Big Ten Football: Picking the best season for each program since 2000
By Shane Lunnen
2003. Purdue Boilermakers. player. 848. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Record: 9-4. 12
Purdue has not seen much success since Drew Brees was starting quarterback. However the 2003 edition of the Boilermakers was one of coach Joe Tiller’s best teams during his 12-year tenure in West Lafayette.
The Boilermakers started off the season ranked 16th in the country but it was short lived after they lost the opening game by a point to Bowling Green. Not a bad loss in retrospect as the Falcons would be ranked most of the season, win the MAC West and finish 11-3. After a win over 20th ranked Wake Forest on the road, Purdue re-entered the rankings and would remain there for the rest of the season.
Purdue would win the next five games, including a 26-23 victory over Wisconsin in Madison. The next week they were on the road again, this time in Ann Arbor. But the outcome was not so fortunate for the Boilermakers as Michigan dominated from start to finish, winning 31-3.
Returning home for the next two games, Purdue won both over Northwestern and 10th ranked Iowa. With a trip to Columbus looming, Purdue still had a lot to play for with a share of the Big Ten title and a possible BCS bowl berth on the line. It was a defensive struggle that ended up tied at 13 after regulation. Ohio State hit their field goal attempt but Purdue did not, dealing a devastating blow to the Boilermakers hopes of a BCS bowl.
The final game of the season was the traditional end of year game versus Indiana for the Old Oaken Bucket. Experiencing a hangover after the rough loss at Ohio State, the 2-9 Hoosiers hung around for most of the game but the Boilermakers pulled it out in the end 24-16.
A 9-3 record shipped a 12th ranked Purdue off to Orlando to face 11th ranked Georgia in the Capital One Bowl. The Bulldogs would jump out to a 24-0 lead in the second quarter, but Purdue would come storming back and the game would end up in overtime tied at 27. Georgia scored a touchdown on their overtime possession, aided by a questionable pass interference call in the end zone. Purdue could not score on their possession, with the game ending on an interception on fourth-and-goal.
This was a great overall Purdue team in all three facets, especially the defense. Nine players were drafted in the 2004 NFL Draft and seven more players would head to the NFL over the next three years.