Purdue Football vs Southern Illinois

WEST LAFAYETTE, IN - SEPTEMBER 6, 2025

On a cool September evening at Ross-Ade Stadium, the Purdue Boilermakers found themselves in a spot no Big Ten team ever wants to be: down two scores to an FCS opponent in the first quarter. For a restless crowd of black and gold, it was a moment that conjured memories of near-misses and early-season stumbles. But this time was different.

Instead of panic, the Boilermakers leaned on poise. Instead of unraveling, they trusted their new identity under first-year head coach Barry Odom: physical football, patience on offense, and a defense that grows stronger as the game goes on. By night’s end, Purdue had not only survived Southern Illinois’ opening punch but controlled the final three quarters in a 34–17 victory that pushed them to 2–0.

Southern Illinois struck quickly, with quarterback DJ Williams capping the opening drive with a short touchdown run and following it with a strike to tight end Ryan Schwendeman. In the span of seven minutes, the Salukis led 14–7 and forced Purdue to confront adversity head-on. The response came from Ryan Browne, a sophomore still settling into the starting role. He zipped a 13-yard touchdown to Arhmad Branch, then later found freshman playmaker Nitro Tuggle on a 29-yard score. Tuggle’s reception, a leaping grab in the seam, ignited the stadium and swung momentum back toward the home team. “That’s the kind of play we’ve been waiting for,” Odom said afterward. “It reminded everyone we can strike when we need to.”

While the passing game provided the spark, it was the relentless ground attack that carried Purdue across the finish line. Running back Devin Mockobee delivered the defining performance of his career, rushing 32 times for 126 yards and two touchdowns, both out of the Wildcat formation. Mockobee’s punishing style gradually wore down the Salukis’ front. By the fourth quarter, his carries weren’t just gaining yards—they were draining the clock and sapping the energy from Southern Illinois defenders. His second score, a 1-yard plunge early in the final frame, effectively sealed the win. “He’s our heartbeat,” Browne said. “When we needed steady plays, he gave them to us. When we needed toughness, he gave that too.”

If the first quarter belonged to Southern Illinois, the rest of the game was dictated by Purdue’s defense. What began as confusion against Williams’ mobility turned into suffocating pressure. The Boilermakers racked up three sacks and seven tackles for loss, collapsing pockets and eliminating cutback lanes. Linebacker CJ Nunnally and edge rusher Charles Correa set the tone, while the secondary tightened coverage after early missteps. Southern Illinois managed only a single field goal in the second half, a testament to Purdue’s adjustments and resilience.

For Purdue, the night carried meaning beyond the final score. With the victory, Odom became the first Boilermaker coach since 1916 to begin his tenure 2–0. The achievement may feel like trivia now, but for a program searching for stability in a new Big Ten landscape, it underscores a fresh foundation. Southern Illinois, meanwhile, leaves with pride intact. The Salukis reminded everyone why Missouri Valley Football Conference teams have built a reputation for punching above their weight. For 15 minutes, they pushed a Big Ten squad to the brink.

Purdue’s next step is no small one. A matchup with USC awaits, the kind of spotlight game that will test whether the Boilermakers’ emerging identity can hold against national competition.