Nothing like Friday night football! And it's gonna be a cold one tonight in Dinkytown!!
This is a biggie for the Boilermakers (2-1) coming off a tough 27-20 loss at home to Northwestern, Purdue’s first defeat of 2020. How will it rebound vs. slumping Minnesota (1-3).
Big news has erupted even before kickoff.
Facing a compromised roster no doubt should augment Purdue's chance for victory. Same thing happened to Illinois before it played Purdue back on Oct. 31.
It seems like we will see sophomore Jack Plummer at quarterback after Jeff Brohm said junior Aidan O’Connell would be a “game-time decision” on Wednesday. O’Connell is dealing with what’s believed to be a left foot/ankle injury likely suffered vs. Illinois on Oct. 31. He played last Saturday vs. Northwestern but struggled.
Plummer has made six career starts, all last season, and played in seven games, taking over for an injured Elijah Sindelar two times in 2019. And Plummer showed promise before his season ended with an ankle injury vs. Nebraska on Nov. 2. The 6-5, 220-pound Plummer hit 144 of 241 passes (60 percent) for 1,603 yards and 11 touchdowns on the year and ran 62 times for 56 yards.
That opened the door for O’Connell, who showed promise in three season-ending starts and then won the job in training camp over Plummer and UCLA grad transfer Austin Burton.
Now, here we are: Back to Plummer.
Plummer likely won’t be the lone new face in the offensive lineup. Purdue could finally welcome back sophomore Rondale Moore, who has yet to play a snap while dealing with what’s believed to be a hamstring injury. No doubt, if Moore can play, it would be a huge lift to an offense that failed to tally 300 yards last week. He hasn’t played a snap since Sept. 28, when he hurt his left hamstring vs. … Minnesota.
Imagine Moore working in tandem with David Bell, who has 31 catches for 321 yards four TDs.
Hearing George Karlaftis will again do all he can to play tonight. And Purdue may be without DT Anthony Watts. Keep your eyes peeled.
That brings me to my keys to victory for Purdue, which is 0-5 all-time at TCF Bank Stadium.
1. Run the ball. It doesn’t have to be for 200 yards. But it can’t be just two, which it was last week on 17 carries. This will be a clash between the Big Ten’s worst rushing game (63.7 ypg) vs. the Big Ten’s worst rushing defense (238.3 ypg). Could we see more King Doerue? He debut last week with just one carry.
2. Defend the RPO. Minnesota executed it to perfection last year in obliterating the Boilers. The final was 38-31, but the outcome never was in doubt. P.J. Fleck’s team built a 38-17 lead and cruised. Gopher QB Tanner hit a stupefying 21-of-22 passes for 396 yards and 4 TDs. He will be looking to hook up with stud wideouts Rashod Bateman and Chris Autman-Bell.
3. Contain Mohamed Ibrahim, the nation’s No. 1 rusher (178.8 ypg). The junior has rushed 130 times for 715 yards (5.5 ypc) and 10 TDs. If Ibrahim is running wild, the Boilermakers may be in trouble.
Pick to click …
Give me Bell. If Moore does play, he’ll garner plenty of attention from the Gopher defense. And that will allow Bell to have another one of him monster games we all have come to expect from No. 3.
Last edited:
