After recent losses to Purdue, Iowa football wants to ‘beat them really badly’

IOWA CITY — Iowa’s football trip to Purdue has been on Riley Moss’ radar for a long time.

“I've been excited for it for a while,” Moss said. “Since my freshman year … I’ve always wanted to beat them really badly.”

Moss sees Purdue as “kind of like a rival in my eyes” despite the Iowa-Purdue series not having some of the traditional characteristics of a rivalry.

Geographically, it’s not the most logical pair of schools to be rivals.

Illinois, Indiana, Northwestern, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Michigan and Michigan State — literally half of the Big Ten’s current membership — all are closer as the crow flies to Purdue than Purdue and Iowa’s campuses are to each other.

In the same time it would take to drive to Purdue, one could watch the first two Jason Bourne movies and most of the third.

Historically, Iowa and Purdue have not always been a competitive pairing of Big Ten opponents. From 1961-80, Purdue won 20 straight games against Iowa. The 1980 game was a 58-13 thumping. Then from 1983-91, Iowa won nine games.

Purdue winning four of the last five games, despite Iowa being the better team in many of those seasons, has added fuel to the rivalry.

Last year, Purdue gave the Hawkeyes a reality check with a 17-point win over what was then the No. 2 team in the country.

“That stings,” offensive lineman Jack Plumb said. “There’s not doubt about that.”

Moss had to watch Purdue’s David Bell’s 240-receiving-yard day from the sidelines after suffering an injury the week before against then-No. 4 Penn State.

“It just sucks knowing that if I was healthy, I’d be out there and probably contributing in a positive way,” Moss said.

Any College Football Playoff discussion in Iowa City, the unranked Boilermakers showed a sold-out Kinnick Stadium crowd, was ill-judged.

The loss also almost jeopardized Iowa’s Big Ten West title path. The Hawkeyes needed Minnesota to beat Wisconsin on the final day of the season to go to Indianapolis.

The Gazette ran the headline “Spoilermakers” on the front page of the next day’s sports section following the Purdue loss. This year, it could be Iowa’s turn to be the spoiler.

Purdue is one of two Big Ten West teams in control of its own destiny in the quest for a division title. The Nov. 12 Illinois-Purdue game could function as a de facto division title game.

But if Purdue loses to Iowa, the Boilermakers would need some help from Illinois’ opponents to go to Indianapolis.

Iowa and Purdue also have competed for many of the same recruits.

Class of 2023 prospects Will Heldt, Jaron Tibbs, George Burhenn and Kendrick Gilbert all took official visits to Iowa this summer before committing to Purdue, according to Rivals’ database.

Fellow 2023 prospect Kahlil Tate did the opposite, taking an official visit to Purdue before committing to Iowa.

The transfer portal has added another element to the rivalry. Wide receivers Charlie Jones and Tyrone Tracy Jr. made the switch from Iowa to Purdue.

“Wish him well,” wide receiver Nico Ragaini said of Jones Tuesday. “Hopefully he has no catches. Tyrone, too.”

The level of friendships between Jones and the current Iowa roster vary by player.

Quarterback Spencer Petras and Jones talk “if not every week, probably every other week.” Moss, meanwhile, has not talked with Jones “in a while.”

Should the opportunity arise for safety Kaevon Merriweather to level a hit on Jones, it will “maybe” be a little harder than usual.

“A little love tap,” Merriweather said with a smile.

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com