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Jeff Brohm on playing IU for bowl berth: ‘This is what you live for’

Dustin Schutte

By Dustin Schutte

Published:

With a two-touchdown lead over Wisconsin midway through the fourth quarter, Purdue appeared to be on its way to clinching a second straight postseason appearance. A late run from the Badgers foiled those plans, however.

Now, both Purdue and Indiana will enter next Saturday’s rivalry game with the Old Oaken Bucket and a bowl berth hanging in the balance. As the Boilermakers and the Hoosiers dropped games over the weekend, both are sitting at 5-6 on the year, needing one victory to earn a spot in the postseason.

Purdue head coach Jeff Brohm is excited for the opportunity.

“It’s against your rival with everything riding on it,” Brohm said following the loss to Wisconsin. “You couldn’t aske for a better situation. This is what you live for, to play in meaningful games with everything on the line.”

Brohm would’ve rather enjoyed a win on Saturday and secured a postseason bid heading into the final game of the season, but the Boilers aren’t in a bad situation.

This year’s situation is a follow-up to the 2017 meeting between Purdue and Indiana. A year ago, both teams were also 5-6 with the winner earning a bowl berth. The Boilermakers posted a 31-24 win in Ross-Ade Stadium and locked up a spot in the Foster Farms Bowl.

Purdue leads the all-time series 73-41-6, but the Hoosiers have ripped off their fair share of victories in the rivalry game. IU won four straight matchups from 2013 through 2016. Indiana has won six of the last 11 meetings.

The two teams will square off in Bloomington at noon ET.

Dustin Schutte

Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB