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College Football: 6 potential sleeping giants

By Nicholas Ian Allen

Nov 21, 2015; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils running back Demario Richard (4) runs the ball under pressure from Arizona Wildcats linebacker DeAndre' Miller (32) during the third quarter of the territorial cup at Sun Devil Stadium. The Sun Devils won 52-37. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2015; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils running back Demario Richard (4) runs the ball under pressure from Arizona Wildcats linebacker DeAndre' Miller (32) during the third quarter of the territorial cup at Sun Devil Stadium. The Sun Devils won 52-37. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 19, 2015; West Lafayette, IN, USA; Purdue Boilermakers quarterback Austin Appleby (12) is congratulated by his teammates after a touchdown in the first half at Ross Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sandra Dukes-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 19, 2015; West Lafayette, IN, USA; Purdue Boilermakers quarterback Austin Appleby (12) is congratulated by his teammates after a touchdown in the first half at Ross Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sandra Dukes-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Purdue

  • Program Record: 601-553-48
  • Bowl Game Appearances: 17
  • Conference Championships: 12
  • Highest Finish in the AP Top 25: No. 5, 1943
  • Enrollment: 40,451
  • Location: West Lafayette, IN (population 29,796)
    • 122 miles from Chicago, IL
    • 178 miles from Cincinnati, OH
    • 179 miles from Louisville, KY
    • 270 miles from St. Louis, MO
    • 354 miles from Nashville, TN
    • 422 miles from Pittsburgh, PA
    • 492 miles from Memphis, TN
    • 598 miles from Atlanta, GA

Like Arizona, Purdue has won 601 games in its history and has suffered just over 550 losses. Like Virginia, Purdue has flirted with national prominence on the football field but has yet to full grasp it.

In 1943, Elmer Burnham pushed the Boilermakers up to No. 2 in the AP poll and finished fifth following an undefeated 9-0 record and Western Conference title. Under the direction of Jack Mollenkopf, Purdue entered the 1968 season No. 1 in the country and held the top spot in the polls until Week 4 before losing to Ohio State and Minnesota on the way to an 8-2, top 10 finish.

Purdue was a Top 20 program for most of the 1940s, ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s, but the Boilermakers have been largely irrelevant on the national stage since (with the exception of the good but not great Joe Tiller era, of course).

However, there is hope for Purdue. The Big Ten is one of the best conferences in college football, so there are plenty of opportunities to pick up big-time wins against big-time opponents. That’s actually been something Purdue has done well throughout history, including seven wins over No.-1 ranked teams. Also, the Boilermakers play in the more winnable Western Division, so Purdue won’t have to challenge Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State and Michigan State as often as the program rises.

Furthermore, Indiana isn’t a top 10 state in terms of recruiting, but nearby Ohio is, Pennsylvania isn’t far behind. Plus, Purdue is closer to the talent-rich south than almost any other school in the league, with the exception of fellow also-rans Maryland and Indiana. The school ranks highly on the Princeton Review’s list of best athletic facilities, and the football facilities, including Ross-Ade Stadium, are getting a $60 million, state-of-the-art facelift, which should appeal to those recruits.

The Boilermakers also made what appears to be a solid head coaching hire, tapping Jeff Brohm from Western Kentucky. Expect a lot more points in West Lafayette, which is yet another appealing feature of the program.

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