Old National Presents: The 3-2-1

Three things learned. Two questions. One bold statement. It’s the 3-2-1, a look at Purdue football as it preps to play Illinois.

Three things learned

1 – Maturation of Ryan Browne continues

This visit from Illinois on Saturday brings us full-circle to our first real introduction to Ryan Browne last season in Champaign. He was heroic in a 50-49 OT loss, flashing promising all-around ability in hitting 18-of-26 passes for 297 yards and three scores. He also led Purdue in rushing, carrying 17 times for 118 yards. The entire effort screamed “potential!”

“I’m sure glad he’s our quarterback,” said Barry Odom. “I think he’s a special player, and he’s gotten better every single week. I think watching the things that he needs to correct, he gets corrected. He’s so smart. He understands, he commands leadership of the offense. He’s a playmaker. He understands when there is a throw that he wished he had back, he understands the reasons why. I think he’s got a tremendous future and thrilled about the progress that he’s made.”

Browne is hitting 63 percent of his passes for 259 yards per game. One area to clean up? Interceptions. He’s thrown a pick in each of the last three games, five on the season.

But, hey, remember: He’s only started six games.

2 – Respect for Bret

Odom never has battled Illinois coach Bret Bielema as a head coach, but they’ve matched wits on opposite sidelines before. And, over time, they have forged a friendship.

“I’ve known him for a long time, and he’s he’s done a lot of great things for college football,” said Odom. “I respect the amount of years that he’s got, experience-wise, and the different roles, whether Wisconsin and Arkansas and Illinois. We’ve always stayed in touch … lot of respect for him. He’s a heck of a coach, and he’s really good man, and he’s good for college football.”

Bielema looks like he has his best team yet in Champaign. And that’s saying something for a coach coming off a 10-win season. Odom will get an up-close look at program he no doubt one day hopes his looks like.

3 – Void at tight end

It was tough to see tight end George Burhenn leave the game at Notre Dame with his left arm in a sling. The talented tight end has battled injury most of his career, never able to get on track. Now, this.

Will Burhenn be back this season?

“Yes,” Odom said.

Until then, Purdue will rely on a trio of players: Rico Walker, Christian Moore and Christian Earls. Those three have combined for one catch in 2025: By Moore. Burhenn has nine receptions for 94 yards.

“We’re going to have a combination of three guys,” said OC Josh Henson. “It’ll be any one guy that will fill all the roles, but those three guys … it’ll be a tight end approach by committee.”

Two questions

1 – Who will Purdue replace TJ Lindsey?

The three-technique tackle was lost for the season to an ACL injury vs. USC. Not good, as he by far is the team’s best player up front.

“Anytime you lose a guy that played 30 to 40 snaps a game,” said Odom, “well, those snaps have got to go to somebody. And I think you look at Demeco (Kennedy) elevating his game. Ian Jeffries is a guy, to me, that every single week he’s getting a little bit better. He had a great week last week. So, excited about him. And then, you know, it’s collectively, we’ve got to all play just a little bit better.”

The rush defense is No. 15 (157.3 ypg) in the Big Ten.

2 – Odom an Arkansas target?

It’s already happy: Coaches getting canned.

We’ve seen UCLA (DeShaun Foster) and Oklahoma State (Mike Gundy) already make moves.

And this weekend, we saw Arkansas (Sam Pittman) make a move. Why does that matter? Because Odom could be a target in Fayetteville, where he was DC from 2020-22. We already have seen him on one hot board.

Seems doubtful Odom would entertain even a phone call. Why?

No. 1, the Arkansas job isn’t a big step up (or much of step up at all) from Purdue. That was the case when Odom left UNLV after just two seasons. No. 2, Odom realizes he’s a good fit at Purdue and wouldn’t walk away from all of the sweat equity he already has invested in West Lafayette. And he seems to really embrace and appreciate the support from his bosses.

One bold statement: A .500 October

As October is prepared to dawn, Purdue sits with a 2-2 record with eight games to go. No one expected miracles this season. Progress? Yes. How much progress from a win-loss standpoint coming off a 1-11 abomination? Most felt three or four wins–and be competitive in losses–would suffice. Purdue is on track.

And October features what looks like three winnable games: At Minnesota, at Northwestern vs. Rutgers. Could the Boilermakers go 2-1 or 3-0 vs. those foes?

To enter a challenging November (at Michigan, Ohio State, at Washington, Indiana) with a 4-4 or 5-3 record would be impressive. And, it seems possible.

MORE: First Look: Illinois | First and 10: Illinois | Purdue aims to turn four-game lessons into results after bye