Purdue at Northwestern

Date/Time/Place: Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019: noon ET, Ryan Field

Surface: Natural Grass

Capacity: 47,130 (Tickets Available)

Schedule/records: Northwestern 1-7 in 2019, 9-5 in 2018; Purdue 3-6 in 2019, 6-7 in 2018

Line: Northwestern: -2.5

Series notes: Purdue leads the all-time series 50-32-1, but is in the midst of a five game losing streak to the Wildcats dating back to the Boilermakers' 20-17 win in Evanston on Oct. 9, 2010. In that game, the Wildcats were ranked in the coaches poll, making it the Boilermakers' most recent road win over a ranked foe (of any kind). Wildcats' coach Pat Fitzgerald has won seven of eight against the Boilermakers, and is 7-3 overall since taking over the reins at Northwestern in 2006. Purdue's five game skid is the longest by a Purdue team dating back to when the series began in 1895.

TV: BTN (Brandon Gaudin, PBP; James Laurinaitis, analyst; Elise Menaker, Field)

Radio (Purdue): Sirius 83 / XM 83/ Tunein.com (Tim Newton, play-by-play; Pete Quinn, analyst; Kelly Kitchel, sidelines; Nate Barrett, host). Coverage concludes with Boilermaker Sports Wrap with Rob Blackman (substituting for Barrett who will be in Evanston) and Alan Karpick at 30 minutes after game.

Pregame: Gold and Black Radio

Purdue roster | Purdue Schedule/results | Purdue Game Notes

Northwestern Roster | Northwestern Schedule/Results | Northwestern Game Notes | Northwestern Depth Chart

Evanston Weather

MORE: Opponent View: Northwestern | Data Driven: A look at Northwestern | Coach's Corner: D-line has shown improvement | Coach's corner: O'Connell has support of many, including Blough | Twin City Superstore video: DL coach Reggie Johnson talks Northwestern | Twin City Superstore Videos: O'Connell, Durham talk Northwestern and more | O'Connell's improbable journey from walk-on to starter

Northwestern prides itself on toughness and the ability to have an offense that is plodding, but efficient. Unfortunately this year has gone way off the rails. For Purdue to win on Saturday, it will need to stop a 'Cats ground game that has struggled. Drake Anderson (No. 6) leads the team in rushing with a 4.5 yards-per-carry average, but NU's ground game has really labored due in part to injuries and poor play at quarterback.

The Purdue run defense is improving, so look for the Boilermakers to stack the box and make whoever is the Wildcats' quarterback beat them. The usually stout NU offensive line has struggled, so there are opportunities for the Boilermakers to shut things down on Saturday. Also, the 'Cats quarterbacks (likely Aidan Smith (11) will start) haven't shown to be elusive in the run game, which will give the visiting Boilermakers a respite from what they had to face last week in Adrian Martinez.

No matter who the quarterback has been, NU's down-field passing game is almost non-existent. Riley Lees (19) is the most targeted wideout and has 28 catches to pace the squad. No other Wildcat has has more than 28 receptions. NU wideouts have struggled catching the football with Kyric McGowan (8) having had the most drops. The passing offense has been challenged to be nice, ranking 14th in the conference (124.3 ypg) with just two TD passes and 11 interceptions to go with a 47.2 completion percentage.

So if it is Smith, or much-heralded Clemson transfer Hunter Johnson (15), Purdue has a big opportunity to win this category, especially if it can slow the Wildcats' ground game.

Purdue's run game has shown signs of life the past two weeks, with season-best yardage performances in each successive contest. And the Wildcats' defense has had its ups and downs for Northwestern this season. NU has had 77 missed tackles and it ranks low in the Big Ten in tackles for loss (11th). Still, coach Jeff Brohm has voiced the concern that Purdue in the past two seasons has struggled to move the ball on the ground against NU - it ran for only 40 yards in 22 attempts in the cold of Ryan Field in a 23-13 loss in 2017. Last year, Purdue actually ran for 202 yards against the Wildcats in the season opener, but that number was inflated thanks to a 76-yard reverse TD by Rondale Moore. If you remove that one play from the stats, Purdue still averaged 5.5 yards per rush attempt, a number it would gladly take on Saturday.

Still, Northwestern’s top four graded players, according to PFF, are linemen. Alex Miller (95) is an anchor inside, with Samdup Miller (91) another strong end. Sam Miller, however, was lost for the season due to injury after the IU game.

Purdue is down to quarterback number three for this year, but walk-on Aidan O'Connell has shown he can sling it downfield. O'Connell, who doesn't figure to be near as mobile as Jack Plummer, may benefit from the fact that the Wildcats are 13th in the Big Ten, ahead of only Rutgers.

The Wildcats have been physical up front thanks to a couple of pretty good ends in Earnest Brown (99) and Joe Gaziano (97). They are the top graded NU defenders respectively, but Brown is out for the season.. Gaziano paces all linemen with 17 hurries. Paddy Fisher (42) is a good linebacker, but has struggled a bit in coverage. Fellow linebacker Chris Bergin (28) also is vulnerable versus the pass, meaning Purdue could attack with more passes to the running backs and tight ends.

NU has two good safeties in Travis Whillock (7) and JR Pace (13). Whillock is one of the defense's top playmakers. Greg Newsome (2) has been targeted the most per PFF and has been good in coverage, but he too was lost for the season after the IU game. One positive for the 'Cats, however, is senior captain Trae Williams (3) returns from injury and weill replace Newsome at cornerback.

Still, it is hard not to like what O'Connell did last week. Yes, he will be the first true walk-on quarterback to start for the Boilermakers in the past 50-plus years, but he has shown he can throw it and also has shown the ability to be calm under fire.

Points figure to be at a premium on Saturday, and McConnell has to avoid mistakes. If he does, Purdue can win this category, and ultimately the game.

Purdue had a tough week against Nebraska in the punt game and will need to get that area stabilized against the Wildcats. Field position figures to be key, and the Boilermakers can't afford any punts being blocked, let alone two. Northwestern punters have averaged under 38 per kick this year, and have had a good deal of practice. Place-kicker Charlie Kuhbrander has hit 8-of-10 field goals, but hasn't had an attempt of over 49 yards.

Purdue figures to have opportunities returning kickoffs, but with Jackson Anthrop dinged up and likely no Rondale Moore, its ability to do much in this area is suspect.

This one is so hard to call. Northwestern is a proud and successful program under coach Pat Fitzgerald. It has been surprising how far the 'Cats have fallen considering they won the West Division last year. One could argue that the Boilermakers and Wildcats are the two of the bigger surprises in the Big Ten, but the surprise hasn't been positive.

Brohm's team have historically been good in November, as he is 16-4 all-time as a head coach. And the Boilermakers are still in search of the post season, so they should have ample motivation on Saturday afternoon.

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