A stunner: Purdue's passing attack takes down No. 2 Iowa
No. 2 Iowa had been winning games with its defense, and that defense had the Hawkeyes in line for a potential College Football Playoff berth. But you occasionally have to play offense, too, and the Hawkeyes found out the hard way Saturday.
Purdue (4-2, 2-1 in the Big Ten), which had scored just 39 points in its past three games, had its best offensive outing of the season against a Power 5 school (464 yards) to stun the Hawkeyes 24-7, who had 271 total yards. Iowa (6-1, 3-1) had feasted on turnovers, leading the nation with a plus-15 margin, but a Boilermakers team that came in with a minus-5 margin was at plus-3 Saturday to pull the giant upset. Purdue had three fourth-quarter interceptions to thwart any chance at an Iowa comeback.
Iowa still is the favorite to win the Big Ten West, but its poor offensive showing against the Boilermakers — who, granted, were third in the Big Ten in total defense — does create a question about what the Hawkeyes will do against defense-minded Minnesota and, especially, Wisconsin. The Hawkeyes went into the game ranked last in the Big Ten in yards per play at 4.65. Unfortunately for them, that average is going to go down: Their 271 yards came on 62 plays, which is 4.37 per play
Purdue came in last in the Big Ten with seven sacks but had three against the Hawkeyes. And Iowa, which hadn’t allowed more than 252 passing yards in a game and had kept five opponents under 200, was sliced and diced by fifth-year senior Aidan O’Connell, who was 30-of-40 for 375 yards and two TDs. O’Connell also rushed for a score. David Bell had 11 receptions for 240 yards and a touchdown.
The yardage total was the second-highest of McConnell’s career; a former walk-on, he was making just the seventh start of his career.
Iowa is off next week, then plays at Wisconsin on October 30. A week ago, after Iowa fended off previously unbeaten Penn State, a CFP berth seemed a legit possibility for the Hawkeyes. Now, the Big Ten West title has become a question.