Wisconsin 52-6 Purdue (Oct. 5, 2024) Game Recap

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Braedyn Locke threw for 359 yards and connected with Trech Kekahuna for two of his three touchdown passes as Wisconsin beat Purdue 52-6 on Saturday to extend the Badgers' championship of the series.

Tawee Walker rushed for 94 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries as Wisconsin (3-2, 1-1 Big Ten) snapped a two-game skid and beat Purdue for the 18th straight time. Purdue (1-4, 0-2) last beat Wisconsin in 2003.

The only Big Ten team with a longer active winning streak against a conference opponent is Ohio State, which has beaten Indiana 29 straight times.

“They really did what we expected and they wanted more than anything – and they did it together,” Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell said.

Since its opening win over Football Championship Subdivision program Indiana State 49-0, Purdue (1-4, 0-2) has lost four straight games by a combined score of 184-44.

Locke went 20 of 31 and set career highs in touchdown passes and yardage passes in a single game, despite Wisconsin losing wide receivers Will Pauling, Bryson Green and Tyrell Henry to upper-body injuries in the first half. He threw two interceptions in the first half but was exceptional the rest of the way.

Locke's first touchdown pass came when Vinny Anthony made a catch just inside Purdue's 35 yards and raced into the end zone for a 52-yard touchdown. Locke's next two points went to Kekahuna, who finished with six catches for 134 yards.

Kekahuna's first touchdown came when he caught a pass around the Badgers' 43 and outran the Purdue defense for a 69-yard score early in the third quarter. On Wisconsin's next drive, Locke found Kekahuna in the end zone for a 25-yard touchdown.

Before Saturday, Kekahuna had totaled eight catches for 106 yards in nine career games.

Walker led Wisconsin's rushing attack with 221 yards, two days after the Badgers announced that running back Chez Mellusi would leave the team, at least temporarily, to work on his health.

Purdue failed to reach the end zone in its first game since firing Graham Harrell as offensive coordinator this week and handing the game management over to Jason Simmons, who had been working as an offensive analyst.

“Obviously it’s frustrating,” said Purdue quarterback Hudson Card, who went 11 of 21 for 111 yards. “It’s super frustrating.”

After the Badgers took an early 14-0 lead, Purdue got back into the game after Kyndrich Breedlove intercepted Locke passes on consecutive series. Purdue was the last remaining Football Bowl Subdivision program without a takeaway this season.

Breedlove's first interception gave Purdue the ball at Wisconsin's 45 and the second occurred at Purdue's 49. Purdue drove to the Wisconsin 5 after each of these takeaways, but was unable to get into the end zone and settled for Spencer Porath field goals of 21 and 23 yards.

Wisconsin then opened the game by scoring touchdowns on each of its next five drives.

The takeaway food

Purdue: The day started bad enough when Purdue announced that cornerback Markevious Brown was no longer with the program, although he could return next year. Things only got worse from there. Purdue stayed close for a while — Wisconsin led just 14-6 before reaching the end zone with nine seconds left in the second quarter — but the Boilermakers didn't compete in the second half.

Wisconsin: The Badgers finally made the big plays they had been missing for most of the season. Wisconsin started Saturday with nine plays of more than 20 yards and tied Louisiana-Monroe for the lowest point total of any Football Bowl Subdivision team. The Badgers made six gains of at least 20 yards on Saturday despite two of their top receivers (Pauling and Green) getting injured early.

Next

Purdue: At No. 24 Illinois next Saturday.

Wisconsin: Next Saturday at Rutgers.

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