Purdue is starting CB Markevious Brown before the game against Wisconsin

This story has been updated to add new information and because an earlier version contained an inaccurate headline.

Purdue starting cornerback Markevious Brown “withdrew from the team” before the Boilermakers’ Week 6 game against the Wisconsin Badgers, the program said in a statement.

Purdue's statement also said, “As of today, we expect him to be reinstated to the program for the 2025 season.”

Related: 10 keys to Wisconsin Badgers winning again over Purdue Boilermakers

Brown has started 15 of 16 games for the Boilermakers over the past two seasons. His first four games of 2024 included nine tackles and three pass deflections after he finished 2023 with 45 tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack, six pass deflections and two forced fumbles.

The veteran cornerback originally transferred to Purdue in 2023 after two years at Ole Miss.

Purdue announces that CB Markevious Brown has been released from the team, but “we expect him to be reinstated to the program for the 2025 season.” Brown had started 15 games over the past two seasons

— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) October 5, 2024

Brown's absence will likely result in sophomore Derrick Rogers Jr. taking a prominent role on Ryan Walters' defensive unit – a unit that struggled, to say the least, early in the season.

Purdue's defense is currently allowing 33 points per game and is ranked 116th nationally. During the team's three-game losing streak, opponents have posted a combined score of 66, 38 and 28, respectively. The Boilermakers' defense is also somehow the only group in the sport that hasn't forced a single ball loss yet.

This reshuffling in the defensive backfield should only improve Wisconsin's chances of ending its current two-game losing streak.

The Badgers and Boilermakers begin at noon ET, 11 a.m. CT on Big Ten Network.

UPDATE: On3's Tom Dienhart reports that Botros will start Alisandro in place of Brown.

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