Purdue hoping fast start against Indiana State puts it on road to defy last-place projections

Indiana State at Purdue, Saturday, 12 p.m. ET (BTN)

BetMGM College Football Odds: Purdue by 33 1/2.

Series record: Purdue 6-0.

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

With six losses in their last eight season-openers, slow starts have become the norm at Purdue. The Boilermakers have gotten through their first four games with only one winning record over the last seven seasons. And if they want to prove the prognosticators’ last-place predictions wrong, they need to keep their perfect record intact against an in-state, FCS foe. The Sycamores, meanwhile, have won fewer games in three successive seasons since going 5-6 in 2021. A win at Purdue could change everything for the program.

KEY MATCHUP

Indiana State QB Elijah Owens vs. Purdue’s secondary. Owens appeared in just four games last season, successfully preserving his redshirt year while showing enough promise to become the projected starter this year. But poor quarterback play last season doomed Indiana State to a 1-10 record. And they’ll need to be better against a Purdue defense that features preseason All-American S Dillon Thieneman but lost 2023 Big Ten sacks champ Nic Scourton in the transfer portal.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Indiana State: DB Maddix Blackwell. What Thieneman does for Purdue, Blackwell does for the Sycamores. He’s coming off a season in which he led the Sycamores in tackles (107), fumble recoveries (three), interceptions (two) and forced fumbles (two). Now the first-team preseason all-conference honoree will get to test himself against a Big Ten foe.

Purdue: QB Hudson Card. While Thieneman is always worth watching, the Boilermakers need Card to improve. Last year, he completed just 58.9% of his throws with 15 TDs and eight interceptions in his most extensive college action. His completion percentage needs to be closer to 70% and he needs to protect the ball better, too.

FACTS & FIGURES

A Purdue victory would give Purdue the seventh 7-0 series start against a team, six of those being Indiana schools. ... Indiana State has been outscored 253-76 in the first six contests in West Lafayette, including a 56-0 loss in 2022. ... The Boilermakers led the Big Ten with 184.6 yards rushing in conference games last season. ... Sycamores coach Curt Mallory has deep coaching roots in the state, with his late father, Bill, still holding the title of winningest coach in Indiana Hoosiers history. ... Thieneman broke Purdue’s freshman record with 74 solo tackles last year, becoming the Boilermakers fourth All-American in three seasons. ... Indiana State is one of three in-state Purdue faces this season. No. 7 Notre Dame visits Ross-Ade Stadium on Sept. 14, and the Boilermakers will close the regular season at rival Indiana.

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