2020 Purdue Boilermakers football team

The 2020 Purdue Boilermakers football team represented Purdue University during the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Boilermakers played their home games at Ross–Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana, and competed in the West Division of the Big Ten Conference. They were led by fourth-year head coach Jeff Brohm.

2020 Purdue Boilermakers football
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
DivisionWest Division
Record2–4 (2–4 Big Ten)
Head coach
Co-offensive coordinatorBrian Brohm (4th season)
Co-offensive coordinatorJaMarcus Shephard (3rd season)
Offensive schemeSpread
Co-defensive coordinatorBob Diaco (1st season)
Co-defensive coordinatorAnthony Poindexter (4th season)
Base defenseMultiple
Home stadiumRoss–Ade Stadium
Uniform
Seasons
← 2019
2021 →
2020 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
East Division
No. 2 Ohio State xy$^   5 0     7 1  
No. 12 Indiana   6 1     6 2  
Penn State   4 5     4 5  
Maryland   2 3     2 3  
Rutgers   3 6     3 6  
Michigan   2 4     2 4  
Michigan State   2 5     2 5  
West Division
No. 10 Northwestern xy   6 1     7 2  
No. 16 Iowa   6 2     6 2  
Wisconsin   3 3     4 3  
Minnesota   3 4     3 4  
Nebraska   3 5     3 5  
Purdue   2 4     2 4  
Illinois   2 6     2 6  
Championship: Ohio State 22, Northwestern 10
  • ^ – College Football Playoff participant
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
  • Note: Due to COVID-19, the Big Ten suspended the season on August 11, but later decided to begin play on October 24. In addition to the title game that was played on December 19, the conference seeded all remaining teams for "championship week" games.[1]
Rankings from AP Poll.

On August 11, 2020, the Big Ten Conference canceled all fall sports competitions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] However, on September 16, the Big Ten reinstated the season, announcing an eight-game season beginning on October 24.[3]

Spring Game

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The 2020 Spring Game was scheduled to take place in West Lafayette on April 4, 2020, at 2:00 p.m.; however, on March 12, 2020, the Big Ten Conference canceled the remainder of all winter and spring sports seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[4]

Date Time Spring Game Site TV Result Source
April 17 7:00 p.m. Gold vs. Black Ross-Ade StadiumWest Lafaytte, IN      

Offseason

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Coaching changes

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On December 9, 2019, the Boilermakers announced it had fired co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, Nick Holt.[5] On January 2, 2020, Louisiana Tech defensive coordinator, Bob Diaco was named the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Purdue.[6] On January 17, 2020, it was announced that Special Teams Coordinator, Kevin Wolthausen and defensive line coach, Reggie Johnson, would not return as assistants in 2020.[7] On January 21, 2020, Purdue hired North Texas special teams coordinator, Marty Biagi, as their new special teams coordinator.[8] On January 22, 2020, Purdue rounded out its coaching staff with the addition of Air Force defensive line coach, Terrance Jamison.[9]

Transfers

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Outgoing

Notable departures from the 2019 squad included:

Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Notes
Kenneth Major 2 Cornerback 6'0" 195 Sophomore (Redshirt) Hopkinsville, Kentucky Transferred
Cornell Jones 46 Linebacker 6'2" 235 Junior Miami, Florida Transferred
Alex Criddle 66 Offensive lineman 6'3" 305 Junior (Redshirt) Broken Arrow, Oklahoma Graduate transfer
Giovanni Reviere 91 Defensive end 6'5" 270 Sophomore (Redshirt) Chattanooga, Tennessee Transferred

Incoming

Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Notes Prev. School
Austin Burton 17 Quarterback 6'2" 200 Junior (Redshirt) Newton, Massachusetts Graduate transfer UCLA
D. J. Johnson 17 Safety 6'0" 180 Sophomore (Redshirt) Indianapolis, Indiana Transferred Iowa
Tyler Coyle 25 Linebacker / Defensive back 6'2" 215 Senior (Redshirt) Windsor, Connecticut Graduate transfer UConn
Zac Tuinei 52 Linebacker / Defensive back 6'0" 240 Freshman (Redshirt) Michigan City, Indiana Transferred Arkansas State
Greg Long 69 Offensive lineman 6'4" 295 Senior (Redshirt) El Paso, Texas Graduate transfer UTEP

2020 NFL Draft

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Boilermakers who were picked in the 2020 NFL Draft:

Round Pick Player Position Team
4 136 Brycen Hopkins Tight end Los Angeles Rams
7 215 Markus Bailey Linebacker Cincinnati Bengals

Schedule

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Purdue had games scheduled against Memphis, Air Force, and Boston College, but canceled these games on July 9 due to the Big Ten Conference's decision to play a conference-only schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[10]

The Big Ten released a revised conference schedule, with every team playing a ten-game conference-only season. On September 19, 2020, yet another revised schedule was released, featuring an eight-game conference-only season plus a Championship Week cross-divisional playoff game.

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
October 24 3:30 p.m. Iowa
  • Ross–Ade Stadium
  • West Lafayette, IN
BTN W 24–20 900
October 31 12:00 p.m. at Illinois BTN W 31–24 838
November 7 3:30 p.m. at Wisconsin ABC No Contest[11]
November 14 7:30 p.m. No. 23 Northwestern
  • Ross–Ade Stadium
  • West Lafayette, IN
BTN L 20–27 886
November 20 7:30 p.m. at Minnesota BTN L 31–34 593
November 28 4:00 p.m. Rutgers
  • Ross–Ade Stadium
  • West Lafayette, IN
FS1 L 30–37 728
December 5 12:00 p.m. Nebraska
  • Ross–Ade Stadium
  • West Lafayette, IN
BTN L 27–37 808
December 12 3:30 p.m. at No. 12 Indiana BTN No Contest[12]
December 18 7:30 p.m. at No. 11 Indiana
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Bloomington, IN (rivalry)
BTN No Contest[13]

*Wisconsin's game with Purdue was cancelled due to a COVID-19 outbreak at Wisconsin. The game will not be rescheduled. Instead, Wisconsin will have a bye and will have just six games, and Purdue will have a bye and will have just seven games.[11]

*On December 9, Purdue and Indiana announced a mutual one-time cancellation of the Old Oaken Bucket game scheduled for December 12 after team-related activities were paused because of an elevated number of coronavirus cases within both the Boilermakers' and Hoosiers' programs.[12] On December 13, Purdue and Indiana came to a mutual agreement to reschedule the Old Oaken Bucket game for one week later, on December 18;[14] however, on December 15, both teams again mutually agreed to cancel the Friday contest, due to issues remaining on both teams with COVID complications.[13]

Source:[15]

Rankings

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Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre123456789101112131415Final
APnoneRVRV
CoachesnoneRV
CFPNot releasedNot released

Game summaries

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Iowa

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Iowa at Purdue
1 234Total
Hawkeyes 0 1703 20
Boilermakers 7 7010 24
  • Date: October 24
  • Location: Ross-Ade Stadium
    West Lafayette, IN
  • Game start: 3:40 p.m. CDT
  • Elapsed time: 3:21
  • Game attendance: 900
  • Game weather: 51 °F (11 °C), Mostly Sunny, Wind NE 9 mph (14 km/h)
  • Referee: John O'Neill
  • TV announcers (Big Ten Network): Cory Provus (play-by-play), Anthony Herron (analyst), Coley Harvey (sideline)
     

With the opening of the 2020 season, the Big Ten Conference season opened against the Hawkeyes of Iowa.

Purdue defeated Iowa, 24–20.[17] Purdue opened the scoring when Aidan O'Connell found David Bell from 9-yards out. Iowa would tie the second in the second quarter when Spencer Petras scored from 1-yard out. The Hawkeyes then took the lead when Mekhi Sargent scored on a 1-yard run. Purdue tied the game with 1:40 remaining in the second quarter with a 11-yard Bell reception from O'Connell. Iowa would strike one final time with no time on the clock with a Keith Duncan 27-yard field goal to bring the halftime score to 17–14 in favor of the Hawkeyes. After a scoreless 3rd quarter, Iowa got the first scores of the fourth quarter on a field goal of 33-yards from Duncan to increase the lead to 6. Purdue scored again on a 29-yard J.D. Dellinger field goal. O'Connell would find Bell once more in the endzone for a 6-yard touchdown pass, and the Purdue defense would stop Iowa on 4 downs on the ensuing possession to seal the Boilermaker victory.[18]

Purdue's October 24 season opening game was the latest season opener since 1918. Bell's three touchdown receptions were the first three or more touchdown receptions in a game since Terry Wright had three against Iowa on November 3, 2018. J.D. Dellinger's field goal was the 34th of his career and moved him into fifth all-time in Purdue history for most field goals made.[19]

At Illinois

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Purdue at Illinois
(Purdue Cannon)
1 234Total
Boilermakers 7 10140 31
Fighting Illini 0 10014 24
     

Purdue's next game would be on the road as they traveled to Champaign, Illinois to face off against the Illinois Fighting Illini for the Purdue Cannon.

