Ohio State football: Confidence level against Purdue

The X-Factor – Confidence Level 7

For some odd reason that cannot be explained, Purdue has had a great home-field advantage against the Buckeyes. Since the year 2000, Ohio State has visited Ross-Ade Stadium nine times, losing six of those games. Ohio State might be the favorite this season according to Vegas at 19.5 points, but you don’t have to remind Ohio State fans about what happened the last time they played Purdue on their field. Ohio State was a 12-point favorite heading into that game. The final score was 49-20 in favor of the Boilermakers.

At this time, there doesn’t appear to be a story about a terminally ill student for the Boilers to rally around for motivation like there was in 2018 when Tyler Trent became the focal point for not only the Purdue football team but an entire fanbase.

A plaque with Taylor’s picture hangs on the brick wall outside the stadium as a memorial of that young man and what he meant for that fanbase. That story and moment in time should be memorialized and remembered not only by Purdue fans but by college football fans in general. But this weekend’s game won’t have that same magical feel to it for Purdue.

What it might have, however, is some poor weather. It is supposed to be chilly, and windy, with some possible rain mixed into the forecast. The last time Ohio State played in a windy game, they looked terrible against Northwestern last season. If it becomes too windy to throw the football and Ohio State is relegated to using just their run game, then that very well could be the x-factor Purdue needs to pull off the miracle upset once again.

I fully expect there to be wind, and maybe even some rain, but nothing like it was in Evanston, Illinois last season. I’m at a seven in confidence level this week for the x-factor.