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UCLA football vs. Purdue: Spread picks and bold predictions
- Bruin247's writers split on UCLA-Purdue at the quoted 14.5-point spread: Jack backs UCLA -14.5, while Connor takes Purdue +14.5 and projects a 28-17 UCLA win. These are the writers' opposing picks at publication, not a consensus recommendation or a live odds check.
- Jack expects UCLA's rushing attack to outperform Purdue's size up front in a strength-on-strength matchup. Connor separately predicts two rushing touchdowns for Nico Iamaleava as his bold call. Both are matchup projections, not reported play-calling changes or established scoring outcomes.
- The preview says Purdue had no turnovers through its first two games and Ryan Browne had played clean football. Jack's prediction of three UCLA takeaways and three sacks is explicitly a bold forecast against that early-season record, not something already observed or evidence of a Purdue injury.
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Purdue vs. UCLA preview: What I’ll be watching for Saturday inside the Rose Bowl
- This preview lists Purdue's projected left tackle Joey Tanona as doubtful after a fall-camp injury; he has not played this season. The writer also singles out current left tackle Nuku Mafi and right guard Micah Banuelos as struggling. The doubtful designation is not clearance, and the article announces no replacement change.
- The preview reports Purdue starting defensive back Mister Clark will miss UCLA because of injury. It also says Wake Forest repeatedly targeted cornerback Don Saunders and describes Purdue's pass pressure as limited. Clark's absence is the personnel report; the coverage and pressure weaknesses are the writer's scouting assessment.
- Purdue running back Fame Ijeboi has broken 19 tackles through two games, second nationally in the article's data. Purdue has scored on all 11 red-zone trips but reached the end zone on only five. The report therefore pairs strong contact-running production with a lower touchdown rate once drives reach scoring territory.
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Matchup Preview: Purdue at UCLA
- Purdue has defended traditional rushing better than quarterback runs: Indiana State's Elijah Owens gained 60 rushing yards and Wake Forest's Gio Lopez had 59 and two touchdowns. That exposes a matchup concern against Iamaleava. Extra blitzers have helped the pass rush but risk coverage explosives; nickel Mister Clark's return remains unresolved after missing Wake Forest.
- More than 90 of Fame Ijeboi's 114 rushing yards against Wake Forest came after contact, highlighting limited help from Purdue's line. Travis Terrell Jr. and Jerrick Gibson remain secondary backs. Purdue has allowed five sacks; Ryan Browne mostly runs after pass plays break down rather than on designed calls, so his athleticism has not yet become a regular run-game component.
- Purdue's Ryan Browne is completing 77% and remains turnover-free, but red-zone passing still limits scoring. Waseem, Townsend, Morrissette and Magwood received most receiver snaps and targets against Wake Forest; slot receivers Waseem and Townsend total 25 catches for 277 yards. George Burhenn's unresolved health adds uncertainty to the receiving options at tight end.
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UCLA Football vs. Purdue Full Preview and Prediction
- Purdue's second-year Josh Henson offense primarily uses 11 personnel with a balanced, run-based passing approach. It posted 62% offensive success but 5.55 yards per play against Wake Forest. Ryan Browne has improved his completion rate and yards per attempt and has no interceptions through two games; the preview cautions that Indiana State and Wake Forest limit the strength of that early evidence.
- Purdue running back Fame Ijeboi leads the workload with 38 carries for 201 yards and four touchdowns; Travis Terrell has 14 carries, with Jerrick Gibson also in the rotation. Assad Waseem leads the receiving group and Xavier Townsend is the next target option, but both generally play the slot and rarely overlap. Starting tight end Jackson Berryman is primarily a blocker; George Burhenn is the receiving option.
- Purdue left tackle Joey Tanona remains out, putting Nuku Mafi in that role. Brock Brownfield left the Wake Forest game but was absent from this week's injury list; the writer assumes a return, not a confirmed clearance. Purdue generally keeps its five linemen on the field rather than rotating, and the preview questions their short-yardage and goal-line work.
