What happened

Wake Forest secured a 38-36 double-overtime victory over Purdue in a hard-fought contest. The Boilermakers showed resilience by erasing a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to force extra time. However, Purdue surrendered a decisive 15-yard fourth-down conversion in overtime before Wake Forest sealed the result with a successful two-point try.

Why it matters

The defeat extends Purdue's grueling winless drought against Power 4 and Notre Dame opponents to 21 games. Head coach Barry Odom pointed to costly communication breakdowns as a primary factor in the loss. He specifically noted that a true freshman was out of position on the pivotal overtime conversion that kept Wake Forest's drive alive.

By the numbers

Purdue continues to struggle with discipline, ranking 114th nationally with an average of 8.5 penalties per game. On the offensive side, transfer running back Fame Ijeboi was a central figure for the Boilermakers. He handled a massive workload with 33 touches, accumulating 114 rushing yards and 156 total all-purpose yards.

What to watch next

Purdue will need to closely monitor the health of its offensive line moving forward. The unit was forced to operate without starters Joey Tanona and Brock Brownfield during the game against Wake Forest. Their potential return will be critical as the Boilermakers attempt to snap their extensive losing streak.