Wisconsin at #25 Purdue GameDay Vitals

Purdue has a little number next to its name! Polls are a construct and ultimately meaningless unless you’re the elite of the elite, but finally, we don’t have to hear about that “longest active non-ranked streak for a Power 5 team” that has been hanging over us like a cloud since Indiana broke their 25 year streak in 2019. That mantle now passes to Kansas, who has not been ranked since 2009.

Now to the business of winning a game as a ranked team and staying around for a while. Purdue was only ranked one week in 2007, and it immediately lost to Ohio State in Ross-Ade Stadium, which is nearly as rare of an event as Purdue being ranked. Purdue has not won a game as a ranked team since since September 17, 2005 at Arizona 31-24. It then lost 6 straight, fell out of the top 25, and has only been in once (now twice!) since.

That team up next is the Wisconsin Badgers. Purdue has lost 14 in a row to Wisconsin, the longest streak of any opponent in Purdue history. We came extremely close in 2019 (GO FOR TWO IN OT 2, JEFF!!!), but these games have often not been close.

A win means a lot. It gets Purdue to 5-2 and a bowl game becomes very likely then. It means a second straight week in the top 25. It means we’re still alive (and even in first place!) in the Big Ten West. Wisconsin looks a little like Iowa in terms of overall profile (strong defense, shaky offense). We’re playing at home in front of a sold out crowd. We have a wave of momentum.