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Outgoing Transfer Tracker: How former Purdue players fared with new teams - Week 2
- Injury: BoilerSportsReport.com takes a look at the outgoing transfers for the Purdue Boilermakers this past offseason and how they are performing at their new schools during the 2026 season.
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Everything Bob Chesney said Tuesday ahead of UCLA's Big Ten opener against Purdue
- Chesney highlighted Purdue RB Fame Ijeboi's balance, contact strength and ability to catch out of the backfield. UCLA is stressing low tackling posture and solid contact because Chesney does not expect arm tackles to work; that is an opponent-specific preparation concern, not a projected rushing total.
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Game 3 Prep: Head Coach Barry Odom Press Conference
- Purdue plans to complete Friday practice and most meetings at home, then reach Los Angeles Friday afternoon for the 11 p.m. Eastern UCLA kickoff. Barry Odom is front-loading preparation and using the final 48 hours for game readiness. The team now practices Sunday and takes Monday off; he linked that change to academics and getting the team back together sooner after games.
- Odom identified screen-blocking technique as a correction after Purdue's latest 50-yard penalty total, specifically discussing a crackback call on Xavier. He wants the staff to teach positioning and technique differently in that situation. The penalty issue is an execution problem under review, not evidence of a changed offensive scheme.
- Odom said Antonio Harris starts on every Purdue special-teams unit and remains available to step into the running-back role when called. That establishes a meaningful multi-unit depth role, but the interview does not announce a larger offensive workload or a change at starting running back.
- Odom said Purdue considered going for two after its first-overtime touchdown but chose the extra point, partly because he felt only moderately confident in available calls against the opponent's tight-red-zone defense. That explains the prior game's situational decision; it is not a commitment to kick in every future late-game or overtime situation.
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2OT Heartbreaker Dooms Purdue Against Wake Forest
- Purdue lost 38-36 to Wake Forest in double overtime despite a 455-411 yardage advantage. Three regulation drives reached the Wake Forest 12-, 4- and 3-yard lines but ended in field goals, making red-zone finishing a concrete offensive concern.
- Ryan Browne completed a career-best 32 of 42 passes for 329 yards, reaching nine targets. He has topped 300 passing yards in both games this season; his touchdown pass to De'Nylon Morrissette forced a second overtime.
- Fame Ijeboi had 27 carries for 114 yards, 42 receiving yards and three rushing touchdowns, setting personal bests in each category. The Minnesota transfer has surpassed 200 rushing yards across his first two Purdue games.
- Purdue's defense produced a late three-and-out to help erase a 23-13 deficit, but allowed a fourth-and-15 conversion in double overtime. Gio Lopez then scored and converted the winning two-point try on keepers, exposing decisive late-down and goal-line failures.
- Jeremy Lewis led Purdue's pass rush with 1.5 sacks and another tackle for loss. Charles Correa recorded 12 tackles; Jojo Hayden and John Slaughter each had nine tackles and a half-tackle for loss.
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Purdue head coach Barry Odom discusses 38-36 double overtime loss to Wake Forest
- After Purdue's 38-36 double-overtime loss to Wake Forest, Barry Odom said tight end George Burhenn had limited reps because of injury. Offensive lineman Brock Brownfield left the game, but Odom provided no status update; the report does not establish his availability for the next game.
- Odom said early pressure on Purdue's offensive line eased after Zachary Crabtree and Josh Henson adjusted the slide protection. He credited Ryan Browne with staying in the pocket, improving and making throws that kept Purdue in the game.
- Odom praised Fame Ijeboi's pass protection, fakes, route running and ball carrying, projecting a big season for the running back. That is the coach's assessment of a broad offensive role, not a new workload guarantee.
- Odom identified a slow defensive start, insufficient early pass rush and loose coverage, while saying both improved during the game. On Wake Forest's fourth-and-15 conversion, Purdue wanted pressure to force an underneath throw and a tackle short; Odom said the on-field personnel executed the intended assignment.
- Purdue's failed two-point try in the second overtime targeted Xavier Townsend in the flat. Odom credited Wake Forest with working over the intended traffic to defend it, describing a failed designed passing opportunity rather than a quarterback injury or substitution issue.
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