Saturday is one of those games that Buckeyes’ fans don’t even think they can lose.
Still, there are some important numbers to keep in mind when these two teams play in West Lafayette.
4-5
Interestingly, Ohio State is just 4-5 at Purdue this century. Those nine games include the 2018 upset in West Lafayette where unranked Purdue beat No. 2 Ohio State, 49-20.
100
The Buckeyes are 89-11 in their last 100 games, which dates back to the Cotton Bowl victory in 2017 against USC. Since the start of the 2013 season, the Buckeyes are 91-9 in their last 100 Big Ten games.
8-0
This Buckeyes team has aspirations of a repeat national championship. Still, being 8-0 is impressive.
Consider this is Ohio State’s 23rd time starting 8-0 in their 136 seasons. Not impressed? Well, this is Ohio State’s 11th 8-0 start in the last 25 years, and its fourth 8-0 start with Ryan Day as the head coach.
52
Ohio State’s defense is No. 1 in the nation in scoring defense allowing 6.9 points per game. The 55 points allowed is the fewest in over 50 years, or since the 1973 team allowed just 20 points through eight games.
4
Four different tight ends, including former Purdue tight end Max Klare, have caught touchdowns this season for the Buckeyes.
Will Kacmarek has two touchdowns, while Klare, Jelani Thurman, and Bennett Christian each have one touchdown for the Buckeyes.
3
Julian Sayin now has three games this season with 300+ passing yards, at least 80% completion, at least three touchdown passes, and no interceptions.
315
The 2023 game against Purdue at Ross-Ade Stadium was the first exclusively “streamed” Ohio State football broadcast, and the first not televised live via a traditional network in 315 games, or since the 1996 tape-delayed (CBS) game at Minnesota.
5
One player who won’t be playing for Purdue on Saturday is their star running back Devin Mockobee. Mockobee will go down as one of the best players in Purdue history, finishing his career in the program’s top 10 in five different categories: Rushing attempts (630), rushing yards (2,987), 100-yard rushing games (nine), all-purpose yards (3,864) and rushing touchdowns (23).
24
Purdue has beaten a top-five team 24 times in program history. They have four wins over Ohio State when the Buckeyes are ranked in the top five.
35
It’s been 35 years since the Boilermakers last played the nation’s No. 1 team.
2
The Boilermakers are one of only two teams in the country (Buffalo) to have three different 15-tackle performances this season. (Mani Powell – 20 at Northwestern, Charles Correa – 15 vs. Illinois, Tahj Ra-El – 15 vs. Rutgers).
42.5
Purdue leads the Big Ten with a net punting average of 42.5 yards. The Boilermakers also rank 12th nationally in punt return defense, allowing only 2.7 yards per return.
