First Look: Wisconsin

The last meeting: Wisconsin 30, Purdue 13 (Oct. 23, 2021 in West Lafayette)

Michigan State vs. Wisconsin, 2022

Wisconsin at Northwestern, 10/8/2022

Here's an early look at Purdue's eighth opponent in 2022, the Wisconsin Badgers.

Time: Saturday, Oct. 22, 3:30 PM EDT

Location: Camp Randall Stadium

Surface: FieldTurf

Capacity: 80,321

2022 schedules/records: Wisconsin 3-4 (1-3 Big Ten); Purdue 5-2 (3-1 Big Ten)

Series notes: Purdue heads to Madison on Saturday looking to reverse its fortunes against the Badgers. The Boilermakers trail the all-time series 29-51-8, but the glaring statistic lies in Wisconsin's current 15-game win streak over Purdue, dating back to 2004. Purdue last defeated Wisconsin in 2003, when Ben Jones kicked a game-winning field goal to earn a 26-23 victory. During the Badger win streak, just three of those contests have been decided by one score (2004, 2017, 2018).

TV: ESPN

Early line: Wisconsin -2

We're approaching the two-decade mark since the last time Purdue took down Wisconsin on the gridiron. It's 15 wins in a row and counting for the Badgers vs. the Boilermakers.

The streak began in 2004, when College GameDay visited West Lafayette. Purdue was ranked No. 5 nationally when a late fumble return touchdown by Wisconsin started a slide that led to a disappointing 2004 season. Since that moment, only two meetings between Purdue and Wisconsin have resulted in a one-score outcome.

The closest call came in 2018, when Purdue held a 14-point fourth quarter lead over the Badgers on a frigid November afternoon at Ross-Ade Stadium. Wisconsin rallied to force three overtimes, when Jonathan Taylor ran for a game-winning touchdown to extend the suffering.

This does, however, appear to be one of the best opportunities Purdue has had on paper against Wisconsin since the drought began. Can the Boilers "reverse the curse" and leave Madison with a win?

For the second consecutive week, Purdue will be facing a team led by an interim head coach. Wisconsin shocked the college football world on October 2, when it fired Paul Chryst after a 2-3 start to the season. Highly-regarded defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard took over as the interim head man, with a general thought that he's one of the leading candidates to be the next full-time coach.

Similar to Nebraska's interim situation, on-field results have been mixed to this point. In Leonhard's first game, Wisconsin raced past Northwestern 42-7, but the Badgers fell in double overtime to Michigan State 34-28 last weekend.

Purdue needs just one more win to reach the six-win mark and earn bowl eligibility. The Boilermakers could become bowl eligible in the month of October for the first time since 2007, when they left October with a 7-2 record.

Last season, Purdue became bowl eligible on the first Saturday of November with a 40-29 win over Michigan State. In its four previous bowl appearances, (2011, 2012, 2017 and 2018) Purdue had to defeat IU to earn a 6-6 record and become bowl eligible.

"They are a very good defense and always have been. We have really struggled to compete with them during my time here and long before that. Historically, Wisconsin doesn't beat itself, controls the football and is efficient on offense.

"They are taking some more risks in the passing game, and that will be a challenge for us because of how we defended in the Nebraska game."

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