Purdue hosts Washington on Friday night, Oct. 16, 2026, with the Boilermakers chasing a third consecutive Big Ten victory and the Huskies trying to stop a slide that few saw coming when the season began.
Staff writers at Yahoo Sports split their predictions for the game, with one picking Washington 23-21 and the other forecasting a 35-24 Purdue win. The split captures the uncertainty around a matchup that looked like a easy call for Washington in August but now looks like a genuine tossup.
Why This Game Matters for Iowa Fans
Hawkeye supporters have a direct stake in this one. Washington's backup quarterback, Elijah Brown, delivered his breakout performance against Iowa's defense last week after starter Demond Williams left with a rib injury. Brown showed sharper timing and a better read of the defense than the Huskies had gotten most of the season, though Yahoo Sports writer Andrew Berg raised a fair question: was that production real, or did it come against an Iowa defense that eased up with a big lead?
How Brown performs against Purdue will tell Iowa fans plenty about their own defense. If he struggles on the road in West Lafayette, the Hawkeyes' second half looks better in hindsight. If he lights up the Boilermakers, the questions about Iowa's ability to close out games get louder.
Purdue's Turnaround Is Real
The Boilermakers have won two straight, beating Illinois 24-17 and then blowing out Minnesota, the same Gophers team that hammered Washington in the Huskies' conference opener. According to ESPN, freshman kicker Jacobo Echeverria Lozano hit three field goals in the Illinois win, with Antonio Harris adding a late 1-yard touchdown run.
The engine of the streak has been Minnesota transfer running back Fami Ijeboi, who has carried 40 times for 260 yards over the last two weeks, including a 195-yard, three-touchdown performance against the Gophers that Yahoo Sports flagged as the biggest problem for Washington's defense.
Purdue quarterback Ryan Browne has also cleaned up his play. He has already matched last season's nine touchdown passes while throwing just one interception, compared with 10 picks a year ago. According to