Purdue (1-7, 0-5 Big Ten) is set to face No. 3 Ohio State (7-1, 4-1, ranked No. 2 in the CFP) this Saturday at noon EST, live on FOX.
Current betting odds from BetMGM favor Ohio State by a significant 37.5 points.
In their historical matchups, Ohio State holds a commanding lead with a series record of 41-14-2.
In terms of stakes for this matchup, Ohio State comes into the game with confidence after an impressive victory against then-No. 3 Penn State in their last outing. The Buckeyes will aim to maintain that momentum against Purdue, a team struggling at the bottom of the Big Ten standings. While they prepare for a more challenging schedule that includes pivotal games against No. 8 Indiana on November 23 and a heated rivalry game against Michigan on November 30, this match may feel somewhat like a letdown.
Purdue achieved a resounding 49-0 victory over Indiana State at the beginning of the season but has since endured a disappointing seven-game losing streak.
One of the key battles to watch will be between Ohio State’s passing attack and Purdue’s secondary. Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard has demonstrated his prowess with 19 touchdown passes, tying for the top spot in the Big Ten. His targeted wide receiver, freshman Jeremiah Smith, has accumulated 678 receiving yards and is tied for second in the conference with eight touchdown receptions. Conversely, Purdue’s defense has struggled immensely this season, ranking last in both total defense and pass defense in the Big Ten.
Players to keep an eye on include wide receiver CJ Smith from Purdue, who recently made a strong entrance into the Boilermakers lineup after transferring from Georgia. In his debut, Smith recorded four receptions for 55 yards and emerged as a key target for quarterback Hudson Card. With only eight players ahead of him in receptions on the team, his speed and athleticism may provide a boost to Purdue’s aerial offensive.
For Ohio State, Jeremiah Smith, the standout freshman wide receiver, leads the team with 39 catches for 678 yards and has eight touchdowns to his name, averaging 17.4 yards per reception.
Some noteworthy statistics include Purdue’s struggle, having lost four of their last five matchups against Ohio State. The Buckeyes have enjoyed a 10-game home winning streak against Purdue, with the last Boilermakers’ win occurring in 1988. This season, Purdue has faced heartbreak in two overtime losses, the most recent being against Northwestern last weekend and at then-ranked No. 23 Illinois on October 12. Card is anticipated to make his second consecutive start after returning from concussion protocol. On the ground, Purdue’s leading rusher, Devin Mockobee, has recorded two games over 100 yards this season but managed only 29 yards on ten carries last week against Northwestern. Meanwhile, the Buckeyes were ranked No. 4 when they faced off against No. 2 Penn State last week, during which Howard completed 16 of 24 passes for 182 yards, with touchdowns thrown to Emeka Egbuka and Brandon Inniss. Ohio State’s top running back, Quinshon Judkins, rushed for 96 yards during that game and currently leads the Buckeyes in rushing with 615 yards and six touchdowns.