Gophers’ buzz zapped in a 41-13 blowout loss at Purdue

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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — P.J. Fleck’s Gophers have done it again.

Every other year, Minnesota produces a couple of rousing wins to make diehards start to believe in the potential for a special season and generate interest from casual fans.

Then they lose the next game. The 41-13 loss to Purdue at Ross-Ade Stadium on Saturday is the latest example.

The Gophers’ ability to win the Little Brown Jug from Michigan at home last week — a first since 1977 — and a road win at Washington two weeks ago put Minnesota at 2-0 in Big Ten play for the first time since Fleck’s best year in 2019.

The Gophers were a two-point road favorite at Purdue on Saturday but were blown out by a Boilermakers team that has now won consecutive Big Ten games for the first time since 2022.

In 2024, Minnesota rattled off four straight Big Ten wins before a 26-19 loss at Rutgers. In 2022, Minnesota started the season 4-0 and were ranked No. 21 before a 20-10 home loss to Purdue.

The tantalizing prospect of staying undefeated had athletics director Mark Coyle entertaining the heightened stakes during his pregame spot on KFXN-FM.

“With this game, you can put yourself in a really good spot,” Coyle said, looking ahead to the bye week and a home rivalry game against Iowa (5-1, 2-1) on Oct. 24.

That buzz is zapped for Minnesota (4-2, 2-1).

Purdue (3-3, 2-1) snapped a 19-game Big Ten losing streak with a win over Illinois last weekend, but its defense had struggled in losses to Wake Forest, UCLA and Notre Dame.

Minnesota’s offense managed one touchdown and was 4 for 15 in conversion situations.

Purdue running back Fame Ijeboi rushed 31 times for 195 yards and three touchdowns.

Ijeboi broke an Anthony Smith tackle and scored from 3 yards out to make it 20-3 with under two minutes left in the half.

In the opening half, the Boilermakers racked up 310 total yards and 198 rushing yards; Minnesota defense lacked gap integrity, coverage responsibilities and missed way too many tackles.

The Boilermakers averaged 7.9 yards per play and had 11 plays of at least 10 yards.

Minnesota’s first quarter was a disaster, with Purdue taking a 10-0 lead with a 98-yard touchdown drive and a 41-yard field goal drive, while U’s two offensive drives ended in punts.

In the second quarter, Fleck called a timeout to challenge the spot of a pass completion, it was moved from the Purdue 33-yard line to the 31 to set up a fourth and 2. Fleck lost a challenge because he can only challenge the line to gain, not the spot.

Even with fourth-and-2 from the 31, Fleck opted to kick a field goal, and Luke Drzewiecki made a 49-yarder to make it 10-3.

On the next drive, cornerback Aydan West dropped an interception in the end zone and Purdue was able to add to its lead with a 28-yard field goal to make it 13-3.

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