Spoilermakers: Keep An Eye Out, Michigan, Purdue has an unrivaled history of

When Jeff Brohm showed up to coach Purdue, he understood the program had two Rose Bowl looks, an unbelievable all-time roster of quarterbacks that consisted of Bob Griese and Drew Brees, an equally excellent group of protective ends, and a training list that included Joe Tiller and Jack Mollenkopf.But he didn’t understand much about the Spoilermakers.Since the AP survey started in 1936, no unranked group has actually been more successful versus the highest-ranked teams in the country. The Boilermakers have 9 wins against AP No. 1 or No. 2 groups as an unranked squad, four more than any other program in the poll age. Purdue gets another chance Saturday night( 8 p.m. ET, Fox), as it makes its first Big 10 championship game look and takes on Michigan, which is ranked No. 2 in both the AP poll and the College Football Playoff rankings.Brohm, who coached Purdue to wins over No. 2 Ohio State in 2018 and No. 2 Iowa in 2021, believes the Spoilermakers custom comes from two sources.”Without concern, we have actually had some chances when you play in this conference, and then our nonconference schedule is usually quite daggone excellent also, “Brohm told ESPN.”And after that Purdue is normally a blue-collar, diligent school, and that’s our group method. You just try to take advantage of what you have, strive and figure things out along the way, and see if you can pull some things out. ” Brohm credits his approach to his own college coach, Louisville’s Howard Schnellenberger, who was masterful in “getting his team to believe that they’re much better than they are,” Brohm said, and to think anything is achievable. Schnellenberger, known for his immaculate mustache and pipe smoking cigarettes, regularly interacted in ways to motivate confidence, both in the locker space and publicly “so everyone might hear.”

Although Brohm isn’t as bold with his public messaging, his closed-door directives are everything about belief, specifically in the 24 hours leading up to kickoff. He’ll take the exact same method prior to Purdue handles Michigan as an unranked, 17-point underdog.

“You can’t be in awe, you can’t lose self-confidence, you can’t listen to what everybody says and composes, which might be precise,” he stated. “You’ve got to believe that on any offered day, if you prepare right and you play aggressive– not shy, not to keep the game close, however aggressive– that you can have an opportunity.”

Here’s a look at Purdue’s 9 wins as an unranked team against the AP No. 1 or No. 2, with input from Brohm and Cory Palm, Purdue’s director of broadcast services, who is dealing with his 2nd book on Boiler football history.

Purdue 24, No. 2 Iowa 7 Date: Oct. 16, 2021 Area: Iowa City, Iowa play 1:48 Purdue upsets No. 2 Iowa.Iowa had made its highest AP ranking since 1985 going into the game, after rallying to beat Penn State the week previously.

But the Hawkeyes were restricted on offense, relying greatly on their outstanding defense and unique teams to win games.”We had to find a method to get a lead,”Brohm said.Purdue leapt ahead 7-0 and after that 14-7 behind quarterback Aidan O’Connell, who ran for a goal and threw for another. The Boilers defense then took control in the 2nd half, holding Iowa to 15 net yards on its first three drives prior to taping interceptions on the next two possessions. Cam Allen had 2 of Purdue’s 4 interceptions, and the offense rose behind O’Connell (375 pass lawns, two goals) and wide receiver David Bell (240 getting backyards, one touchdown).

“We made plays in the death game,” Brohm stated. “You have to be aggressive in your technique, you have to be assaulting. We made them throw the ball more than they desired, and we had the ability to get interceptions. That’s not the formula they like to utilize. It’s running the football, a little bit of play-action, play defense and keep the game close. We got them off that formula.”

Purdue 49, No. 2 Ohio State 20 Date: Oct. 20, 2018 Place: West Lafayette, Indiana play 3:28 Recently, College GameDay told Tyler Trent’s story and revealed

his love for the Boilermakers. See how much Purdue’s upset win over Ohio State indicated to the sophomore and super-fan. The most memorable night of Brohm’s period included an upset against Urban Meyer’s Buckeyes, and likewise the presence of Tyler Trent, the Purdue student and superfan battling cancer. Trent, whose story was included on “College GameDay” that early morning, viewed his cherished Boilers never track Ohio State, hold the Buckeyes to six points through three quarters and reach the end zone four times in the fourth.Freshman wide receiver Rondale Moore had a substantial night (170 receiving lawns, 58 return backyards), along with quarterback David Blough and running back D.J. Knox, while Markus Bailey led the defense with 15 tackles and a 41-yard pick-six in the closing minutes. The 29-point winning margin was the third largest by an unranked team versus an AP top-two opponent.

“There was a great deal of inspiration, not only playing a top group but the Tyler Trent story,” Brohm stated, as Trent would pass away Jan. 1, 2019. “While Ohio State was truly great, a couple groups had actually played it close with them. It referred, ‘OK, how can we take that to the next action?’ We were just aggressive. We changed things up on defense. We had them on their heels a bit on offense.”

Purdue blitzed Ohio State and revealed various appearances, turning away the Buckeyes in the red zone. Then, after a fairly quiet 3rd quarter, the Boilers hit the gas with huge plays.

“We extended the lead since we remained aggressive,” Brohm stated. “If you’re not going to do that and take possibilities, you’re going to find a way to screw it up against a good group. You want to ensure your players understand, ‘We’re not resting on a lead.'”

Purdue 28, No. 2 Ohio State 23 Date: Oct. 6, 1983 Location: West Lafayette, Indiana Ohio State came into Ross-Ade Arena with an offense led by numerous future NFL players: quarterback Mike Tomczak, running back Keith Byars and pass receiver Cris Carter. Boilers coach Leon Burtnett would call the Buckeyes “the best offensive football team we have actually faced.”

But Purdue had its own future NFL standouts, including quarterback Jim Everett, who finished 17 of 23 passes for 257 lawns and 3 touchdowns. The Boilers had a big 4th quarter, scoring two times off Tomczak interceptions.

“They hung with Ohio State the whole game, and the cherry on top was a Rod Woodson pick-six late in the game that put it out of reach,” Palm said.Purdue had opened

the season by disturbing No. 8 Notre Dame in the first game played inside the Hoosier Dome in Indianapolis. The Boilers also beat Michigan that fall and connected for second place in the Big Ten, but finished 7-5 after falling to Virginia in the Peach Bowl.

Purdue 16, No. 1 Michigan 14

Date: Nov. 6, 1976
Location: West Lafayette, Indiana

Bo Schembechler brought among his most dominant teams to West Lafayette. Michigan had actually won its very first eight games by a combined score of 352-58. The Wolverines had locked out 4 opponents, including the previous two prior to Purdue, and handed Navy the worst defeat (70-14) in group history.

How will Saturday’s top games affect the College Football Playoff chase after? What are the current odds for the top 4? The Allstate Playoff Predictor has the responses. Examine back each week as the chances are updated following that week’s games.

“That a person was as big a shock as any of them,” Palm stated. “The [Purdue] head coach, Alex Agase, was on his escape, they ‘d lost three in a row. Michigan, they were looking like world-beaters.”

However Purdue turned to running back Scott Dierking, who logged a team-record 38 carries and hurried for 162 yards against the Big 10’s leading run defense. Michigan scored on its first possession however would score just once again, as Purdue stifled quarterback Rick Leach. Down 14-13, Purdue systematically drove downfield and relied on Rock Supan, a defensive back with 11 tackles in the game, for a 23-yard field goal. He made it and Purdue won after Michigan missed a 37-yard effort to the left.It would be Michigan’s only regular-season loss. The Wolverines would rise all the method back up to No. 2 after beating Ohio State later on in the year however fell 14-6 to No. 3 USC in the Rose Bowl. Purdue went on to complete 5-6, its fourth straight losing season, and fired Agase.

Purdue 31, No. 2 Notre Dame 20 Date: Sept. 28, 1974 Area: South Bend, Indiana Notre Dame had won the championship game in 1973, going undefeated under coach Ara Parseghian, and opened the season with easy road wins over Georgia Tech and Northwestern. Purdue lost its opener by 14 indicate

Wisconsin and then tied Miami(Ohio ), missing 3 field goal tries down the stretch.As a result, the Boilers came in as 35-point underdogs.”Agase discussed taking umbrage with the truth they were such huge underdogs,” Palm said. “They certainly appeared in that game.”

Purdue surged for 24 points in the very first quarter, the most ever scored against Notre Dame in the first 15 minutes. The surge included a Purdue fumble recovery on Notre Dame’s second play, a 52-yard Pete Gross goal run and a pick-six by linebacker Bob Mannella.The (Lafayette)Journal and Courier heading for Sept. 30 read:”Spoilermakers Strike Once Again!” Purdue 23, No. 1 Minnesota 14 Date: Nov. 12, 1960 Place: Minneapolis Purdue had a fascinating season in 1960, finishing 4-4-1 but ranking No. 19 in the final AP poll. 6 of the Boilers ‘9 challengers got in games ranked in the AP leading 20, and Purdue twice faced No. 1 teams, falling to Iowa but beating Minnesota, which would go on to win the Rose Bowl and the nationwide championship.The Boilers surged

to a 14-0 lead behind quarterback Bernie Allen, who would go on to play 12 seasons in Big league Baseball. Allen kicked a field goal in the second half and Purdue held back Minnesota. Protective end Forest Farmer had 2 sacks and four receptions, making national lineman of the week honors.Purdue likewise beat No. 3 Ohio State and No. 12 Notre Dame that season, while opening with a tie against No. 8 UCLA. Purdue 20, No. 1 Michigan State 13 Date: Oct. 19, 1957

Area: East Lansing, Michigan Purdue stumbled into the game at 0-3, while Michigan State was beginning its surge under Hall of Fame coach Duffy Daugherty. The Spartans came in as 21-point favorites over the Boilers, who had numerous players missing out on because of the influenza. Michigan State held a significant edge in very first downs (19-7) and completions (10-2 )however lost 5 fumbles, consisting of one in the second quarter that resulted in Purdue’s very first goal. Go perfect in your bowl picks and win as much as$1 million, plus more rewards! Make Your Picks It was another play in the 2nd quarter that would haunt Michigan State, though. A Walt Kowalczyk touchdown

was nullified by a late hit charge. Instead of correctly implementing the penalty after the play, officials removed the goal and evaluated the charge, causing a missed basket attempt.Daugherty in 1984 discussed the play, saying the official who called the penalty was changing a more skilled official, who had

to leave after his partner had a heart attack. The Big 10 later asked forgiveness to MSU for the officiating snafu.”That call changed the skin tone of the game and we probably would have routed Purdue, “Daugherty said.MSU would not lose another game but ended up No. 3 in the last

survey. Purdue would lose just again, to No. 6 Ohio State, to go 5-4 on the season. Purdue 6, No. 2 Michigan State 0 Date: Oct. 24, 1953 Area: West Lafayette, Indiana Michigan State had actually won the championship game in 1952 and concerned Purdue on a 28-game win streak, the longest in

the nation. The Boilers were 0-4

and banged up, however turned to a fullback named Dan Pobojewski, who had actually

begun his career at MSU but could not make the team.Pobojewski supplied the game’s only points, scoring from a lawn out early in the fourth quarter.”I went to school there for 2 years and wasn’t sufficient to make their club, “Pobojewski told reporters afterward.”When I finally scored and rolled into the end zone, I simply wanted to lie there and cry.”Michigan State had not been shut out in 59 games.

Purdue was shut out in its next 2 games and dropped a 3rd, 21-6 to Ohio State, prior to finishing the season with its only other success, a 30-0 pummeling of rival Indiana. Purdue 28, No. 1 Notre Dame 14 Date: Oct. 10, 1950 Location: South Bend, Indiana From 1946 to 1949, Notre Dame didn’t lose a game, tying just two times(against Army in 1946 and USC in 1948). Coach Frank Leahy’s team

won AP nationwide titles in 1946, 1947

and 1949, and opened the 1950 season with a win against North Carolina.Purdue wasn’t understood for quarterbacks at that time, however Dale Samuels, a first-year starter who stood just 5-foot-9, started to form the team’s tradition. He completed 9 passes for 158 lawns and 2 touchdowns. The Boilers jumped ahead 21-0, however Notre Dame returned with two ratings before Samuels discovered Mike Maccioli for a 56-yard goal pass. Notre Dame had actually not lost at home since 1942.”The party on campus lasted two days,”Palm stated.”They canceled class on the following Monday. There was a pep rally and everybody came out. Nobody was in a knowing mood.”The hangover seemingly affected the group, as Purdue lost its next six games before finishing with

a win over Indiana. The( Lafayette) Journal and Carrier reported that 40 million individuals discovered the outcome through radio or newsreels. Among them: a high school trainee in

Ohio who was a hopeful pilot and engineer. His name: Neil Armstrong.”He credits hearing those highlights on the radio as one of his first exposures to Purdue, “Palm stated.” He graduated in ’55.”