Lafayette, IN – It’s college football, baby! Saturday afternoons are made for gridiron action, and this one’s no different as Purdue battles Nebraska in West Lafayette. Nebraska comes into this game riding the momentum of a one-game win streak, but the overall series between these two teams is deadlocked at six wins each. However, Nebraska holds a slight edge in Big Ten play, leading by one game.
With Big Ten conference play in full swing, there’s more than just a W on the line today—this game will break the series tie and give one team its first conference win of the season. Both teams had a chance to capitalize early with field goal attempts in the first quarter, but neither could convert, perhaps due to the windy 73-degree conditions in Indiana.
Regardless of the conditions, this game is a quintessential Big Ten showdown. Every yard gained, every down fought in the trenches matters as both squads vie for dominance and look to set the tone for the rest of their conference play.
As more fans poured into the stadium, the intensity of the game escalated—along with the penalties. Both teams struggled with discipline, racking up more penalty yards than points in the first half. Nebraska was flagged five times for 39 yards, while Purdue committed seven penalties for a costly 90 yards. One of Nebraska’s most crucial mistakes came when a would-be touchdown was called back due to offensive pass interference.
Purdue wasn’t spared either, as Hudson Card connected with Jaron Tibbs for what looked like a 50-yard touchdown. However, the play was wiped out because Card crossed the line of scrimmage before making the throw. Despite some comparisons between Nebraska’s quarterback Dylan Raiola and NFL star Patrick Mahomes, it was Hudson Card who had a Mahomes-esque moment when he completed a pass to himself, a move reminiscent of plays by NFL MVP Lamar Jackson and Mahomes himself.
In a gritty first half, Nebraska outgained Purdue, posting 196 total yards to Purdue’s 91. Dylan Raiola shined with 11 completions on 19 attempts for 161 yards, leading a more effective passing attack. Meanwhile, Purdue relied on its ground game with Reggie Love and Devin Mockobee, as Hudson Card struggled, completing just five of nine passes for 52 yards.
Special teams and defense took center stage when Purdue blocked Nebraska’s second field goal attempt, sending the crowd into a frenzy just before halftime. As the teams retreated to the locker room, the scoreboard remained empty, but the momentum was undeniably swinging in Purdue’s favor, setting the stage for an electrifying second half.
Both coaches likely emphasized reducing penalties and treating every possession like it was their last during halftime. Purdue emerged with their best drive of the day, consuming the clock with a 13-play, 55-yard march that resulted in their first field goal of the season. Spencer Porath nailed a 45-yard kick, putting the Boilermakers up 3-0 early in the second half.
However, Nebraska quickly responded, leveraging their ground game and capitalizing on penalties that led to first downs. Dylan Raiola connected with Jahmal Banks for a short 6-yard touchdown, putting Nebraska ahead late in the third quarter. This is what we call Big Ten gritty football, setting up an exciting finish to the game.
Nebraska found their rhythm in the second half, scoring once in the third and twice more in the fourth quarter. “Once we got it going, we couldn’t be stopped,” said quarterback Dylan Raiola. The defining moment came with just under six minutes left when Jacory Barney Jr. sealed the game with a 25-yard rushing touchdown, leaving fans feeling the game was all but over.
While die-hard football fans cling to the idea that “it ain’t over till the fat lady sings,” many Purdue fans began exiting the stadium early. Raiola made several key throws to receivers Jahmal Banks and Isaiah Neyor, while Emmett Johnson and Barney powered Nebraska’s ground attack, forcing Purdue to abandon their balanced game plan in favor of a desperate passing offense.
With the clock working against them, Purdue struggled to regain control. Hudson Card finally connected with Leland Smith for a 15-yard touchdown with less than two minutes left, but it was too little too late, as Nebraska’s defense had already put the game out of reach, even scoring a pick-six earlier in the half to make it 28-10.
Costly turnovers and penalties plagued Purdue, leading to a frustrating defeat. “Extremely disappointing and frustrating,” said Purdue coach Ryan Walters after the game. “From a defensive perspective, we tweaked a few things and made adjustments that I felt helped us.” Despite those efforts, Nebraska capitalized on every opportunity, pulling away with strong second-half adjustments to secure the win. Up next, Purdue travels to face Wisconsin, while Nebraska returns home to take on Rutgers.
