Ryan Walters explains Purdue’s failed fourth down in OT loss to Northwestern

Many in West Lafayette likely have bent fingernails from the head scratching that followed Purdue’s 26-20 overtime loss to Northwestern on Saturday. With a chance to potentially secure their first Big Ten win of the season, the Boilermakers made an interesting decision with a fourth-place finish that left everyone speechless.

With Purdue trailing 20-13 late in the fourth, the Boilermakers mounted an 11-play, 75-yard touchdown drive capped by a 1-yard run from running back Devin Mocobee to tie the game and force overtime. Purdue put in a strong effort in the overtime period but was unable to capitalize on the opportunity.

In the overtime period, Purdue’s offense had the ball first and had a chance to take the lead on Northwestern. After three plays, the Boilers gained just five yards on 4th-and-5 from the 20-yard line.

Surely coach Ryan Walters would bring the offensive unit on the field to potentially give the Boilermakers a 23-20 lead, right? But that was not the case. Instead, Purdue’s offense stayed on the field, Northwestern’s defense broke up Hudson Card’s pass, and the Boilers came away scoreless.

Northwestern then needed just two plays to get into the end zone, winning the game 26-20 on a pass from Jack Lausch to Joseph Gimon II.

This was an unusual decision by Purdue. After the game, Walters was asked if it was possible to make it on fourth down rather than kick a field goal in that situation.

“With the drop, the distance and the hash, we had a hard time in the kicking game,” Walters said. “There was a discussion – that’s why we called a timeout to think carefully about the situation and what decision to make, and just felt that from a percentage point of view we had a higher chance of us scoring first than we did for that field goal. . like we had a good play call to do it first. So we made this decision.”

Ultimately, the decision didn’t matter. Northwestern’s touchdown would have won the game even if Purdue had actually converted the 37-yard field goal attempt. But going scoreless certainly took the pressure off the Wildcats’ offense in overtime.

Purdue fell to 1-7 on the season after Saturday’s loss to Northwestern and remains winless in Big Ten play. The Boilermakers have lost two of their last three games in overtime and also fell to Illinois in Champaign, 50-49.

Saturday’s game was pivotal for Purdue. The Boilermakers will now face three ranked opponents in their final four games: No. 4 Ohio State, No. 3 Penn State and No. 13 Indiana. They will also travel to East Lansing to play Michigan State.

With the loss to Northwestern, it becomes even more likely that Purdue will finish the 2024 campaign without a Big Ten win.

PURDUE MASSIVE UNDERDOG VS. Ohio: Ohio State opened as a 38.5-point favorite in Saturday’s game against Purdue. The Buckeyes got a big road win over Penn State. CLICK HERE