The Purdue Boilermakers haven’t won a game since Aug. 31, and with the No. 2 Oregon Ducks rolling into town in Week 8, it looks like the wait for that elusive win might stretch a little longer.
However, Friday’s contest is Purdue’s Hammer Down Cancer Night. With heavy hearts and Tyler Trent’s everlasting spirit fueling the program, can the Boilermakers pull off one of the biggest upsets in college football history?
Purdue Hosts Oregon for Hammer Down Cancer Night in Week 8
Following back-to-back road games, Purdue is finally back in West Lafayette, Ind. It’s not the best homecoming, as they welcome Oregon as near-30-point underdogs. In fact, College Football Network’s Football Playoff Meter gives the Boilermakers a 4.7% win probability.
But this isn’t just another bout for the program. It’s the annual Hammer Down Cancer game, raising money for the Tyler Trent Research Center. Additionally, eight Boilermakers will be inducted into the Leroy Keyes Purdue Athletics Hall of Fame:
- Tim Stratton (Football, 1998-2001)
- Devynne Charlton (Women’s Track & Field, 2013-18)
- Annie Drews (Volleyball, 2012-15)
- Chukwuebuka Enekwechi (Men’s Track & Field, 2013-16)
- Bob Ford (Men’s Basketball, 1970-72)
- Katie Gearlds (Women’s Basketball, 2004-07, current Purdue head coach)
- Laura Gonzalez-Escallon (Women’s Golf, 2010-13)
- Kevin Plawecki (Baseball, 2010-12)
Purdue will also don a new black uniform for the first time, and as the great Deion Sanders once said, “If you look good, you feel good. If you feel good, you play good. If you play good, they pay good.”
Flipping the script for Friday night. pic.twitter.com/rUfuD0N4Zk
— Purdue Football (@BoilerFootball) October 15, 2024
Week 8’s Big Ten battle marks just the fourth time the Boilermakers and Ducks have met and their first since 2009. Their last two matchups have gone down to the wire — in 2008, it took No. 16 Oregon double overtime to defeat Purdue, and in 2009, the Boilermakers’ last-minute rally fell just short on a two-point conversion.
The mini-rivalry extends even further, as both schools play Otis Day and the Knights’ famous song “Shout” at the end of the third quarter — Purdue’s tradition began in 2006, while Oregon’s started in 2010.
The Ducks could get caught peeking at back-to-back ranked duels with Illinois and Michigan in their next two games. They’re also coming off an emotional high after knocking off Ohio State in Autzen Stadium last week.
The Fighting Illini were caught by surprise by these same Boilermakers, needing overtime to outlast them 50-49. After halftime, Purdue generated 46 points, with redshirt freshman QB Ryan Browne becoming just the second signal-caller in program history since 1970 to eclipse 250 passing yards (297) and 100 rushing yards (118) in the same game.
Yet, Purdue is no stranger to the “giant slayer” role, recording seven wins against ranked opponents over the past six seasons, including three top-three teams (No. 2 Ohio State in 2018, No. 2 Iowa in 2021, and No. 3 Michigan State in 2021).
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The victories over Iowa and Michigan State in 2021 gave the Boilermakers their first multi-win campaign against top-five teams in 41 years. They’ll have a chance to add to their total this season, with five out of their last seven adversaries ranking in the AP Poll Top 25, beginning with Oregon on Friday night.
However, none of Purdue’s ranked wins mean more than the 29-point thrashing of No. 2 Ohio State in 2018 — not because of the score but because of the unforgettable presence of superfan Tyler Trent, whose battle with cancer inspired the Boilermakers to greatness.
Who Was Tyler Trent, and What Does He Mean to Purdue?
Trent’s connection with Purdue’s football program went far beyond being a fan. Serving as an honorary captain for several games in 2017 and 2018, Trent was a fixture at Ross-Ade Stadium, proudly wearing old gold and black.
On Oct. 20, 2018, Trent attended what he knew could be his final game — Purdue vs. No. 2 Ohio State. While the Buckeyes were undefeated and heavily favored, Trent boldly predicted a Boilermaker victory.
Against all odds, his prediction came true: Purdue stunned Ohio State 49-20, with Trent joining the team on the field in his wheelchair to celebrate one of the program’s most iconic upsets.
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Trent passed away on Jan. 1, 2019, but his legacy continues through the Tyler Trent Cancer Research Endowment at Purdue’s Institute for Cancer Research, one of only seven National Cancer Institute-designated cancer centers in the nation.
No matter the final score, Friday night will be about more than football for Purdue — it’s about honoring Trent’s legacy, raising awareness for cancer research, and highlighting one of college football’s greatest traditions.
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