2026 Purdue vs 2026 Minnesota

Purdue
3–3 · 1.6 (62nd of 138)
vs
Minnesota
4–2 · SP+ 2.9 (60th of 138)

Hypothetical

Purdue by 3.8

61% to win

High confidence — 5 games in — see our accuracy

Hypothetical forecast · SBR sbr-2r

Why this number

PurdueIn-season results +5.4Preseason baseline +0.2
MinnesotaPreseason baseline +6.9In-season results −2.6
Purdue home field +2.5

How they're built

0–100 percentile · higher is stronger

Compare the whole profile, then explore each dimension.

2026 Purdue Offense · SP+ 2026: 31.3, 69th percentile (2026 season to date)2026 Purdue Defense · SP+ 2026: 30.1, 27th percentile (2026 season to date)2026 Purdue Special teams · SP+ 2026: 0.4, 95th percentile (2026 season to date)2026 Purdue Recruiting · 2026 signing class: 203.3 pts, 61st percentile (2026 signing class)2026 Purdue Experience · returning production 2026: 48% returning, 59th percentile (2026 roster)2026 Minnesota Offense · SP+ 2026: 25.0, 36th percentile (2026 season to date)2026 Minnesota Defense · SP+ 2026: 22.1, 70th percentile (2026 season to date)2026 Minnesota Special teams · SP+ 2026: 0.0, 37th percentile (2026 season to date)2026 Minnesota Recruiting · 2026 signing class: 226.7 pts, 80th percentile (2026 signing class)2026 Minnesota Experience · returning production 2026: 65% returning, 76th percentile (2026 roster)0100Offense · SP+ 2026Defense · SP+ 2026Special teams · SP+ 2026Recruiting · 2026 signing classExperience · returning production 2026
  • 2026 Purdue Offense · SP+ 2026: 31.3, 69th percentile (2026 season to date)
  • 2026 Minnesota Offense · SP+ 2026: 25.0, 36th percentile (2026 season to date)
  • 2026 Purdue Defense · SP+ 2026: 30.1, 27th percentile (2026 season to date)
  • 2026 Minnesota Defense · SP+ 2026: 22.1, 70th percentile (2026 season to date)
  • 2026 Purdue Special teams · SP+ 2026: 0.4, 95th percentile (2026 season to date)
  • 2026 Minnesota Special teams · SP+ 2026: 0.0, 37th percentile (2026 season to date)
  • 2026 Purdue Recruiting · 2026 signing class: 203.3 pts, 61st percentile (2026 signing class)
  • 2026 Minnesota Recruiting · 2026 signing class: 226.7 pts, 80th percentile (2026 signing class)
  • 2026 Purdue Experience · returning production 2026: 48% returning, 59th percentile (2026 roster)
  • 2026 Minnesota Experience · returning production 2026: 65% returning, 76th percentile (2026 roster)
Emphasize a team

Offensive production relative to that season’s field. Compare an offense with the opposing defense in the scouting report.

Recruiting and experience add context; the five axes aren't equal weights in the forecast.

The numbers behind the profiles

Measure2026 Purdue2026 Minnesota
Offensive / play0.2580th percentile0.0522nd percentile
PPA allowed / play0.254th percentile0.0458th percentile
Points per game32.261st percentile6 games28.849th percentile6 games
per game31.314th percentile6 games21.860th percentile6 games

Programs don't stand still

SP+ percentile among FBS teams, by season. The marked point is each compared season.

2026 Purdue2026 Minnesota
Purdue 2026: 55th percentileMinnesota 2026: 57th percentile2000200520102015202020250255075100

Momentum

Purdue↗ rising (+46 pctl over 3 seasons)
Minnesota↘ falling (−24 pctl over 3 seasons)

Talent in, results out

Recruiting-class percentile feeding each roster, compared with its SP+ result.

2026 Purdue
Average signing-class percentile, classes 2023–2026
54th percentile
SP+ percentile, 2026
55th percentile
Matching its talent (+1)
2026 Minnesota
Average signing-class percentile, classes 2023–2026
71st percentile
SP+ percentile, 2026
57th percentile
Underperforming its talent (−14)

Campus distance

450 miles apart

There's more to the matchup.

Supporting context, ready when you want it.

