Purdue will try to build on its 21-point opening day victory over Eastern Kentucky to post the first back-to-back wins in the Darrell Hazell Era. It won't be easy though as Cincinnati, fresh off a relatively unimpressive 28-7 win over FCS opponent Tennessee-Martin, has been installed an early six-point favorite.
Here are three things you should know about the Boilermaker opponent for the third game between the schools in series history (Purdue won in 19-14 in 2001 and lost 42-7 in 2013 in Nippert Stadium in Hazell's debut) and for the first meeting ever between the Bearcats and Boilermakers in Ross-Ade Stadium:
1. Gunner Kiel is not the guy at quarterback.
Gunner Kiel is buried deep, real deep (third team), on the Bearcats' depth chart. In Game 1, Hayden Moore took the reins at quarterback and helped the Bearcats rally from a 7-6 deficit late in the third quarter to a 21-point victory over UT-Martin. The Bearcats had a balanced offense, both running it and passing it 32 times.
2. Tuberville starting over to some extent.
Fourth-year coach Tommy Tuberville is now 26-14 at UC and in some ways the Bearcats are starting over.
There are similarities to Purdue. Both teams struggled a bit in their season openers against Ohio Valley Conference teams and won by identical 21-point margins. But the likeness doesn't end there. Tuberville has a new offensive coordinator (Zac Taylor), new defensive coordinator system (co-coordinators Jeff Koonz and Robert Prunty), a new starting quarterback to begin the year in Moore) and more.
There were four new starters on the offensive line alone, with center Deyshawn Bond the lone holdover. Guards Keith Minor and Will Steur started in place of regulars Idarius Ray and Ryan Leahy, who have been dealing with injuries. The latter two eventually played. Tackles Ryan Stout and Korey Cunningham are also new to the starting lineup.
UC made adjustments and started to shut the UT-Martin run game down and get more pressure up front. UTM failed to score after that opening drive and the Bearcats were led by linebacker Eric Wilson (15 tackles, 2 sacks, 3 tackles for loss), safety Zach Edwards (12 tackles) and safety Tyrell Gilbert (9 tackles, 58-yard interception return for TD).
3. History doesn't favor the 'Cats on the road in the Big Ten
The Bearcats are favored to post their first victory in a Big Ten venue in 59 years, since it beat Indiana 21-0 on Nov. 9, 1957.
UC has won just twice on the road in the Big Ten in its history (both against IU) against 22 losses. They are 0-9 all time at Ohio State, 2-7 at Indiana, 0-2 at Wisconsin and have lost once at Iowa, Illinois, Northwestern and Penn State (since the Lions joined the Big Ten in 1993).
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