Purdue defeated Illinois, 31–24.[21] Purdue opened the scoring when Zander Horvath scored from the 1-yard line. Purdue would extend their lead in the second quarter when Aidan O'Connell found Milton Wright for 45-yard touchdown reception. The Fighting Illini then got on the scoreboard when Mike Epstein scored on a 7-yard run. The two teams would trade field goals to bring the halftime score to 17–10 in favor of the Boilermakers. Purdue extended their lead in the third quarter when O'Connell found David Bell on a 3-yard reception. The Boilermakers would strike again when Marvin Grant forced a Coran Taylor fumbler, recovered by Jalen Graham in the endzone. The Fighting Illini started their comeback when Taylor found Daniel Imatorbhebehe over the middle for a 28-yard reception and a 9-yard Brian Hightower touchdown catch from Taylor. Illinois was knocking on the door inside the Purdue 20 on their final possession, but were stopped short giving Purdue the 31–24 victory[22]

Purdue's 2–0 start was their best since 2007, and that squad opened 5–0. Bell's minimum of 100 yards receiving for the fifth consecutive game for the same stat.[23]

At Wisconsin (canceled)

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Purdue at Wisconsin (CANCELLED)
1 234Total
Boilermakers 0 000 0
Badgers 0 000 0


The Purdue at Wisconsin game was canceled due to a COVID-19 outbreak at Wisconsin. The game will not be rescheduled. Instead, the Purdue Boilermakers will have a bye, and will play just seven games.[24] [11]

Northwestern

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No. 23 Northwestern at Purdue
1 234Total
No. 23 Wildcats 7 1073 27
Boilermakers 3 737 20
  • Date: November 14
  • Location:
    Ross-Ade Stadium
    West Lafayette, IN
  • Game start: 5:10 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time: 3:20
  • Game attendance: 886
  • Game weather: 46 °F (8 °C), Overcast, SE 10 mph (16 km/h)
  • Referee: Jeff Servinski
  • TV announcers (BTN): Cory Provus (play-by-play), Anthony Herron (analyst), Olivia Dekker (sideline)
     

Purdue would return home to face the Northwestern Wildcats in a battle for first place in the West Division of the Big Ten.

Northwestern defeated Purdue, 27–20.[26][27]

