Family weekend and a spectacularly beautiful day at Ross-Ade in West Lafayette, IN. The Cornhuskers came in as big underdogs, but they did not play like it.
The Boilermakers started off hot, but Nebraska stepped up and intercepted a pass from Aiden O'connell in the end zone to stop the first drive. Purdue's defense stepped up and was able to hold the Cornhuskers to just 34 yards in Nebraska's first two possessions. Meanwhile the Boilermakers amassed 161 yards themselves scoring a touchdown and field goal in the process.
The second quarter was action packed, with Nebraska scoring a touchdown, blocking a punt, then scoring a field goal to take a 10-7 lead. Not to be outdone, Purdue scores on their next possession to regain the lead, intercepts Nebraska on their first play and goes down to get a 37-yard Mitchell Fineran field goal. The Boilers force a Nebraska punt, then drive 39 yards for a score just before the half. With only 35 seconds to go in the half Nebraska scrambles 50 yards to get a field goal as the clock ticks to zero. At the half it was Purdue 27, Nebraska 13.
The 3rd quarter started off just like the 2nd quarter ended, with Nebraska making quick work of their first possession and ending it with a 37 yard touchdown toss. Purdue had a few missed opportunities, but after a Nebraska field goal brought the Huskers to within 4 the Boilers went on a 75 yard scoring drive capped off by a 28 yard touchdown catch by TJ Sheffield. Nebraska struck back quick with a 72 yard TD pass play of their own just before the end of the 3rd.
Purdue had a nice long drive to start the 4th and finished it off with a 34-yard field goal. Purdue's Reese Taylor was able to snatch an interception on the Huskers next drive and the offense turned that back into 7 points. The Huskers still have a lot of fight left in them, and continue to light it up in the air with another 64 yard pas play to put them in place to punch it in to the endzone getting them within 6. Luckily the Boilermakers were able to get 3 first downs, including a critical 4 and 1, to close the game out with a win, 43 - 37
