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Purdue allowed Indiana State only 66 rushing yards, but quarterback Elijah Owens accounted for 60 and all four runs of at least 10 yards came from the quarterback run game, making containment of Wake Forest's Gio Lopez a specific defensive concern.

Purdue played its opener without defensive lineman TJ Lindsey as he continued recovering from a September 2025 knee injury, with the 2026 matchup preview offering no confirmed return date while identifying Curt Neal and Ian Jeffries as the effective interior pair.

Wake Forest receiver Carlos Hernandez exceeded 150 receiving yards in the first half against Akron before leaving injured, and the preview expected him back against Purdue without providing a diagnosis or an official clearance statement.

Wake Forest allowed Akron a sack-adjusted 4.7 yards per rush and more than 50 quarterback scramble yards despite limiting explosive runs, leaving a potential rushing opening for Ryan Browne if Purdue chooses to use his mobility.

Wake Forest conceded 28 completions on 33 Akron attempts but only 4.7 yards per attempt, with just two throws traveling more than 10 yards downfield, so the high completion rate alone did not show the experienced secondary being beaten vertically.