IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Purdue (2-3, 1-1 Big Ten) at Iowa (4-1, 1-1), Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (Peacock)
Line: Iowa by 1 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
Series record: Purdue leads 50-40-3.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
In the wide open Big Ten West, this is the kind of midseason game that can determine champions. Iowa has no more ranked teams on its schedule and could take control of the division. Two weeks after a loss to Wisconsin created a bleak outlook, a win this week could put the Boilermakers in a strong position to defend their division title.
KEY MATCHUP
Purdue secondary vs. Iowa QB Deacon Hill. Hill will make his first start in place of Cade McNamara, who is out for the season with a torn ACL. He takes over a passing offense that ranks last in the Big Ten. But he'll face the conference's second-worst passing defense.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Purdue: LBs Kydran Jenkins and Nic Scourton. Coach Ryan Walters promised to bring a strong defense to Purdue and these two are leading the way. Jenkins leads the Big Ten with four sacks. Scourton is tied for second with three. This week they could add to those numbers against a line that has struggled in pass protection.
Iowa: CB Cooper DeJean made up for lost time against Michigan State last week. He had gotten off to a slow start this season, but he had a big interception in the end zone early and a tie-breaking punt return for a touchdown late in the game.
FACTS & FIGURES
The Boilermakers won their last game at Iowa City in 2021 but haven't won back-to-back games there since 1978-79. ... Purdue and Iowa are the only Big Ten schools with touchdowns on offense, defense and special teams this season. ... Walters can become the first Purdue coach to win his first two road games since Knowlton Ames in 1891. The late Joe Tiller was the last Boilermakers coach to win his first Big Ten road game in 1997. ... This marks the 1,300th game in an Iowa program history dating to 1889.
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AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll
