Purdue Football at Ohio State

COLUMBUS UNIVERSITY, OH - NOVEMBER 9, 2024 – The Purdue Boilermakers endured a punishing afternoon at Ohio Stadium, falling to the No. 2 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes 45-0 in a game that starkly highlighted the current gap between the two Big Ten programs. The Boilermakers, now 1-8 on the season and still searching for their first conference win, were unable to generate any offensive rhythm against a swarming Buckeyes defense, while their own defense was systematically dismantled by a balanced and explosive Ohio State attack.

From the opening kickoff, Purdue struggled to gain a foothold. A promising early drive that saw the Boilermakers march deep into Ohio State territory ultimately ended in disappointment as a 21-yard field goal attempt sailed wide right. It was a missed opportunity that would prove to be one of Purdue's few legitimate scoring chances on the day.

The Buckeyes, in contrast, were ruthlessly efficient. Quarterback Will Howard, a seasoned transfer, orchestrated the Ohio State offense with precision, completing 21 of 26 passes for 260 yards and three touchdowns. Howard also added a rushing touchdown, a one-yard plunge in the first quarter that opened the scoring and set the tone for the remainder of the contest.

Purdue's offensive line, a point of concern throughout the season, was overwhelmed by a relentless Ohio State pass rush. Boilermaker quarterback Hudson Card was under duress for much of the game, completing just 9 of 19 passes for a modest 108 yards and throwing a costly interception in the third quarter that led to an Ohio State touchdown. The ground game, a traditional strength for the Boilermakers, found little room to operate, managing only 98 yards on 38 attempts. Devin Mockobee was the lone bright spot, running with determination for 73 hard-earned yards on 13 carries.

The second quarter saw Ohio State begin to pull away. A 15-yard touchdown pass from Howard to Gee Scott Jr. capped a methodical 13-play, 80-yard drive. Later in the quarter, a 17-yard scoring strike to freshman phenom Jeremiah Smith extended the lead to 21-0 at the half. Smith's touchdown was his ninth of the season, a new Ohio State record for a freshman receiver.

Any hopes of a second-half Purdue comeback were quickly extinguished. The Buckeyes emerged from the locker room and continued their onslaught. A 42-yard field goal was followed by a 19-yard touchdown run from TreVeyon Henderson, who gashed the Purdue defense for 85 yards on just six carries. The game's most demoralizing sequence for the Boilermakers came just moments later. On the first play following the Henderson touchdown, a fumble by Purdue running back Reggie Love III was scooped up by Ohio State defensive end Jack Sawyer and returned 11 yards for a touchdown, pushing the score to 38-0 in the blink of an eye.

The fourth quarter saw Ohio State add a final touchdown on a 10-yard pass to Emeka Egbuka, completing the shutout and sending the Boilermaker faithful home with little to cheer about.

For Purdue, the lopsided defeat serves as a harsh measuring stick. While the effort was present, the talent and execution gap against an elite opponent like Ohio State was undeniable. The Boilermakers were outgained in total yards 433 to 206 and were unable to convert on any of their three fourth-down attempts. The shutout was Purdue's second in three games, a concerning trend for a program striving to build momentum under second-year head coach Ryan Walters.

"We knew coming in here what a challenge this would be," a visibly disappointed Walters said postgame. "They are a top team in the country for a reason. We had a couple of opportunities early to put points on the board and change the complexion of the game, but we couldn't capitalize. Against a team of that caliber, you have to be nearly perfect, and we were far from it today."

The Boilermakers will return home to Ross-Ade Stadium next week to face another formidable opponent in Penn State, where they will look to regroup and find some positive takeaways in the closing stages of a difficult season.