WEST LAFAYETTE — Purdue football opened the season by dictating terms to an undermanned opponent and controlling the game from the opening kickoff.Â
The Boilermakers even looked explosive at times in Barry Odom’s debut — a 31-0 victory over Ball State. An 11-game losing streak ended, but more importantly, a new era began on a positive note.Â
This was not a Big Ten Conference opponent, nor was it a Big Ten performance in some areas. Unquestionably, it was a confident next step in Odom’s process.
Here is what I liked, disliked and what it the victory means for the Boilers.
What I liked in Purdue football’s win vs Ball State
We anticipated a Purdue offense endeavoring to establish the run with mobile quarterback Ryan Browne and four-year starting running back Devin Mockobee.Â
Perhaps that identity will solidify over time. On Saturday, though, the Boilers saw a matchup they could exploit and they attacked it heavily from the start.Â
Browne targeted Arhmad Branch, one of the preseason camp breakouts, on his first four pass attempts. They went for a Ball State pass interference on the game’s first play from scrimmage, a stutter-stepping and spinning 49-yard touchdown reception, a 17-yard catch and a 35-yard hookup down the sideline.
Branch achieved the first 100-yard game by a Purdue wide receiver since 2023 before the end of the first quarter. He looks like a legitimate playmaker. If he and Browne cultivate that connection, it can open up more opportunities for the rest of the offense.Â
- Speaking of Browne, he threw and rushed for a touchdown and completed 11 of 14 passes for 204 yards before halftime. Purdue says it has confidence in all of its quarterbacks. It needed to leave this game with additional confidence in its starter, and did.Â
- By my count, 23 players lined up on defense for at least one snap in the first half. That suggests a game plan based on using depth as a strength and further developing some long-term upside via game reps. And those backups made plays. Breeon Ishmail recorded a tackle for loss on his first snap. Crew Wakley entered in the second quarter, nearly picked off a pass and leveled maybe the game’s biggest hit.Â
What I disliked in Purdue football’s win vs Ball State
Gonna need to nitpick a bit here, but that’s what the coaches will do after any victory, too.Â
For instance, defensive coordinator Mike Scherer will probably have some critiques of the holes Ball State opened up front to break off five explosive runs in the second and third quarters. Another on fourth-and-2 in the fourth quarter went for a 37-yard gain.
The Cardinals are a run-based offense with quarterback Kiael Kelly, so they were going to break one occasionally. Doesn’t mean the Boilers don’t need to tighten up those gaps before the big teams start coming to Ross-Ade.Â
It would have been of greater concern, though, had Purdue allowed Ball State to beat it in the air. The Cardinals achieved no explosive pass plays.Â
- Browne definitely wants a few of Saturday’s throws back. A couple carried real turnover potential, and the batch of ranked teams still ahead on the schedule won’t let him get away with those mistakes unscathed.Â
- The rushing offense averaged 3 yards per carry and managed no rushes over 13 yards. Browne did use Mockobee and Antonio Harris as receivers for nice gains. Still, more firepower was expected on the ground.
What Purdue football’s win over Ball State means
I don’t need to tell Boiler fans not to be too enamored with season-opening results against lower-level opponents. Next week’s home game against FCS Southern Illinois won’t tell us much about this team’s readiness for USC and Notre Dame, either.
Purdue could not win or lose those games Saturday. This victory was about setting a foundation. The defense looks like it can be the reason this team wins games. Browne and his receivers hinted at what could come as they continue to improve and jell. The coaches gained a valuable data set by which to evaluate a substantial portion of the roster.
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