The 3-2-1: Purdue's loss to LSU at the Citrus Bowl
A memorable season for Purdue football ended forgettably, but predictably, in a 63-7 blowout loss to LSU at the Citrus Bowl Monday. The short-handed Boilermakers never stood a chance, falling behind 42-0 before getting on the scoreboard.
LSU finished with just under 600 yards of offense, while Purdue managed fewer than 250.
The Tigers returned Purdue’s third interception of the day for a 99-yard TD in the game’s final minute.
The 56-point margin tied for the largest ever in a bowl game set in 2018 when Army beat Houston 70-14 in the Armed Forces Bowl and 2008 when Tulsa spanked Bowling Green in the GMAC Bowl.
PURDUE NEVER STOOD A CHANCE
Circumstance made this result predictable weeks ago, as Purdue has been decimated by the departure of most of its coaching staff and a list of opt-outs and academic casualties that included most of the Boilermakers’ best players.
Without opt-outs Aidan O’Connell and Charlie Jones — and others — Purdue’s offense barely so much as threatened to score as LSU led 35-0 at halftime. Its interim coaching staff — Brian Brohm and Dale Williams were the lone assistant coaches left following Jeff Brohm’s departure for Louisville — found no success with Austin Burton at QB.
LSU RAN IT UP
With the outcome clearly decided after halftime, LSU threw deep and ran trick plays to widen the gap over an overmatched Boilermaker team, when the Tigers didn’t even need to do so to put points on the board.
Not that he cares, but an iffy look for Brian Kelly, who benefits in no real way from winning this game by six touchdowns instead of four.
PURDUE’S ROSTER WAS LEFT IN SHAMBLES
The opts-outs and such were one thing, but they also shined a light on the limitations of the Boilermaker roster Jeff Brohm leaves behind. Its depth was rubbed raw today and the result wasn’t pretty.
Purdue just won the Big Ten West and played in the new year, so it’s difficult to call this a rebuild, but Ryan Walters will most certainly need to beef up this roster through the portal and high school ranks alike, because while the cupboard may not be bare, it’s not exactly bursting at its seams either.