At Minnesota

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Rutgers

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Nebraska

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At Indiana

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Roster

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2020 Purdue Boilermakers football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
WR 0 Milton Wright So
QB 1 Michael Alaimo Fr
WR 2 Abdur-Rahmaan Yaseen Fr
WR 3 David Bell So
WR 4 Rondale Moore Jr
RB 5 Da'Joun Hewitt   Fr
WR 6 Maliq Carr Fr
RB 7 Tirek Murphy Fr
WR 8 T. J. Sheffield   Fr
WR 9 Mershawn Rice   Fr
WR 10 Amad Anderson   So
WR 12 Jared Sparks   Sr
QB 13 Jack Plummer   So
WR 14 Marcellus Moore Fr
QB 16 Aidan O'Connell   Jr
QB 17 Austin Burton   Jr
QB 18 Paul Piferi   Fr
QB 19 Jack Albers   Fr
RB 20 Alfred Armour   So
QB 21 Andrew Hobson Fr
RB 22 King Doerue So
WR 25 Jake Smith Fr
WR 33 Jackson Anthrop   Sr
RB 35 Henry Lewis   Fr
RB 40 Zander Horvath   Jr
TE 48 Kyle Bilodeau   Fr
OL 53 Gus Hartwig Fr
OL 54 Josh Kaltenberger Fr
OL 58 Jimmy McKenna   So
OL 59 Dave Monnot III   Fr
OL 62 Ben Kuhns   Fr
OL 64 Luke Morris Fr
OL 65 Marc Rolland   Jr
OL 67 Gus German Fr
OL 68 Cam Craig   Fr
OL 69 Greg Long   Sr
OL 70 Will Bramel   So
OL 71 Nalin Fox Fr
OL 72 Sam Garvin Jr
OL 73 Kyle Jornigan   Fr
OL 74 Eric Miller   So
OL 75 Spencer Holstege   Fr
OL 76 Mark Stickford   Jr
OL 77 D. J. Washington   Jr
OL 78 Grant Hermanns   Sr
OL 79 Jared Bycnski Fr
WR 80 Camdyn Childers   Fr
WR 81 Collin Sullivan Fr
WR 82 Grant Summers   Fr
TE 83 Jack Cravaack   So
WR 85 Alex Maxwell Fr
WR 85 Daniel Roach Fr
WR 86 Kory Taylor   So
TE 87 Payne Durham   So
TE 88 Garrett Miller   Fr
WR 89 Andrew Sowinski Fr
TE 91 Ben Buechel Fr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
CB 1 Dedrick Mackey   Jr
S 4 Marvin Grant   Fr
DE 5 George Karlaftis So
S 6 Jalen Graham So
DT 8 Anthony Watts   Sr
DT 9 Lorenzo Neal (C)   Sr
DB 11 Kadin Smith   So
DE 12 Dontay Hunter II   Fr
CB 13 Geovonte' Howard Jr
S 15 DaMarcus Mitchell Jr
S 17 D. J. Johnson   So
CB 18 Cam Allen So
S 21 Sanoussi Kane Fr
S 23 Cory Trice   So
DB 24 Nyles Beverly   Fr
LB, DB 25 Tyler Coyle   Sr
CB 27 Anthony Romphf Fr
CB 29 Simeon Smiley   Sr
LB 32 Elijah Ball   So
S 34 Ryan Brandt Fr
S 35 Antonio Stevens Fr
LB 36 Jaylan Alexander Jr
LB 37 Caleb Lahey Fr
LB 37 Jacob Wahlberg   Fr
S 38 Brennan Thieneman   Sr
LB 39 Zach Randall   Jr
LB 41 Khali Saunders   Fr
LB 42 Clyde Washington Fr
LB 43 Kieren Douglas Jr
LB 44 Kydran Jenkins Fr
LB 45 Byron Hubbard II   So
DL 47 Jeff Marks   So
S 49 Zane Greene   So
DE 50 Solomon Kpaka   Fr
LB 51 Chase Triplett Fr
LB, S 52 Zac Tuinei   Fr
LB 54 Ben Kreul Fr
DE 55 Derrick Barnes Jr
LB 57 Will Chapman   Fr
DL 58 Branson Deen   So
DL 59 K. J. Stokes   So
DL 90 Lawrence Johnson   So
DT 92 Bryce Austin Fr
DT 93 Steven Faucheux   Fr
DE 94 Robert McWilliams III   Jr
LB 95 Hayden Ellinger Fr
LB 96 Ben Furtney Fr
DE 97 Semisi Fakasiieiki   Sr
DE 98 Greg Hudgins III Fr
DL 99 Jack Sullivan   So
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
P 19 Brooks Cormier So
P 28 Zac Collins   Jr
LS 30 Brooks Royal Jr
LS 31 Nick Zecchino   Sr
LS 46 Nick Taylor Fr
P 47 Brendan Cropsey Fr
K 57 Chris Van Eekeren   Fr
K 84 Edward Dellinger Fr
K 85 J. D. Dellinger   Sr
LS 96 Hunter MacDonald   Fr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
  • Marty Biagi (Special Teams Coordinator / Defensive Assistant)
  • Brian Brohm (Co-Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks)
  • Bob Diaco (Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers)
  • Anthony Poindexter (Co-Defensive Coordinator / Secondary)
  • JaMarcus Shephard (Co-Offensive Coordinator / Wide Receivers)
  • Chris Barclay (Running Backs)
  • Greg Brown (Cornerbacks)
  • Terrance Jamison (Defensive Line)
  • Ryan Wallace (Tight Ends / Special Teams Assistant)
  • Dale Williams (Offensive Line)
  • Greg Brohm (Chief of Staff)
  • JMichael Jonard (Quality Control)
  • Dan Rowe (Quality Control)
  • Justin Sinz (Quality Control)
  • Domenic Reno (Director of Football Strength & Conditioning)
  • Dennis Love (Associate Director of Football
    Strength & Conditioning)
  • Keith Swift (Assistant Director of Football
    Strength & Conditioning)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  •   Injured
  •   Redshirt

