Purdue at Minnesota

Time: 3:30 p.m. ET

TV: BTN (Cory Provus play-by-play, Glen Mason analyst, Allison Hayes sidelines)

Radio: Sirius 134 / XM 196 / Tunein.com

Pregame: Gold and Black Radio at 11 a.m. Friday | Gold and Black LIVE at 2 p.m. Friday

Purdue roster | Purdue Schedule/Results | Purdue Game Notes | Purdue Depth Chart

Minnesota roster | Minnesota schedule/Results | Minnesota Game Notes | Minnesota Depth Chart

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Here is our breakdown of the 72nd meeting between the teams (Minnesota leads the series 36-32-3):

After Markell Jones' dazzling 23-yard run in the first quarter against Penn State, it looked for a second against Purdue might have some semblance of a ground game. But it was short-lived. The past three games, the Boilermakers are laboring big time on the ground, averaging 1.7 yards per rush attempt with just 117 yards total in the three losses to Iowa, Nebraska and Penn State. Minnesota's rush defense is its strength, ranking fourth in the Big Ten giving up just 130 yards per contest. If Purdue gets to the Gophers' average, it would be considered a triumph.

Boilermaker quarterback David Blough has been busy the past three games. His 152 attempts is the most by an Purdue quarterback over a three-game span dating back to Brandon Kirsch in 2005. Blough has put up Big Ten leading numbers, but Purdue's team passing efficiency still ranks 106th out of 128 FBS teams. Minnesota has given up an average 212 yards per contest through the air, so Purdue should put up numbers again. But will it put up points?

Purdue's rush defense is at historic levels for ineffectiveness, and Minnesota might add to the struggle. The Gophers amassed over 300 yards in rushing against Purdue last year, with Shannon Brooks gaining 176 yards in just 17 attempts. As a team, Minnesota gained over 300 yards and its ground game remains the strength of a productive offense (4th in Big Ten, 207 yards per game). Brooks plays second fiddle to Rodney Smith, who has rushed for over 100 yards in three straight games. Quarterback Mitch Leidner is also a threat in the running game.

Leidner has been maligned, to some extent, for his inability to be a consistent passer throughout his career. Yet he is one of just four quarterback nationally to have 25 career rushing touchdowns to go along with 30 scores through the air. Since 2011, the Gophers have completed 39 percent of their TD passes to its tight ends. While the productivity isn't quite as big from that position as it has been in recent years, Leidner likes to spread the wealth in the passing game. Also, Minnesota's line has done a decent job protecting Leidner, so in passing situations Purdue's young, and unproductive secondary will be exposed.

Neither team has a punting game that is spectacular, but both punters are strong at pinning the opposition deep. Purdue, thanks to the efforts of sophomore Joe Schopper, are third in the Big Ten in net punting while Minnesota's Ryan Santoso, who also handles kickoff duties, is seventh. The biggest difference in the return game(s) might be on kickoffs, were Minnesota is 23rd nationally averaging 24.4 per. Smith had a 94 yard kickoff return for a score vs. Rutgers. Santoso's longest career field goals was his 52-yard game winner against Purdue back in 2014, while Purdue's J.D. Dellinger has struggled with consistency in his rookie season.

While few give it a chance to win the West Division, Minnesota controls its destiny to the title game (as long as Iowa loses again). Yes, this is the easiest game on remaining Gophers' schedule so it is possible the home team gets complacent as it did in a 34-32 win over lowly Rutgers two weeks ago. Still, the Gophers have a knack for doing what it takes to win, and one statistic bears that out more than most. Minnesota ranks first in the Big Ten with a +1.25 turnover marking, while the Boilermakers are dead last in the league in that category (-1.25).

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