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Purdue Football Notebook

On3 imageby: Tom Dienhart11/04/25TomDienhart1
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(Krockover Photography)

Spencer Porath’s phone buzzed last Saturday after he drilled a career-long 50-yard field goal at Michigan. Everyone wanted to shoot him a text message.

“I got a few,” he said. “A lot of people telling me ‘congrats.’ Building confidence. It’s nice to see hard work pay off.”

The monster kick continued what has been a breakout season for the sophomore from Brownsburg (Ind.) High. Porath has hit 11-of-12 field-goal attempts (91.7 percent) in 2025, the third-best percentage in the Big Ten.

“I think if you work hard, you get rewarded,” said Porath.

The grind is paying off, helping Porath rebound from a rocky debut in 2024 when he connected on just 7-of-11 field-goal attempts (63.6 percent). After he went 0-of-2 at Ohio State on Nov. 9, Porath lost his job and didn’t attempt another field goal the final three games.

Now, Porath is among the best kickers in the Big Ten. And his 50-yarder in Ann Arbor is further validation of his development.

The last Purdue kicker to boot a 50-yarder? Porath had no idea when asked. The answer: J.D. Dellinger, who hit from 53 in 2019 vs. TCU.

“It really felt good to get (a 50-yarder) under my belt,” he said.

The moment Porath put toe to leather, he knew the kick had a good chance to make it.

“I hit it pretty well,” said Porath. “But, you never know. You get to see the original flight. I thought I hit it really well. So, honestly, as soon as I hit it, I thought ‘that has a good chance.’ “

Porath’s max range? He guesses out to 55 yards. Short or long, before he goes out to attempt any kick, he focuses and prays.

“I’ve started being big on my faith,” he said. “Not really relying on what other people say but just playing for one person, and that’s God. Just believing in him and allowing me to go out there and perform.”

NOTES:

• Purdue is a 28.5-point home underdog to Ohio State. It’s the third time since 2013 that the Boilermakers have been a four-TD-plus underdog at home. The others:

2024 +30 Penn State
2024 +30 Oregon
2013 +31.5 Ohio State

• Purdue’s November foes have a combined 30-4 record. The slate includes facing the last two national champs (Ohio State, Michigan) and the two top-ranked teams in the nation in 2025 (Ohio State, Indiana).

• LB Mani Powell and S Tahj Ra-El lead the Big Ten in tackles with 81 apiece.

• Five Purdue players have 150 yards rushing, the most since 2005.

• Purdue has beaten the No. 1 team in the nation seven times.

• Purdue is facing a No. 1-ranked team for the first time in Ross-Ade Stadium since Nov. 6, 1976, when the Boilermakers ruined legendary Wolverines’ coach Bo Schembechler’s best chance at a national championship with a 16-14 upset.

• The Boilermakers last faced a top-ranked squad 36 years ago, losing at Notre Dame, 37-11, on Sept. 29, 1990. The last No. 1 team to play in Ross-Ade was a year earlier, when Lou Holtz’s defending national champion Fighting Irish beat Fred Akers’ Boilermakers, 40-7.

• All-time, Purdue is 7-11 overall against No. 1 teams, beating Notre Dame in four of those games, and Minnesota (1960 in Minneapolis; 23-14), Michigan State (1957 in East Lansing; 20-14) and the aforementioned win over Michigan. Purdue is 3-5 all-time against No. 1-ranked teams in Ross-Ade with its two additional wins over Notre Dame (1965, 1967).

Pregame: First and 10: Ohio State | First Look: Ohio State | Mockobee to miss remainder of the season | Purdue, Barry Odom brace for first visit from No. 1 team since 1989 | The 3-2-1: Good-bye, Devin Mockobee. Hello, Max Klare | Mike Scherer: Purdue defense needs to play more “confident” | Opponent View: Ohio State 

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