Roster

Awards and honors

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Weekly Awards
Player Award Date Awarded Ref.
David Bell Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week October 26, 2020 [28]

Players drafted into the NFL

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Round Pick Player Position NFL Club
2 49 Rondale Moore WR Arizona Cardinals
4 113 Derrick Barnes ILB Detroit Lions

References

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  1. ^ Stevens, Matthew. "Big Ten To Play A "Championship Weekend" 9th Game Of 2020 Season". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  2. ^ "Big Ten Statement on 2020-21 Fall Season". Big Ten Conference. August 11, 2020. Archived from the original on August 11, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  3. ^ "The Big Ten Conference Adopts Stringent Medical Protocols; Football Season to Resume October 23-24, 2020". Big Ten Conference. September 16, 2020. Archived from the original on September 16, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  4. ^ "Big Ten to Cancel All Athletic-Related Activities Through End of Academic Year". www.purduepsorts.com. Purdue University Athletics. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  5. ^ Mike Carmin (December 9, 2019). "Purdue co-defensive coordinator Nick Holt won't return in 2020". www.jconline.com. Lafayette Journal & Courier. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  6. ^ "Purdue hires former UConn head coach Bob Diaco as new defensive coordinator". www.foxsports.com. FOX Media LLC. January 2, 2020. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  7. ^ Mike Carmin (January 17, 2020). "Purdue defensive coaching staff undergoes more changes". www.jconline.com. Lafayette Journal & Courier. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  8. ^ "Purdue Hires Marty Biagi as Special Teams Coordinator". www.si.com. Sports Illustrated. January 21, 2020. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  9. ^ Tom Dienhart (January 22, 2020). "Purdue will hire Terrance Jamison as defensive line coach". www.purdue.rivals.com. Verizon Media. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  10. ^ Myerberg, Paul. "Big Ten football reduces season schedule to only conference games, maybe setting stage for others to follow". USA TODAY. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  11. ^ a b c "Wisconsin vs. Purdue game canceled as Badgers continue to deal with COVID-19 outbreak within program". CBSSports.com. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
  12. ^ a b "Purdue, Indiana mutually agree to cancel Saturday's Old Oaken Bucket". IndyStar.com. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  13. ^ a b "Indiana and Purdue Mutually Agree to Cancel Bucket Game". IUHoosiers.com. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  14. ^ "No. 7 Indiana and Purdue Have Bucket Game Rescheduled For Friday Dec. 18". HoosierHuddle.com. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  15. ^ "2020 Purdue Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  16. ^ "Week 1 vs Iowa" (PDF). PurdueSports.com. CBS Interactive. October 24, 2020. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  17. ^ "Bell's Third TD Catch Completes Comeback vs. Iowa". www.purduesports.com. Purdue University. October 24, 2020. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  18. ^ "Iowa vs. Purdue - Game Summary - October 24, 2020". www.espn.com. ESPN Internet Ventures. October 24, 2019. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  19. ^ "Purdue Iowa Post Game Notes October 24" (PDF). www.purduesports.com. Purdue University. October 24, 2020. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  20. ^ "Week 2 at Illinois" (PDF). PurdueSports.com. CBS Interactive. October 31, 2020. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  21. ^ "Purdue Improves to 2-0 with Win at Illinois". www.purduesports.com. Purdue University. October 31, 2020. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  22. ^ "Purdue vs. Illinois - Game Summary - October 31, 2020". www.espn.com. ESPN Internet Ventures. October 31, 2019. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  23. ^ "Purdue Illinois Post Game Notes October 31" (PDF). www.purduesports.com. Purdue University. October 31, 2020. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  24. ^ Mike Carmin (November 3, 2020). "Saturday's Purdue-Wisconsin game canceled due to COVID-19". Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  25. ^ "Week 4 Northwestern" (PDF). PurdueSports.com. CBS Interactive. November 9, 2020. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
  26. ^ "Boilermakers Come Up Short in Big Ten West Showdown". www.purduesports.com. Purdue University. November 14, 2020. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
  27. ^ "Northwestern vs. Purdue - Game Summary - November 14, 2020". www.espn.com. ESPN Internet Ventures. November 14, 2020. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
  28. ^ "Big Ten Football Players of the Week". Big Ten Conference. Big Ten Conference. October 26, 2020. Archived from the original on October 29, 2020. Retrieved November 8, 2020.