Purdue vs. Oregon State breakdown and discussion with Tom Dienhart, followed by special guests Mike Berghoff, Chairman of the Purdue Board of Trustees, and football legend Bart Burrell.

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More about the duel

Purdue at Oregon State, from the perspective of the duel.

Date/Time: Saturday, September 21, 8:30 ET

Location: Reser Stadium

Surface: FieldLawn

Capacity: 35,548 (Tickets)

Schedules/Records 2024: : Purdue 1-1 (0-0 Big Ten), Oregon State 2-1

Series notes: The rematch, after a home-and-away match, will be only the third meeting between the Boilermakers and the Beavers. Oregon State won a surprise 22-14 victory in West Lafayette in 1967, when the Boilermakers were ranked No. 2 nationally. Purdue opened the 2021 season with a 30-21 victory under the lights at Ross-Ade Stadium. Purdue’s only other game at Oregon State came in 2009, when the Boilermakers lost to Oregon in Eugene.

TV: The CW (PxP Ted Robinson, Analyst Ryan Leaf, Sidelines Nigel Burton)

Radio: Purdue Sports Properties (PxP Tim Newton, Analyst Mark Herrmann, Sidelines Derek Schultz)

Line: Oregon State -5.5, Over/Under 50

Weather: High 73/Low 49, partly cloudy skies

Purdue-OSU: A key duel

The running game

Oregon State looks to run the ball early and often. The Beavers’ running plays (141) are nearly twice as frequent as their passing plays (76) through three games. The tandem of Anthony Hankerson and Jam Griffin will share the runs in the backfield, as each back averaged more than 90 yards per play on Saturday. That stat may be a bit misleading, however, as each back ran for more than 150 yards in the season-opening win over FCS Idaho State.

Purdue will see another running quarterback, as they will have to keep an eye on Gevani McCoy. Although he has only run the ball nine times this year, he has done so at a rate of over six yards per carry. Until Purdue proves it can keep mobile quarterbacks in check, opponents will look to test the Boilermakers on read plays.

Missed tackles plagued Purdue’s run defense and were a major factor in the game spiraling out of control against the Fighting Irish. Pro Football Focus blamed Purdue’s defense for 15 missed tackles, some of which were caused by prominent defensive players. Purdue’s back half of the defense failed to always get the right angles and did a poor job of breaking tackles, leading to explosive plays by Notre Dame.

Having recorded just one tackle for loss on a running play, Purdue will look to create more disruption in the running game. Mobile quarterbacks continue to trouble the Boilermakers’ defense, although Riley Leonard’s damage has largely been caused by designed runs or option plays. The lateral running game has also hurt Purdue, revealing a certain lack of speed. Expect Purdue to try to shift more runs to the middle of the defense instead of the perimeter to limit explosive plays.

Before the game:First Look: Purdue-Oregon State | First and tenth: Purdue at Oregon State | Purdue’s Ryan Walters: “Expect us to respond properly” | Number juggling: Purdue-Oregon State week |
The 3-2-1: How will Purdue react after the historic defeat? | Traveling to the West Coast: Sun, surf, mountains, losses for Purdue | In the huddle: Jeffrey M’Ba | Opponent view: Oregon State |