First Look: Iowa

Series notes: Purdue leads the all-time series 49-39-3. Purdue has won three of the last four games, including last year's 24-20 season-opening victory with Brian Brohm on the sidelines while Jeff Brohm battled Covid-19. Jeff Brohm is 1-1 in games played in Iowa City, winning 24-15 in 2017 to help earn a bowl bid, and dropping a 26-20 decision in 2019. In fact, the Boilers have won two of their last four in Kinnick Stadium and are 20-22-2 in games played in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes had won four meetings in a row before Purdue's recent success. The Boilermakers won 20 in a row vs. Iowa from 1961-80. Since then, Purdue is 10-23-1 vs. the Hawkeyes.

TV: ABC

Early line: Iowa -11 (open)

A couple of quick storylines:

Could Purdue catch Iowa at a good time?

To achieve a 6-0 start, the No. 3 Hawkeyes won one of the biggest games played in Kinnick Stadium in years with a dramatic come-from behind 23-20 win over No. 4 Penn State. It's the highest ranked Hawkeye team Purdue has seen since '85, when quarterback Chuck Long and coach Hayden Fry had the Hawks ranked fifth prior to a trip to Ross-Ade Stadium.

A win for Purdue would be historic. The Boilermakers haven't beaten a top-5 ranked team at its home stadium in 47 years since a 31-20 upset of No. 2 Notre Dame in 1974, losing nine straight. The last time the Boilermakers beat a top-5 Big Ten team on the road was Oct. 17, 1964 when a sophomore quarterback named Bob Griese led Purdue to a 21-20 win over Michigan. The most recent contest against a top-5 ranked team was on Oct. 3, 2015 when No. 2 MSU barely escaped an upset by the Darrell Hazell-coached Boilermakers by a 24-21 score.

Iowa has a bye week after it plays Purdue, and then travels to Wisconsin.

Currently, the Hawkeyes are fourth in the nation in scoring defense, giving up just over 13 points per contest. But Purdue isn't far behind in the eighth spout, giving up just 15.4 per contest. They are eighth in the FBS in total defense, allowing just 274 yards per contest. Purdue is 15th nationally giving up 299.6 per contest.

Offensively, quarterback Spencer Petras is completing 61 percent of his passes with nine TDs and two interceptions. Junior running back Tyler Goodson leads Iowa in rushing with 518 yards and a 4.3 yards-per-carry average. Not surprisingly, Iowa has another stellar tight end, as Sam LaPorta leads the team with 23 receptions and a pair of scores.

Will Purdue get healthier?

In last year's game, David Bell had three touchdown receptions, but the difference might have been the fact that running back Zander Horvath gained 129 rushing yards (6.1 per carry) and actually wore the visitors down in a near-empty Ross-Ade Stadium.

Purdue had several key players return for the Minnesota game, and it is hoped that tight end Payne Durham, corner back Cory Trice and possibly (but not likely) Horvath will be available. King Doerue's career-best 95 yards rushing against Minnesota has to give the Boilermakers some hope they can move the ball on the ground. Doerue's health remains a week-to-week proposition, but the Boilermakers need him on Saturday in Iowa City.

Brohm on Iowa

"They just play efficient football, that has been Iowa's formula for some time. They just are doing it better than ever right now.

"Iowa is a team we have watched a great deal in the off season. They pride themselves in keeping their eyes on the quarterback and they have adjusted to not give up big plays. We were able to throw ball over the top (in a win in Iowa City in 2017), but they don't allow that anymore.

"On offense they just don't beat themselves. They control the ball and make it extra hard because they often control the clock.

"(It goes without saying) we will have our hands full on Saturday."

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