In the trenches · both directions
MatchupO-lineD-line
2026 Purdue OL vs 2026 Minnesota DL307.5 lbs273.8 lbs
2026 Minnesota OL vs 2026 Purdue DL310.9 lbs279.3 lbs

2026 Purdue line yards 2.99 · 2026 Minnesota stuff rate 20.8%

2026 Minnesota line yards 2.34 · 2026 Purdue stuff rate 14.6%

Fans swear big lines win games. They're half right — big-line teams do win more, but only because good programs recruit big linemen. Once we account for talent and last season, line size adds nothing to the prediction. Across 11 seasons, no measurable effect on margin.

Roster size is context. It isn't a forecast advantage.

Backtested effect: 0.42 pts at 1σ.

Head-to-head · Minnesota leads 12–11 since 2000

Purdue has won 1 straight

SeasonScoreVenue
2026Purdue 41–13 MinnesotaRoss-Ade Stadium · Purdue home
2025Purdue 20–27 MinnesotaHuntington Bank Stadium · Minnesota home
2023Purdue 49–30 MinnesotaRoss-Ade Stadium · Purdue home
2022Purdue 20–10 MinnesotaHuntington Bank Stadium · Minnesota home
2021Purdue 13–20 MinnesotaRoss-Ade Stadium · Purdue home
2020Purdue 31–34 MinnesotaHuntington Bank Stadium · Minnesota home
2019Purdue 31–38 MinnesotaRoss-Ade Stadium · Purdue home
2018Purdue 10–41 MinnesotaHuntington Bank Stadium · Minnesota home
2017Purdue 31–17 MinnesotaRoss-Ade Stadium · Purdue home
2016Purdue 31–44 MinnesotaHuntington Bank Stadium · Minnesota home
2015Purdue 13–41 MinnesotaRoss-Ade Stadium · Purdue home
2014Purdue 38–39 MinnesotaHuntington Bank Stadium · Minnesota home
2012Purdue 28–44 MinnesotaHuntington Bank Stadium · Minnesota home
2011Purdue 45–17 MinnesotaRoss-Ade Stadium · Purdue home
2010Purdue 28–17 MinnesotaRoss-Ade Stadium · Purdue home
2009Purdue 20–35 MinnesotaHuntington Bank Stadium · Minnesota home
2008Purdue 6–17 MinnesotaRoss-Ade Stadium · Purdue home
2007Purdue 45–31 MinnesotaMinnesota home
2006Purdue 27–21 MinnesotaRoss-Ade Stadium · Purdue home
2005Purdue 35–42 MinnesotaMinnesota home
2002Purdue 28–15 MinnesotaRoss-Ade Stadium · Purdue home
2001Purdue 35–28 MinnesotaMinnesota home
2000Purdue 38–24 MinnesotaPurdue home
Coaching & program context
2026 Purdue

HC

  • Barry Odom

OC

  • Josh Henson

career average +34.2 SP+ offense

Scheme: Multiple (listed on Wikipedia)

Style: Balanced, up-tempo (threw on 47% of its run–pass plays, 57th percentile of 2026 FBS; 70.3 plays a game, 71st percentile)

DC

  • Kevin Kane

career average +28.5 SP+ defense

Scheme: 3–4 (listed on Wikipedia)

2026 Minnesota

HC

  • P.J. Fleck

OC

  • Greg Harbaugh Jr.

career average +23.1 SP+ offense

Scheme: Multiple (listed on Wikipedia, 2025 listing)

Style: Pass-heavy, grind-it-out (threw on 54% of its run–pass plays, 93rd percentile of 2026 FBS; 64.0 plays a game, 25th percentile)

DC

  • Danny Collins
  • Nick Monroe (co-DC)

career average +19.5 SP+ defense

Scheme: 4–3 (listed on Wikipedia, 2025 listing)

A new coordinator feels like it should swing a game. Across 11 seasons, the change doesn't move the final margin beyond what the roster already tells us. Shown as context, not a factor in our number.

Run-heavy team meets a defense that can't stop the run — feels like extra points waiting. Across 7 seasons the matchup adds nothing beyond what the two ratings already say; if anything the point estimate leans the other way.

Scouting reports

No upcoming game between these teams is on the schedule.

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