Iowa @ Purdue preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 18, 2017 ) Purdue 24, Iowa 15

No. 18 Iowa will try to bounce back from a difficult road loss and keep pace in the Big Ten West race when it visits Purdue on Saturday. The Hawkeyes saw their three-game winning streak come to an end with a 30-24 loss at Penn State last weekend despite racing to an early 12-0 lead and controlling possession for nearly 36 minutes.

They enter the weekend 1 1/2 games out in the West division behind Northwestern, which visits Iowa next Saturday, but the focus is only on the Boilermakers. "That's really all we can control right now," Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz told reporters. "You aren't worrying about anything else at this point. And it's pretty simple - the more you win, no matter what happens, it's better. Wasting time on that (big picture) stuff - it's great for the fans and the media, but it's not really productive for players and coaches to focus on that, because it's going to change anyway." Purdue's chances in the division took a hit with a 23-13 loss at Michigan State that ended an impressive four-game winning streak. An offense that averaged 41.8 points during the streak was stifled by the Spartans and limited to 339 total yards while turning the ball over three times.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2. LINE: Purdue -2.5

ABOUT IOWA (6-2, 3-2 Big Ten): Quarterback Nate Stanley completed 18-of-49 passes and had two interceptions - one in the closing minutes as the Hawkeyes were near the goal line - against Penn State, and he is questionable for this one due to a thumb injury. "I hope so," Ferentz told reporters when asked if Stanley will start before expressing some optimism. "Fine. He's fine. He threw the ball well today. I think he's good to go." The tight end tandem of T.J. Hockenson and Noah Fant combined for eight catches and 119 yards versus the Nittany Lions while standout defensive end Anthony Nelson recorded 1 1/2 sacks to give him 6 1/2 on the season, second in the Big Ten.

ABOUT PURDUE (4-4, 3-2): Senior quarterback David Blough averaged 390.2 yards over a five-game stretch while throwing 13 touchdowns and two interceptions, but he had 277 yards, zero TDs and three picks at Michigan State. Rondale Moore had 11 catches - his fourth game this season with at least that many - and leads the Big Ten by a comfortable margin with 68. D.J. Knox is tied for second in the conference with eight rushing scores, six of which have come at home.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Hawkeyes DBs Matt Hankins and Trey Creamer were suspended this week for a violation of team conduct rules.

2. Knox, a senior, had a career-low three yards on four carries against Iowa last year.

3. Iowa won nine of 11 meetings before dropping a 24-15 decision to Purdue at home in 2017.

PREDICTION: Purdue 27, Iowa 26