Dominos are continuing to fall.
Purdue 6 – Wisconsin 52
Pre-Game
With a new play caller this week, we were looking for any toss-ups or sparks. Yeah, that didn’t happen.
Offense
The offense is incapable of overcoming even the slightest hiccup on a drive. Whether it be a holding call, an incomplete pass, or a stuffed run, if the offense is not gaining positive yards every single play, the drive is doomed to fail. Purdue completed only 2 drives longer than 5 plays: both scoring drives that took 9 plays to go 42 yards and 8 plays to go 46 yards.
Even with the return of Jahmal Edrine, the offense just looks broken. Wisconsin’s defense allowed more points to both South Dakota (an FCS team) and Western Michigan and yet the team with Big Ten caliber players can only muster two field goals on short fields. The only bright side is that it very apparently cannot get much worse. At this point, I would rather see Devin Mockobee and Reggie Love run the ball 50 times a game. They at least seem to be the heart of a dead offense. I cannot fathom a way that Jason Simmons elevates this offense either. The plays were installed but nothing seems to work at all. Pain.
Defense
Defense is supposed to be Ryan Walter’s bread and butter but a middling Wisconsin team dropped a hammer on the defense. In 4 FBS games this season, Purdue’s defense has allowed 184 points. That’s 46 per game. Yes, it’s no coincidence that the majority of the opponents points are scored after halftime, but that excuse can only get so far. Wisconsin had nearly 600 yards of total defense and scored a touchdown on 5 consecutive drives. There is no fortitude on defense. Luckily for the team, the secondary was able to get it’s first 2 interceptions of the year or the offense may not have scored at all.
Takeaways
We are getting into “Fire Walters” territory. As much as Walters deserves a third season, the team gone backwards in year two. Walters has already lost the top recruit of the 2025 class after the Wisconsin game and the wave could be starting. Yes, Graham Harrell got a head-start to the door but unless Ryan Walters can make palpable changes in the next 7 games, he might have to get the axe. Too bad those games include Ohio State, Penn State, and Oregon.