Purdue @ Northwestern preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 3, 2009 ) Northwestern 27, Purdue 21

Ranked for the first time since 2008, unbeaten Northwestern hosts injury-decimated Purdue Saturday night in Evanston, Ill.

The No. 25 Wildcats (5-0, 1-0), fresh off a 29-28 comeback win at Minnesota, are riding their versatile junior quarterback Dan Persa. Against the Gophers, he threw for 309 yards, ran for 99 yards and guided the Wildcats to two fourth-quarter scores. Persa leads the nation with a 79.4 percent completion rate, with wideouts Jeremy Ebert (five TDs) and Tory Jones among the chief beneficiaries.

Purdue (2-2, 0-0) had a much-needed off week. The Boilermakers have lost three top offensive players to injuries: quarterback Robert Marve, tailback Ralph Bolden and wideout Keith Smith. The rest helped receiver/quarterback Justin Siller, who could play despite a sprained foot.

Speedy redshirt freshman Rob Henry will start at quarterback. In Purdue’s 31-20 loss to Toledo two weeks ago, Henry hit 17 of 31 throws for 140 yards, with a touchdown and an interception, and rushed for 70 yards.

Purdue will try to stay close with a healthy defense anchored by senior Ryan Kerrigan. Perhaps the nation’s top defensive end, Kerrigan has 12 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and three forced fumbles. He has 25.5 career sacks.

Northwestern has a stud defensive end of its own in Vincent Browne, who leads the Big Ten with five sacks. His pass rush is a big reason why the Wildcats are plus-5 in turnover margin.

Remarkably, one of the Wildcats’ biggest concerns is extra points. They’ve missed three this season.

The Boilermakers lead the alltime series 49-27-1, but the Wildcats have won the past two meetings, including 27-21 last season.

Purdue, the last Big Ten team to play a conference game, is trying to win its conference opener for the first time since 2007.

The injuries have put Purdue in danger of a third straight losing season, its second straight under coach Danny Hope.