I’m gonna go ahead and call this “rock bottom” for the Jeff Brohm era.
If it isn’t rock bottom, you certainly can see it from here after another tough loss.
Nebraska 37, Purdue 27.
By the time Purdue Pete looked up from his bowl soup today, the Boilermakers were losing, 17-0. Honestly, after the blocked punt on Purdue's first possession, the Boilers seemed doomed.
Do you remember that 2-0 start? I don't.
Jeff Brohm's teams have made losing close games an art form. Entering the day, their first five games had been decided by 28 points. The previous three—all losses—were decided by a combined 17.
Today's 10-point loss was an outlier. What's gonna happen next Saturday at Indiana?
It seems each of the last three games, we’ve thought the Boilermakers faced a must-win situation. And, each time, they have come up short vs. teams that had losing records when they met Purdue. Minnesota was 1-3; Rutgers and Nebraska were 1-4. And the Boilers were favored in each game ... and lost.
Now, Purdue is carrying a four-game losing streak for the first time since Darrell Hazell’s final season in 2016. And, you never want your name associated with Hazell. But, here we are.
The Boilermakers must to go Indiana next week to face the best Hoosier in a generation. Yes, IU will be without star quarterback Michael Penix. Still, this will be a formidable opponent for the Boilermakers.
Then, a clash with a TBD East Division foes looms. Penn State? Michigan? Michigan State?
My point: Purdue may be looking at a 2-6 record with no bowl for a second season in succession.
If you are keeping track, that would be the third losing season in a row under Jeff Brohm, who went 6-7 in 2018 and 4-8 last year after igniting optimism with a 7-6 debut in 2017. Add it all up: Brohm has a 19-25 overall record at Purdue with a 14-19 Big Ten mark. Results that don't match his bank account.
Is this where you thought you’d see the program toward the end of Brohm’s fourth season? I know he inherited a bad situation from Hazell, but progress hasn't been tangible the last two seasons.
Injuries ... youth ... LOTS of staff changes ... we all know the reasons often cited for the on-field foibles. But four years in? And we have ... this? Joe Tiller was going to the Rose Bowl in his fourth season.
Things are trending the wrong way. Since that magical 49-20 victory vs. No. 2 Ohio State in 2018, Brohm is 8-16.
This was a one-win Nebraska team that had lost its last two games. Yet, the Huskers largely had their way with Purdue in every phase of the game.
The special teams lapses are stupefying. A blocked punt on Purdue's first possession was the latest gaffe. It was dispiriting to see after the team allowed a kickoff return for a TD last week and missed two field goals the week before. Punting has been mostly bad ... kickoffs go out bounds ... punts and kickoffs are bobbled.
The blocked punt gave Nebraska the ball on Purdue’s 1-yard line. It scored a TD on the next play to take a 7-0 lead on a one-play, two-second scoring drive less than three minutes into the game.
It was crushing.
The poor start snowballed, as the Boilermakers trailed 17-0 less than three minutes into the game. Purdue never was able to dig itself out of the hole.
The defense made its share of mistakes, and the offense got no traction in the ground game.
Wash, rinse, repeat.
And then there were the penalties. Purdue was whistled for 11 for 126 yards. The lack of discipline is noteworthy.
All of this unfolded in the wake of news that the team had several players opt out after last week’s game vs. Rutgers. Yes, players have their reasons—and some may be health-related to COVID-19. But, it’s not a good look for the program to see players bolt with three games left. Would this have happened if Purdue was 3-2 or 4-1? Dunno.
I will leave you with this: Things never are as bad as they seem ... or as good as they seem.
If it isn’t rock bottom, you certainly can see it from here after another tough loss.
Nebraska 37, Purdue 27.
By the time Purdue Pete looked up from his bowl soup today, the Boilermakers were losing, 17-0. Honestly, after the blocked punt on Purdue's first possession, the Boilers seemed doomed.
Do you remember that 2-0 start? I don't.
Jeff Brohm's teams have made losing close games an art form. Entering the day, their first five games had been decided by 28 points. The previous three—all losses—were decided by a combined 17.
Today's 10-point loss was an outlier. What's gonna happen next Saturday at Indiana?
It seems each of the last three games, we’ve thought the Boilermakers faced a must-win situation. And, each time, they have come up short vs. teams that had losing records when they met Purdue. Minnesota was 1-3; Rutgers and Nebraska were 1-4. And the Boilers were favored in each game ... and lost.
Now, Purdue is carrying a four-game losing streak for the first time since Darrell Hazell’s final season in 2016. And, you never want your name associated with Hazell. But, here we are.
The Boilermakers must to go Indiana next week to face the best Hoosier in a generation. Yes, IU will be without star quarterback Michael Penix. Still, this will be a formidable opponent for the Boilermakers.
Then, a clash with a TBD East Division foes looms. Penn State? Michigan? Michigan State?
My point: Purdue may be looking at a 2-6 record with no bowl for a second season in succession.
If you are keeping track, that would be the third losing season in a row under Jeff Brohm, who went 6-7 in 2018 and 4-8 last year after igniting optimism with a 7-6 debut in 2017. Add it all up: Brohm has a 19-25 overall record at Purdue with a 14-19 Big Ten mark. Results that don't match his bank account.
Is this where you thought you’d see the program toward the end of Brohm’s fourth season? I know he inherited a bad situation from Hazell, but progress hasn't been tangible the last two seasons.
Injuries ... youth ... LOTS of staff changes ... we all know the reasons often cited for the on-field foibles. But four years in? And we have ... this? Joe Tiller was going to the Rose Bowl in his fourth season.
Things are trending the wrong way. Since that magical 49-20 victory vs. No. 2 Ohio State in 2018, Brohm is 8-16.
This was a one-win Nebraska team that had lost its last two games. Yet, the Huskers largely had their way with Purdue in every phase of the game.
The special teams lapses are stupefying. A blocked punt on Purdue's first possession was the latest gaffe. It was dispiriting to see after the team allowed a kickoff return for a TD last week and missed two field goals the week before. Punting has been mostly bad ... kickoffs go out bounds ... punts and kickoffs are bobbled.
The blocked punt gave Nebraska the ball on Purdue’s 1-yard line. It scored a TD on the next play to take a 7-0 lead on a one-play, two-second scoring drive less than three minutes into the game.
It was crushing.
The poor start snowballed, as the Boilermakers trailed 17-0 less than three minutes into the game. Purdue never was able to dig itself out of the hole.
The defense made its share of mistakes, and the offense got no traction in the ground game.
Wash, rinse, repeat.
And then there were the penalties. Purdue was whistled for 11 for 126 yards. The lack of discipline is noteworthy.
All of this unfolded in the wake of news that the team had several players opt out after last week’s game vs. Rutgers. Yes, players have their reasons—and some may be health-related to COVID-19. But, it’s not a good look for the program to see players bolt with three games left. Would this have happened if Purdue was 3-2 or 4-1? Dunno.
I will leave you with this: Things never are as bad as they seem ... or as good as they seem.
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