Purdue Football (3-3, 2-1) vs. Washington (3-3, 0-3): Staff Predictions

We are just hours away from the kickoff between Purdue and Washington in Ross-Ade Stadium. That’s right folks just call me Slammin’ Sammy Meade because we’ve got Friday Night Lights!

Ledman (5-1):

I was smart enough to pick Purdue to take down Minnesota last week, but I wasn’t smart enough to pick the absolute demolition that we witnessed. However, I’m just one game away from bowl eligibility so I’m hoping I can make that happen today. There’s a great episode of Ted Lasso where Nate the Great faces his old team. The team finds out that Nate was the one who pulled down and ripped up the Believe sign. The team overreacts and goes out there with too much violence and get absolutely handled in the second half. I’m a bit worried that Purdue fans doing that with the return of Ryan Walters, not so much the players since most of them from Walters time are gone. Purdue fans are livid with this guy and some of the uglier corners of the internet are focusing solely on trying to be mean or embarass him instead of focusing on the bigger picture. I hope that’s not the case.

You might also remember last week I shared the clio from Major League II about a winning streak, well I’m gonna share it again because if Purdue wins their third game today that is what Coach Brown would call a winning streak and yes, it has happened before.

Looking at Washington, they are beat up, they don’t know (or at least haven’t publically announced) who the starting QB is, and they are 1-6 under Coach Fisch when traveling outside of the Pacific time zone. They are looking for their first Big Ten win and I don’t think they are going to get it in West Lafayette today.

Purdue 35

Washington 28

Travis (6-0):

Purdue is on a heater right now and it gets a backup quarterback plus a struggling defense. Before the season started thinking this game was winnable was a stretch. Now? Purdue is a home favorite and rightfully so! We live in odd times. I think Purdue keeps it going and gets a third straight, mostly because there are actual good vibes around this program right now. Purdue 37, Washington 27
Ryan (4-2):

I have been rather pessimistic so far this season, predicting a Purdue loss in every game since Indiana State. Well the buck stops here because this Purdue team is surpassing my expectations and could pass the predicted win total (4 games) by early November. If Demond Williams Jr does not play, that helps Purdue and it looks unlikely that Williams will play. Ryan Browne, Fame Ijeboi, and the offense need to keep humming and continue the Washington struggles away from the Pacific time zone.

Purdue 35

Washington 24

Jed (4-2):

Oh man, could we really be on the verge of 3 straight B1G wins while getting some sweet revenge against the man who nearly buried this program into oblivion?

Washington is a good team but doesn’t do anything at a level that should really scare Purdue on offense or defense. The Huskies throw the ball well, ranking 22^nd in the country with 279.5 yards per game but they can’t really back that up with a running game that would be cause for concern averaging 90 yards per game (135th). Given how differently the defense has performed the last two games, if that continues it would bode well for the Boilers. Over those last two games, Purdue has given up an average of just 310 total yards per game, 236.5 passing yards per game, and 73.5 yards on the ground. That would be good for the 33^rd ranked defense overall in the country.

The Huskies are a solid defensive team and that is likely where Purdue is going to have to win this game. Washington has the 48^th rated defense overall in terms of total yards but they do generate turnovers as they have grabbed 7 interceptions and 2 fumbles and stand at a +5 turnover differential. If you remove the bad rushing games of Notre Dame and UCLA, Purdue would be the 55^th ranked rushing offense at nearly 175 yards per game.

Listen, I’m as surprised with the defensive performance as anyone over the last two weeks given what we witnessed over the first four weeks. Could we really see the Boilers continue to take steps forward or could we see a return to norm for what fans have become all too accustomed to?

It may simply come down to if Washington Demond Williams, a very highly touted quarterback who had some portal drama in January (check it out for yourself). Williams seems to be suffering from a rib injury and if he can’t go, it’ll be on the shoulders of Stanford transfer quarterback Elijah Brown.

Inevitably, the win against Minnesota seems to have revitalized a bit of the interest in the football program. Hopefully that leads to a bigger crowd for the Boilers as they hope to get to 3-1 in B1G games for the first time since 2022 and just the second time since 2003.

Fame Ijeboi again shows he could very well be on his way to an All B1G honoree season while Ryan Browne continues to get the ball in the hands of his playmaking receivers. It won’t be easy but Purdue needs to continue what they have been doing the last two weeks.

Purdue: 34

Washington: 24

Kyle (3-3):

Purdue enters Friday night’s matchup against Washington with a chance to make an early statement that this team is turning a corner under the lights at Ross-Ade Stadium. After back-to-back Big Ten victories over Illinois and Minnesota, the Boilermakers have found some offensive rhythm, and the 41-13 destruction of the Golden Gophers showed just how dangerous this offense can be when everything clicks. Fame Ijeboi has emerged as a difference-maker in the running game, while Ryan Browne has provided consistency and efficiency at quarterback.

Washington comes to West Lafayette riding a three-game losing streak and potentially without starting quarterback Demond Williams Jr., putting pressure on backup Elijah Brown to lead the offense. The Huskies still have enough talent to make this competitive, but Purdue has the momentum, home-field advantage, and confidence to take control.

If the Boilermakers establish the run early and avoid giving Washington short fields, I expect them to win their third consecutive Big Ten game and continue building toward bowl eligibility.

Prediction: Purdue 31, Washington 23

Drew (4-2):

Purdue has everything going for it coming into this game. Washington is rolling into town from the West Coast with a question at QB for a Friday night game to face a team on a 2-game heater and a bloodthirsty crowd ready to welcome a certain former head coach back to town.

That makes me nervous.

When things seem like they’re going good is when they tend to explode in 2026.

I’m going to shake off my existential dread and go with the Boilermakers but I don’t feel good about it. I figure if I’m going to pick Purdue, I may as well really pick Purdue.

Purdue: 30

Washington: 17

We’re probably doomed.

Casey (3-2 no Minnesota pick received):Editor’s Note: Pending receipt of pick.