The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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130 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2025 FOOTBALL PREVIEW GAME 9 • PURDUE BOILERMAKERS • NOV. 1 Purdue Will Try To Rebound From One-Win Season BY CLAYTON SAYFIE Purdue played Michigan in the 2022 Big Ten championship game, just days before head coach Jeff Brohm left for his alma mater, Louisville. The program has not been the same since — not to suggest that some sort of drop-off wasn't expected after one of the Boilermakers' best seasons ever. Purdue has won only five games after its 21st-ever eight-win cam- paign. Ryan Walters, previously the defensive coordinator at Illinois, had a disastrous two-year tenure that concluded with his firing following the 2024 season. The Boilermakers went 5-19 overall, includ- ing 1-11 with an 0-9 conference mark last year. Walters is now the defensive coor- dinator at Washington under Jedd Fisch. There's a lot of work to do, but bringing in 48-year-old Barry Odom as Walters' successor has been viewed favorably by experts, earning Purdue an "A-" grade from The Athletic and an "A" review from CBS Sports. Odom, who spent two seasons at UNLV, led the Rebels to 10 regular-season victo- ries in 2024, putting them in contention for a College Football Playoff spot before falling to Boise State, 21-7, in the Moun- tain West championship game. UNLV had made just one bowl game this century (2013) before Odom arrived and led it to two consecutive postseason appearances. In addition, the program had never been ranked in the Associated Press or College Football Playoff poll before entering the top 20 in each last year, showing Odom's ability to lead a turnaround job. This one will be tricky, though. Purdue lost and gained more than 50 transfers and ranks 127th out of 136 FBS teams in ESPN's returning production metric, with only one starter coming back on offense or defense — senior running back Devin Mockobee. A lack of continuity to that degree rarely ends well in the short term — not that Odom had any choice but to replace players who bolted for the portal. Twelve of the team's 22 offensive or de- fensive starters transferred to other Power Four institutions, suggesting there was some talent that Walters didn't get the most out of and Odom won't get to coach. From culture and production stand- points, Mockobee is a solid player for Odom to build around offensively. The 6-foot, 207-pound Boonville, Ind., na- tive has amassed 2,462 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns in 37 games over the last three seasons, after walking onto the program. He's 1,169 rushing yards away from Mike Alstott's Purdue career rushing record — within reach with a big season. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Ryan Browne was both a transfer portal depar- ture and addition this offseason, leaving for North Carolina but returning to West Lafayette this spring after one semester. If there's any confidence regarding the Boilermakers this season, it's that Browne can play at the form he did against Illi- nois a year ago, starting in replacement of the injured Hudson Card. The Clarkston, Mich., native threw for 297 yards and 3 touchdowns and rushed for 118 yards in a 50-49 overtime loss in Champaign. He opened two tilts a year ago and completed 43 of his 76 passes for 532 yards and 4 touchdowns with 2 picks. A former defensive coordinator, Odom builds his teams from the inside out, and that has not changed since his arrival at Purdue. He brought in nine transfers each on the offensive and defensive lines. The defense doesn't return a single starter, making way for transfers such as former Michigan edge Breeon Ishmail to make their mark. There's uncertainty all around, but coordinator Mike Scherer is known for having a disruptive defense, with his units at UNLV forcing a total of 50 turnovers over the last two seasons. ❑ REASONS FOR OPTIMISM • Barry Odom just turned around UNLV • A fresh start • Devin Mockobee provides stability at RB Dozens of transfer portal departures made for lots of roster turnover, but perhaps that's what Purdue needed in the long term. REASONS FOR CONCERN • Lack of continuity • QB is a big question • The Big Ten is a beast Somebody has to finish last in the Big Ten. That was Purdue a year ago, and CBS Sports ranked the Boilermakers dead last in the conference in their post-spring power rank- ings this year. 2025 SCHEDULE Date Opponent 2024 Result Aug. 30 BALL STATE — Sept. 6 SOUTHERN ILLINOIS — Sept. 13 USC — Sept. 20 at Notre Dame L, 66-7 Oct. 4 ILLINOIS L, 50-49 (OT) Oct. 11 at Minnesota — Oct. 18 at Northwestern L, 26-20 (OT) Oct. 25 RUTGERS — Nov. 1 at Michigan — Nov. 8 OHIO STATE L, 45-0 Nov. 15 at Washington — Nov. 29 INDIANA L, 66-0 QUICK FACTS All-Time Series: Michigan leads 47-14 First Meeting: U-M 34, Purdue 6 (Nov. 1, 1890, in Ann Arbor) Last Meeting: U-M 41, Purdue 13 (Nov. 4, 2023, in Ann Arbor) Head Coach: Barry Odom, 0-0 at Purdue (first year), 45-33 overall (seventh year) 2024 In Review: 1-11, 0-9 Big Ten Final 2024 Ranking: Unranked Returning Starters: 2 (1 offense, 0 de- fense, 1 specialist) Last Bowl Appearance: 2022 (Citrus Bowl vs. LSU, L 63-7) RETURNING LEADERS Passing: Ryan Browne (532 yards, 4 TD) Rushing: Devin Mockobee (687 yards, 4 TD) Receiving: Devin Mockobee (170 yards, 1 TD) Tackles: Smiley Bradford (17) Sacks: Winston Berglund (1) Interceptions: None Running back Devin Mockobee has averaged 4.9 yards per carry during his career. PHOTO COURTESY PURDUE ATHLETICS