Game Preview: Ohio State vs Purdue
November football always reveals who’s real and who’s running out of road. Through eight weeks, Ohio State has left no doubt. The Buckeyes are unbeaten, ranked No. 1 across every major poll, and carrying themselves with the controlled intensity of a team that knows a championship run is in reach. But this week brings something different: a trip to Ross–Ade Stadium, home to scars, storylines, and the occasional Spoilermaker nightmare.
The last decade has seen Ohio State field more talent, more depth, and more NFL-ready rosters, yet somehow, Ross–Ade still carries an edge-of-the-seat energy whenever the Buckeyes arrive. Purdue has beaten a Top-5 Ohio State team four different times, and they nearly knocked off Michigan last week. Barry Odom may be in Year 1 of a rebuild, but he has his team playing with pride, patience, and enough fight to hang around longer than anyone expects.
This matchup lines up as a crossroads for both programs. For Ohio State: stay on schedule, sharpen the run game, and keep stacking dominant defensive performances. For Purdue: turn the game muddy, shorten possessions, and ride the emotion of a home crowd that’s desperate for a spark.
Ohio State enters as the overwhelmingly better team. But on the road in November? Every detail matters.
Know The Opponent:
Head Coach: Barry Odom (1st Year)
2025 Record: 2-7 (0-6 Big Ten)
Conference: Big Ten
Location: West Lafayette, IN
Ohio State Preview
Purdue Preview
Purdue is rebuilding, but not quitting. Last week’s narrow loss at Michigan raised eyebrows across the Big Ten. Odom’s squad played with energy, physicality, and an edge that suggests a team refusing to accept its record. Purdue controlled tempo early, forced Michigan into uncomfortable downs, and showed clear defensive growth.
Offensively, though, Purdue is limited. Losing Devin Mockobee to injury gutted the ground game. Malachi Thomas and Al Maura Harris are serviceable backs, but none can replicate Mockobee’s vision or contact balance. That puts significant pressure on QB Ryan Browne, who shows flashes but struggles when facing heavy pressure — a dangerous mismatch against Ohio State.
Michael Jackson III is Purdue’s best offensive weapon, a crafty route-runner with over 450 receiving yards. He is their primary third-down target and the one player capable of moving the chains consistently. He’ll be tested by Ohio State’s elite DB trio of Igbinosun, Mathews Jr., and Downs — a matchup that heavily favors the Buckeyes.
Defensively, Purdue is better than the numbers suggest. CJ Nunnally IV has emerged as a legitimate pass-rush threat, and the linebackers fill well. But depth is thin, and when Purdue faces teams with elite receiver talent, things break down quickly. This is the worst possible matchup for a Boilermaker defense that has struggled to prevent explosive plays.
Buckeye Spotlight
Max Klare. Few players enter Saturday with more personal meaning than tight end Max Klare. The Purdue transfer returns to Ross–Ade for the first time since leaving the program — and he does so as a key piece of the No. 1 team in the nation. Klare has become one of Julian Sayin’s most trusted security blankets, especially on third down and in the red zone. Beyond the emotional stakes, this is a favorable football matchup for Klare. Purdue’s linebackers have struggled in coverage all season, and Day loves calling seam routes, option routes, and play-action crossers for Klare when defenses overcommit to Smith and Tate. A multi-catch, chain-moving afternoon feels likely — and a touchdown in his homecoming wouldn’t surprise anyone inside the Woody.
Boilermaker Spotlight
Michael Jackson III. With Mockobee sidelined, Jackson is Purdue’s offensive heartbeat. He’s the possession receiver, the safety valve, and the must-stop player in every critical situation. Jackson leads the team in catches and yards, and Browne trusts him implicitly. Purdue will try to isolate him on option routes and timing concepts, hoping to avoid Ohio State’s pressure packages. But this is also a game where he’ll be forced to earn everything. The Buckeyes rarely give free access throws and tackle as well as anyone in the country. If Jackson doesn’t break loose early, Purdue’s offense risks becoming one-dimensional in a hurry.
Water Cooler Stat of the Game
Ohio State is +118 in second-quarter scoring this season, best in FBS by a massive margin. The Buckeyes don’t just adjust — they ambush. Purdue, by contrast, is -62 in second-quarter scoring.
Prediction
Ohio State enters with the better roster, the better staff, and the better momentum — but the story of this game will be their discipline. Purdue will show toughness early, likely feeding off the home crowd and the energy that comes with a chance to take a swing at the No. 1 team in the nation. Odom will throw the kitchen sink at Sayin: disguised pressures, early run blitzes, and coverage rotations designed to force the freshman into checkdowns. For a quarter, maybe two, the Boilers may keep things manageable.
But the dam should break eventually. Ohio State’s second-quarter dominance will likely resurface as Sayin settles into rhythm and the Buckeyes begin attacking every level of the field. Tate and Smith should each find opportunities for explosive plays once Purdue commits extra defenders to the run, and Bo Jackson’s physicality could wear down a defense thin on depth. On the other side of the ball, Patricia’s front should suffocate Purdue’s running game and force Browne into hurried, off-platform throws — a recipe for turnovers.
By the fourth quarter, expect Ohio State to control possession, tempo, and field position, turning a competitive early stretch into yet another statement win on the road.
Ohio State 45 – Purdue 3
Photo Credit: The Columbus Dispatch