WATCH: Purdue tight end Payne Durham pulls off incredible touchdown in the Music City Bowl
Things got wild in Nashville late in the Transperfect Music City Bowl between Purdue and Tennessee. Late in the fourth quarter, Purdue tight end Payne Durham went full beast mode against the Volunteer defense. He caught the ball across the middle of the field, spun away from Tennessee defenders, avoided going out of bounds, raced down the sideline, and plowed his way into the end zone.
What a play. The 62-yard touchdown catch was without a doubt, one of the top plays of the college football season.
The touchdown put the Boilermakers up 38-31 with a little bit under five minutes left in the game. It was a highly entertaining game and one of the best of the 2021 college football bowl season.
Purdue went on to win the game 48-45 in overtime.
Aidan O’Connell with a performance for the ages for Purdue
Purdue quarterback Aidan O’Connell completed 26 of his 47 pass attempts for 534 passing yards while tossing in five touchdowns and three interceptions. He accomplished three feats: throwing for over 500 yards, throwing five touchdown passes, and throwing three touchdown passes of 60-plus yards.
Since 2000, the only other FBS quarterback to accomplish all three feats in the same game was Patrick Mahomes (Texas Tech). He did it in his final college football game on Nov. 25, 2016.
Tight end Payne Durham hauled in four catches for 78 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
Purdue wide receiver Broc Thompson had an incredible performance, hauling in seven catches for 217 receiving yards while hauling in two touchdown catches. He had a 70-yard touchdown catch with 2:57 remaining in the fourth quarter to put the Boilermakers up 45-38.
Tennessee countered with another score before the end of regulation to make it 45-45.
Purdue drilled a kick at the end of the first overtime to win 48-45, but there’s going to be lots of controversy surrounding Tennessee’s first possession in overtime.
Tennessee was robbed and in the worst of ways on that play. Volunteer fans have every right to be upset. Without a doubt, one of the worst calls of the 2021 college football season.
Hendon Hooker once again put up incredible numbers
Hooker completed 26 of his 41 pass attempts for 378 passing yards while tossing in five touchdowns and no interceptions. He also had 65 rushing yards in the game for the Vols. Simply put, he was one of the best transfer portal additions of the 2021 off-season. He continued to prove that time and time again this season, even in a gut-wrenching 45-48 overtime bowl loss for the Vols.
This one will sting for Tennessee fans for a long time, but credit to both teams for putting on a bowl performance that college football fans will never forget.