Purdue’s frustration with the loss to Nebraska is coming to the fore

More: Where is Purdue football’s offense? Not at Ross-Ade Stadium after falling flat against Nebraska

Six of those were pass interference penalties, some of which Walters said were flagrant. Others are just judgment calls. Thieneman believes some underthrown balls that resulted in pass interference penalties could have been avoided if Purdue defenders had simply turned around and looked for the ball.

But then the big problem that really upsets Walters.

Joseph Jefferson, who was in the starting lineup after Antonio Stevens left, made a great chase down tackle for a third down. Purdue still leads 3-0 at this point. Jefferson then steps over Nebraska receiver Jacory Barney Jr. after bringing him down and is assessed a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, which contradicts everything Walters says he does want to teach.

“Stepping over a receiver is stupid. This can’t happen,” Walters said. “This is a disciplined program and that is not an indication of what we teach or what we insist on. This was one that extended a trip when we needed a stop. I’ll address it.”

When the offense finally put together a drive that ended with Spencer Porath’s 45-yard field goal to give Purdue the lead, the defense gave those points back, and more after Jefferson’s penalty on Nebraska’s first touchdown drive.

“We did a really good job in the first half and then in the second half we let up a few runs and the offense did a little better,” linebacker Yanni Karlaftis said. “We just have to find ways to click both of them at the same time throughout the game.”

Once again, bad teams find ways to lose games like Saturday’s.

And as the snowball began to roll downhill, it swelled so large that it crushed the Boilermakers.

One touchdown drive turned into two, then three, and culminating in an interception return for a touchdown – the third straight week that has happened to the Boilermakers.

Purdue football players react to Nebraska loss

Hear what Purdue players said after the Boilermakers lost to Nebraska

Walters says the only answer right now is to go back to work, the only thing he can do, he said.

Players swear by the talent on Purdue’s roster.

The Boilermakers claim they are not a bad football team.

So far they have not proven otherwise.

“Obviously we’re not playing the football we want to play, and we have three great weeks ahead of us (at Wisconsin and at Illinois before returning home against Oregon) to show what we can do,” tight end said Max Klare.

Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X and Instagram @samueltking.