Is Purdue football a serious contender in the Big Ten West?

Can Aidan O’Connell be better than last season?

The passing offense carried Purdue last season. It needed to because the Boilermakers finished 127th in the country in rushing. Their poor rushing attack was not due to a lack of attempts like Mississippi State; they did not run block well, averaging just 2.8 yards per rush attempt.

When the passing game was on, it was on. Purdue finished fifth in the country in passing offense (355 yards per game), culminating in a 534-yard 48-point performance against the Volunteers in the Music City Bowl. Quarterback Aidan O’Connell threw five touchdowns in that game in addition to the passing yards.

If the Boilermakers want to contend in the Big Ten West, O’Connell has to be as good as he was last season and cut down the interceptions (he threw 11 last year). They’ll have to do so with David Bell, Milton Wright, and Jackson Anthrop. Bell and Anthrop try to make it in the NFL, while Wright is academically ineligible.

Broc Thompson and Payne Durham will likely lead the passing attack, and Iowa transfer Charlie Jones is a welcome addition. There might not be a receiver as dominant as Bell, but receivers thrive in this pass-happy offense.

The running game was non-existent, and it didn’t have to be. It might have been a different story if Alexander Horvath had stayed healthy. King Doerue leads a by-committee running back room.

The offensive line was not full of stars but was functional. The line is full of veterans around center Gus Hartwig and should be solid once again for an offense that wants to throw it around.