Purdue: 2026 Week 3 recap

Purdue sits at 1–0 after dismantling Indiana State 44–19 in Week 1, but GIE's rating remains flat at −2.2, placing them 78th nationally. That disconnect matters: the blowout win masks underlying inefficiency. Their red-zone TD rate of just 13% suggests they're leaving points on the field in the moments that matter most, and a third-down conversion rate of 40% leaves plenty of stalled drives. With an expected-win total of 4.2, this team is tracking toward a bowl-fringe season. Wake Forest visits this weekend—a chance to build on last week's offensive dominance, but GIE projects near-zero odds of a Big Ten title or playoff berth.