023 led all freshmen nationwide and set a new Purdue freshman record.
HIGHWAY TO HELDT
• After recording only 12 tackles throughout his freshman season, sophomore rush end Will Heldt has made 34 tackles this season. He is tied for the team lead in sacks (5.0), while ranking second in tackles-for-loss (6.5).
• Heldt recorded his first career touchdown with a 16-yard scoop-and-score at No. 23 Illinois (Oct. 12).
• At Wisconsin (Oct. 5), Heldt recorded a career-high eight tackles to pace Purdue.
• Heldt started the season with a team-high seven tackles, 3.0 tackles-for-loss and 2.0 sacks in the win over Indiana State. Prior to the season opener, Heldt's career high in tackles were two.
LOVIN' THE INTs
• An important part of Purdue's nickel defense, Kyndrich Breedlove produced a breakout game at Wisconsin (Oct. 5).
• The Nashville, Tennessee, native hauled in interceptions on back-to-back drives in the second quarter for Purdue's first INTs of the season.
• Breedlove's performance marked just the eighth time in the last decade that a Boilermaker recorded two interceptions in one game and the first since Dillon Thieneman did it in the 2023 season finale victory over Indiana.
• He added his third INT of the season against No. 2 Oregon (Oct. 18), accounting for all three of Purdue's interceptions to become the 13th Boilermaker over the past decade to pick off three passes in a season.
• Breedlove also leads the Boilermakers with four pass breakups on the season.
SPECIAL TEAMS BEING SPECIAL
• Pro Football Focus graded the Boilermakers' special teams at 91.1, the best in the nation, through the first four games of the year. The Boilermakers are now 11th at 88.2.
• Purdue was ranked atop the ESPN Football Power Index Special Teams Efficiency at 80.5 through the first four games, as well.
• Purdue is one of eight teams nationally and the only one from the Big Ten with three blocked kicks this season (2 - FG, 1 - Punt).
• Purdue ranks eighth in the Big Ten in kickoff return average (20.9), seventh in kick return defense (16.1) and eighth in net punting (41.4).
• Elijah Jackson is fifth in the conference with 18.1 yards per kick return this season.
• Punter Keelan Crimmins is 20th nationally and fourth in the Big Ten with a 44.6 punt average on the year.
• In his second year with the program, special teams coach Chris Petrilli has boosted the Boilermakers' special teams, including the kickoff return for a touchdown last season, the program's first in more than a decade.