Indiana had every opportunity to bring the Old Oaken Bucket back to Bloomington.
Just like they had every opportunity to sack Purdue quarterback Hudson Card.
They got neither done, and now all eyes turn to IU AD Scott Dolson, and his decision on head coach Tom Allen’s future.
Card sliced up the IU defense through the air and with his feet as Purdue rallied to defeat Indiana and claim their third straight win in the rivalry series. Card finished with three scores through the air and 275 passing yards, and another 85 yards and a score on the ground.
On too many occasions to count, Card appeared to be sacked but managed to escape.
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” IU coach Tom Allen said after the game of Card’s ability to elude the rush. “I’ve never seen so many missed opportunities on sacks in one game. Most of those were after we had our hands on him.”
Indiana led 28-18 at the end of three quarters after a Jaylin Lucas 100-yard kickoff return and a Brendan Sorsby touchdown pass to Josh Henderson.
But Purdue outscored the Hoosiers 17-3 in the fourth quarter as Card found the end zone through the air and on the ground to pull out the 35-31 win in front of more than 59,000 at Ross-Ade Stadium.
In need of a touchdown, Sorsby led Indiana to the Purdue 35 in the final two minutes of the game but the Hoosiers turned it over on downs — a 4th-and-1 play that resembled much of the back half of their season — close but not quite.
The Hoosiers lost four of their last five games to end the season — and in each loss they led or were tied in the fourth quarter.
“Disappointing isn’t even the right word,” Allen said. “It’s devastating.”
It’s been a devastating three-year run for Allen, who followed up consecutive January bowl games following the 2019 and 2020 campaigns with a 9-27 record over the last three seasons with just three Big Ten wins during that span.
After the game Allen was asked if he felt his job security was threatened.
“You know, I get it, you’ve gotta win,” Allen said. “I understand the nature of college football. I understand that full well. I’ve been doing this a long, long time. I don’t know anything more than anybody. I’m just gonna keep battling, scratching and clawing. That’s out of my hands. It’s not up to me.”
Indiana (3-9) had a chance to pull out to a multiple touchdown lead in the first half but couldn’t capitalize.
Sorsby found DeQuece Carter with a beautifully thrown ball down the seam for a 33-yard first quarter touchdown to open the scoring. A 10-yard Sorsby to Donaven McCulley back shoulder throw in the corner of the end zone gave the Hoosiers a 14-6 lead.
Still up eight on their next drive, a 29-yard Trent Howland run to the Purdue 28 was called back for holding on IU wide receiver Andison Coby. On the next play Coby dropped a Sorsby pass that was intercepted.
Sorsby threw into double coverage on IU’s next drive for his third interception of the first half, and Purdue turned that one into a late second quarter touchdown drive to pull within 14-12 after a missed two-point conversion.
Watch: “I get it, you gotta win” — Tom Allen discusses loss at Purdue, future at IU
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