Purdue kicked off the 2026 season Friday night against Indiana State, and it was a tough one in the first half. The Boilermakers entered halftime with only a 10 point lead on the Sycamores and it looked like the Boilers could be in for a rough night.

However, the second half started, and it was like a switch flipped and the Boilermakers tightened up the defense in every way.

The Sycamores’ lone offensive advantage was when quarterback Elijah Owens left the pocket and scrambled, which Purdue rarely had an answer for.

A few defensive mishaps on the Purdue side opened up the field for a few big-break plays for Indiana State throughout the game, and the penalties were an issue early-on for the Boilermakers, but they pushed through and found their groove in the second half, shutting out Indiana State in the third quarter.

Junior receiver Asaad Waseem appears to be an early favorite target for quarterback Ryan Browne, pulling in six receptions for over 100 yards while Browne threw a nearly perfect game, missing only six passes with over 300 yards and three touchdowns in the 44-19 win.

With a rough first half behind them, the Boilermakers dominated the second half and, if they can find a way to play a strong complete game next Saturday against Wake Forest, they could head to UCLA in a few weeks as a legitimate threat in the Big Ten Conference.

-Reggie Edwards