The Bill and Doug Show: Ohio State vs. Purdue Picks and Preview

Podcast: The Bill and Doug Show: Ohio State Football Talk
Hosts: Doug Lesmerises & Bill Landis
Date: November 6, 2025
Main Theme:
A comprehensive, lively preview of Ohio State’s upcoming matchup against Purdue, exploring the quirks of their historical rivalry, Purdue’s tumultuous 2025 season, and what Buckeye fans should expect (and look for) on Saturday.

Episode Overview

Doug and Bill dissect the intrigue (or lack thereof) of the Ohio State vs. Purdue matchup, lean on years of Buckeye coverage, and sprinkle in memories of wacky clashes past. While Ohio State is a heavy favorite, the guys thread in deeper takeaways: how weirdness once defined this series, how both teams’ red zone performances warrant a close look, what Purdue’s massive roster overhaul has meant, and how the Buckeyes should approach a non-threatening, but potentially tricky opponent as they prep for the postseason.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Memories of West Lafayette and the “Purdue Hex”

• Opening banter (00:00–03:30):
  • Both recall the infamous 2018 upset at Purdue; Doug covered the game alone, Bill’s first OSU assignment.
  • Bill: “That was my first game. The first game I covered for The Athletic was the Purdue game.” (00:54)
  • The “Purdue thing” felt real: at one point from 2004–2018, Purdue was 5-4 vs. Ohio State at a time no other Big Ten team was beating them.
  • Doug: “You could argue it was among the weirdest things in college football.” (02:25)
  • Emphasis that recent years have been Buckeye blowouts (combined 145-38 across last three games).

2. Historic Stats: Is the Purdue Weirdness Over?

• Ohio State’s past struggles at Ross-Ade Stadium vs. now:
  • The magic of Purdue upsets was mostly “road only,” but Doug questions if that magic’s dead. Last two trips: easy OSU wins (41–7 most recently).
  • Bill: “Maybe this will be the game that tells us whether the magic of Ross-Ade is over.” (03:31)
  • Doug lays out: only Michigan (5) has more wins over OSU since 2000 than Purdue or Penn State (4 each), but model’s changed as Purdue’s football fate plummeted.

3. Red Zone Narratives & Defensive Matchups

• Unique stat matchups: (14:00–18:40)
  • “Purdue games are 2-7 to the under; Purdue is 3-5-1 against the spread.” – Bill (01:52)
  • Strength-on-strength (Ohio State offense v. Purdue red zone defense):
    • Purdue’s red zone defense allows TDs only 42% of the time (8th best nationally).
    • OSU’s offense scores TDs in 69.1% of its red zone trips (37th).
    • “That’s what I’m watching for...if Ohio State can punch it in when they get down there.” – Doug (16:58)
  • Bill cautions: most teams have gone for field goals vs. Purdue, not TDs, even strong offenses like USC.

4. Purdue: Massive Overhaul and Talent Drain

• 82 (!) new Purdue players this year. (18:40–19:53)
• 54 transfers, most in FBS; only 4 “returnees” knew the lay of the land in camp.
• Quarterback drama: Ryan Browne left for UNC in spring, but returned when QB room thinned.
• Purdue’s star RB Devin Mockabee out for year (ankle), a “huge deal” as he represented 22% of Purdue’s total yardage.
  • “He’s the Jeremiah Smith of Purdue football.” – Doug (11:49)

5. Coaching Respect: Barry Odom Connection

• Ohio State head coach Ryan Day considered Barry Odom for DC:
  • “He tried to hire—or at least talk—Barry Odom about potential DC opportunities at Ohio State... I do think they’re well-coached. They just don’t have any talent.” – Bill (13:08)
• Genuine respect, with both hosts noting Day’s unusually effusive praise.

6. What’s at Stake & What to Watch

• What can OSU “work on”? (14:29, 21:24, and throughout)
  • Focus: Red zone offense, explosive run plays, defensive reps vs. mobile QBs.
  • Purdue, well-coached but undermanned, could test OSU’s patience with tricky looks and tough red zone stands.
• Purdue’s Defensive Profile:
  • Aggressive, blitzy, but susceptible to big plays—only four teams nationally have allowed more 40-yard plays.
  • “If you do get inside the 20, they stiffen up a little bit and they’re hard to score on.” – Bill (18:11)

7. Game Management: How Long Will Starters Play?

• Should the Buckeyes rest key players if it gets out of hand? (25:27–30:05)
  • Ryan Day is non-committal, focuses on “trying to win.”
  • Both predict starters will play at least three quarters unless the margin is truly massive.
  • Offensive line needs reps for cohesion; maybe a few skill players get rest if a comfortable lead materializes.
  • “I kind of expect pedal-down through three quarters... I would expect the offensive starters out there for the first drive of the fourth quarter.” – Doug (28:28)

8. Predictions and Wrap-up (32:55–35:08)

• Bill’s pick: Ohio State 41, Purdue 7
  • “I do think it’ll be a game of explosive plays for the Buckeyes... This is not a very good Purdue run defense.” – Bill (32:55)
• Doug’s pick: Ohio State 38, Purdue 3
  • “Maybe Purdue’s building something. There’s just nothing there now... they have the newest roster in college football.” – Doug (34:10)
• Both predict Ohio State will cover the 29.5-point spread, and the game will hit the under.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Doug on Ross-Ade Stadium:
  “It’s not that you’re going into a viper pit, it’s that you’re going into a cemetery... The lack of juice at Purdue has actually worked against Ohio State.” (08:24)
• On Devin Mockabee’s absence:
  “Congratulations for being the first person to ever compare Devin Mockabee to Jeremiah Smith, by the way.” – Bill (11:43)
• On roster turnover:
  “They have four guys who knew where the bathrooms were when camp started.” – Doug (18:46)
• On Purdue’s defense:
  “There are four teams in all of college football who have given up more 40-yard plays than Purdue.” – Bill (17:46)
• On Ryan Day’s approach:
  “You can’t even speak having a gigantic lead into existence... He is not in that zone at all.” – Doug (25:34)
• On what Buckeye fans should watch:
  “Is there anything we can watch in this game, assuming Ohio State’s gonna win, that can sort of be applied to Michigan?” – Bill (21:24)

Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment | |---------------|----------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:00–03:30 | Opening banter; Purdue “hex”; painful 2018 memories | | 03:31–08:18 | Is the Purdue magic over? Historical breakdown | | 10:42–13:08 | Purdue’s talent deficit; Mockabee’s injury | | 14:00–18:40 | Red zone defense vs. offense stats; what to watch | | 18:40–21:24 | Purdue roster overhaul; QB carousel | | 21:24–25:27 | How this game prepares OSU for Michigan; handling mobile QBs | | 25:27–30:05 | Game management: starter playtime | | 32:55–35:08 | Predictions and final thoughts |

Takeaways for Listeners

• Ohio State is a heavy, justified favorite—but how the Buckeyes handle the “details,” especially punching in red zone opportunities, integrating depth, and staying sharp, will matter for their end-of-season ambitions.
• Purdue is rebuilding from the ground up with extreme roster turnover and has little firepower left, as epitomized by Mockabee’s injury and exodus of talent.
• Red zone chess match could be meaningful—Purdue stiffens there defensively, but lacks the overall horsepower to threaten Ohio State outside of holding the score down.
• Expect Ohio State to “keep the pedal down” for at least three quarters—starters get reps, then subs might see the field late.
• Both hosts see an OSU blowout, but the real drama is around depth, development, and avoiding the weirdness of old.

For a lively postgame reaction and deeper analysis, follow up on their Saturday and Sunday shows, detailed in the episode’s closing remarks!