Ohio State vs. Purdue: How to watch and keys to victory for both teams

The top-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes are set to hit the road this Saturday, November 8, for a Big Ten clash against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET, marking an unusual start time for a Big Ten afternoon game. The Buckeyes enter the matchup with […]

Ian Valentino National College Football Writer
Add as preferred source on Google
Ohio State Buckeye head coach Ryan Day addresses his team after the spring game at Ohio Stadium on April 12, 2025 Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The top-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes are set to hit the road this Saturday, November 8, for a Big Ten clash against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET, marking an unusual start time for a Big Ten afternoon game. The Buckeyes enter the matchup with an unblemished 8-0 record, while Purdue is struggling at 2-7 overall and winless in conference play.

Ohio State is coming off a dominant 38-14 win over Penn State, a performance that solidified its No. 1 ranking in the College Football Playoff standings. Quarterback Julian Sayin continues to impress, completing over 80% of his passes this season and emerging as a Heisman Trophy frontrunner. The Buckeyes also boast the nation’s top scoring defense, allowing just 6.9 points per game.

Purdue, meanwhile, has shown flashes of competitiveness, including a narrow 21-16 loss to Michigan last week. However, the Boilermakers are dealing with key injuries, including the loss of leading rusher Devin Mockobee for the season. First-year head coach Barry Odom faces a tall task in trying to engineer an upset against a team that has outscored Purdue 145-38 over their last three meetings.

How to Watch Ohio State vs. Purdue

  • Date: Saturday, November 8, 2025
  • Time: 1:00 p.m. ET
  • Location: Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana
  • TV Channel: Big Ten Network (BTN)
  • Streaming: FuboTV (Free trial available)
  • Radio: Ohio State Sports Network (97.1 The Fan in Columbus)
  • Announcers: Jeff Levering (play-by-play), Jake Butt (analyst), Brooke Fletcher (sideline)

New: Caleb Downs on Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate | Johnny Manziel talks about Julian Sayin’s Heisman odds

Keys to Victory

Ohio State Buckeyes

  • Dominate the Trenches: With the nation’s top scoring defense, Ohio State must continue to control the line of scrimmage and pressure Purdue QB Ryan Browne.
  • Julian Sayin’s Efficiency: The freshman quarterback has been nearly flawless. Maintaining his high completion rate and avoiding turnovers will be crucial.
  • Avoid the Trap: With Michigan looming, the Buckeyes must stay focused and not overlook a Purdue team that has upset them before.

Purdue Boilermakers

  • Control the Clock: With Mockobee out, Purdue must find creative ways to sustain drives and keep Ohio State’s offense off the field.
  • Limit Explosive Plays: Slowing down Ohio State’s dynamic receivers like Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate is essential.
  • Win the Turnover Battle: Forcing mistakes and capitalizing on short fields could keep Purdue in the game.