Nebraska returns to Memorial Stadium on Saturday to face the Purdue Boilermakers. It’s the first of a two-game homestand for the Huskers in Lincoln.
This is the 10th overall meeting between the two programs, and ninth as Big Ten opponents. Nebraska currently holds a 5-4 lead over Purdue in the series, which includes a 2-1 advantage in Lincoln.
Nebraska-Purdue football TV channel, time, live stream
TV Channel: ESPN2
Time: 2:30 p.m. CT
Date: Saturday, October 30
Live stream: The game can be streamed on ESPN3
Radio: Nebraska fans can listen to the game on the new Huskers Radio Network. Internet radio, as well as a Spanish broadcast, will be available at Huskers.com.
Location: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska
Weather: We’re nearing the end of October and sometimes the forecast can be downright spooky. Not this year, though!
Full forecast and updates brought to you by Rusty Dawkins of Husker Weather. More here.
Nebraska-Purdue football picks, odds
The line: Nebraska -7.5
Over/under: 53
(per the VI Consensus)
Nebraska-Purdue preview
Nebraska comes into the matchup with Purdue following a bye week. The Huskers are 3-5 overall, including 1-4 in Big Ten Conference play. That most recently features a 30-23 loss to Minnesota on Saturday, Oct. 16. All five of Nebraska’s losses in 2021 have come by eight or fewer points.
Purdue comes to Lincoln with a 4-3 overall record and 2-2 in Big Ten play. The Boilermakers have most recently faced Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin. Purdue even took down then-No. 2 Iowa in a dominant performance, 24-7, on Oct. 16. The Boilermakers most recently fell to the Badgers at home.
Purdue coach Jeff Brohm and the Boilermakers have one of the nation’s most improved defenses, allowing 301.6 total yards and just 16.3 points per game. That ranks Purdue in the top four in the Big Ten in both of those categories.
On offense, Purdue features one of the nation’s top passing attacks, averaging 317.6 yards per game through the air. That ranks second in the Big Ten and 12th nationally. Wide receiver David Bell ranks sixth nationally in receiving yards per game at 118.7 yards per contest. That includes a 240-yard effort at Iowa.
How does Nebraska plan to stop Bell?
“He’s going to get his balls, so I think just trying to limit big plays is the key,” Scott Frost said earlier in the week of Bell. “I don’t think you’re ever going to take a guy like that completely out of the game. We just have to try to do our best to limit explosives.”
What else do you need to know? Here’s a look at what the Huskers said leading up to the matchup with Purdue:
For more on the matchup, don’t miss the latest I-80 Preview Podcast.
