Iowa City, Ia - Well, Purdue is 4-2.
It didn't get there as I envisioned. But, that's the fun of sports, right?
The Boilermakers were supposed to beat Minnesota the last time out during a homecoming game to move to 4-1.
Didn't happen.
But, Purdue got the loss back by taking down No. 2 Iowa today, 24-7, in a game that wasn't even that close.
This was an epic game for the program, the second over a No. 2 team in the nation for Jeff Brohm.
But, was the victory a program-changer?
This will tell.
Purdue's bowl hopes are very much alive, needing to go just 2-4 in the back half of the schedule to reach the six-win minimum for bowl eligibility. Quick Lane? Holiday? Guarantee Rate? Pinstripe? Duke's Mayo? Las Vegas? Gator? The bowl dream speculation game is fun.
Heck, the Boilers even can be included in the conversation to win the Big Ten West after one of the biggest wins in school history.
Why not?
Is Wisconsin better? Nebraska? Minnesota? No. No. No. Obviously Iowa is not.
The Badgers are up next. And, this may be the most vulnerable UW team since the early 1990s. The Boilers owe the Badgers, who have won 14 in a row vs. Purdue. The Boilermakers haven't topped Wisconsin in Ross-Ade Stadium since 1997. Purdue lost in triple OT to Wisconsin the last time it visited West Lafayette in 2018. And let's not even discuss the pain of the 2004 meeting.
Back to today.
This was the injection of hope this program needed coming off consecutive losing seasons. Had this game been in West Lafayette, no doubt there would have been a field rush.
Instead, Purdue players had to be content with silencing the homecoming crowd in Kinnick Stadium. And that's as much fun.
Give Brohm credit. He spent the off-week coming off with that three-quarterback plan that sparked an offense stuck in a 13 point, 13 point, 13 point rut. That's what coaches are supposed to do ... innovate, devise, scheme. And Brohm did just that. Kudos.
It will be fun to watch this three-headed QB configuration evolve. No doubt, having David Bell to throw to makes everyone better. Speaking of Bell, this quote from Brohm after today's game made my ears stand up:
"This is a guy that just a couple of weeks ago took a tremendous hit, knocked him out, bloodied his lip, got stitches," said Brohm. "And, you know, he could have easily said: 'You know what, I got an NFL career and I'm just gonna make sure I take care of that and move on.' But, he didn't. He came back as fast as he could."
Interesting.
The defense? Not much more to say. The unit continues to play the starring role each week. The new staff has been a revelation, developing this into one of the most underrated defenses in the nation that keeps Purdue in every game. When did Purdue last have a defense as good as this one?
It is gonna be a lot of fun to watch these last six games.
Incredible how one fateful Saturday can change everything.
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