Bowl History

1967 Rose Bowl

Purdue 14
USC 13
Jan. 2, 1967
Pasadena, California

Purdue capped a 9-2 season with a hard-fought 14-13 victory over USC. A pair of touchdowns by sophomore fullback Perry Williams, and a last-second interception of an attempted two-point conversion by senior defensive back George Catavolos secured the victory for the Boilermakers. Senior defensive back John Charles was voted the game's Most Valuable Player for his outstanding play.

Score By Quarters
Purdue	0	7	7	0	14
USC	0	7	0	6	13

1978 Peach Bowl

Purdue 41
Georgia Tech 21
Dec. 25, 1978
Atlanta, Georgia

Sophomore quarterback Mark Herrmann threw for two touchdowns and rushed for one more to earn offensive Most Valuable Player honors in a convincing 41-21 victory over Georgia Tech. Purdue's "junk" defense caused a couple of first-half turnovers en route to a commanding 34-7 halftime lead. The win left the Boilermakers with a 9-2-1 overall record, marking only the second nine-win season in the school's history.

Score By Quarters
Purdue	21	13	0	7	41
Georgia Tech	0	7	0	14	21

1979 Bluebonnet Bowl

Purdue 27
Tennessee 22
Dec. 31, 1979
Houston, Texas

A last minute, 17-yard touchdown pass from junior All-American quarterback Mark Herrmann to junior tight end Dave Young gave the Boilermakers their third consecutive bowl victory in dramatic fashion. Herrmann enjoyed another Most Valuable Player performance with a 21-completion, 303-yard evening. Purdue led 21-0 in the third quarter but fell behind 22-21, setting up the last-second heroics by Herrmann and Young. The victory gave the Boilermakers their only 10-win season in school history.

Score By Quarters
Purdue	0	14	7	6	27
Tennessee	0	0	6	16	22

1980 Liberty Bowl

Purdue 28
Missouri 25
Dec. 27, 1980
Memphis, Tennessee

Purdue kept its bowl record perfect with a 28-25 upset victory over Missouri. Senior quarterback Mark Herrmann was selected offensive Most Valuable Player with a four-touchdown pass performance. It marked the third consecutive year Herrmann earned MVP honors. The Boilermakers held off a furious Missouri rally to end the 1980 campaign with a 9-3 record.

Score By Quarters
Purdue	7	14	7	0	28
Missouri	0	12	3	10	25

1984 Peach Bowl

Virginia 27
Purdue 24
Dec. 31, 1984
Atlanta, Georgia

Purdue held a 24-14 halftime lead, but Virginia scored the only points of the second half on a touchdown and two field goals to pull out the win. Junior quarterback Jim Everett passed for 253 yards and three touchdowns, but Purdue gained just 75 yards rushing and committed four turnovers in dropping its first bowl game. The Boilermakers finished the 1984 season with a 7-5 record.

Score By Quarters
Purdue	10	14	0	0	24
Virginia	7	7	7	6	27

1997 Alamo Bowl

Purdue 33
Oklahoma State 20
Dec. 30, 1997
San Antonio, Texas

Senior quarterback Billy Dicken passed for 325 yards, and Purdue scored three touchdowns in the third quarter on the way to a 33-20 win over Oklahoma State. Dicken connected with sophomore wide receiver Chris Daniels for a 69-yard touchdown pass to give the Boilermakers a 30-13 lead. Purdue had 454 total yards while holding the Cowboys to 368 and forcing four turnovers. Dicken and sophomore free safety Adrian Beasley were selected the Offensive and Defensive Most Valuable Players.

Score By Quarters
Purdue	7	3	20	3	33
Oklahoma State	3	3	7	7	20

1998 Alamo Bowl

Purdue 37
Kansas State 34
Dec. 29, 1998
San Antonio, Texas

Purdue drove 80 yards in 54 seconds to upset fourth-ranked Kansas State 37-34 and capture its second straight Alamo Bowl championship. Sophomore quarterback Drew Brees hit senior wide receiver Isaac Jones on a 24-yard pass with 30 seconds left for the winning touchdown. Brees completed 25 of 53 passes for 230 yards with three touchdowns. Jones caught 11 passes for 98 yards. Purdue's defense recorded five sacks, including three and a half by senior end Chike Okeafor. Senior free safety Billy Gustin tied the Alamo Bowl record with two interceptions.

Score By Quarters
Purdue	0	17	10	10	37
Kansas State	0	7	6	21	34

2000 Outback Bowl

Georgia 28
Purdue 25 (OT)
Jan. 1, 2000
Tampa, Florida

Georgia overcame a 25-0 deficit to defeat the Boilermakers 28-25 in overtime. Purdue scored on four of its first five possessions of the game. Georgia closed to within 25-10 at halftime and trailed 25-18 after three quarters before scoring the tying touchdown with 1:19 left in the game on an 8-yard pass play that was deflected by two Purdue defenders. Sophomore kicker Travis Dorsch missed a 43-yard field goal on the Boilermakers' first possession of overtime, and Georgia kicker Hap Hines nailed a 21-yarder on the Bulldogs' first time with the ball.

Score By Quarters
Purdue	19	6	0	0	0	25
Georgia	0	10	8	7	3	28

2001 Rose Bowl

Washington 34
Purdue 24
Jan. 1, 2001
Pasadena, California

Purdue's fourth-quarter comeback came up short as the Boilermakers fell to No. 4 Washington 34-24. Trailing 34-17 midway through the final stanza, the Boilermakers scored on a 42-yard jaunt by junior running back Sedrick Brown with 6:37 remaining. Less than two minutes later, Purdue was in scoring position again, but junior kicker Travis Dorsch's 42-yard field goal attempt hooked left. Washington took over and ran out the clock. Senior quarterback Drew Brees, playing in his final collegiate game, completed 23 of 39 passes for 275 yards with two touchdowns.

Score By Quarters
Purdue	0	10	7	7	24
Washington	14	0	6	14	34

2001 Sun Bowl

Washington State 33
Purdue 27
Dec. 31, 2001
El Paso, Texas

Another near miss. The Boilermakers mounted an impressive comeback that came up just short in a 33-27 loss to 13th-ranked Washington State. Trailing 33-20, Purdue scored with 1:53 left and recovered the ensuing onside kick at its own 49-yard line. But the potential game-winning drive stalled at the Washington State 22. Freshman quarterback Kyle Orton completed 38 of 74 passes for 419 yards with two touchdowns and four interceptions. The 74 attempts set an NCAA bowl game record.

Score By Quarters
Purdue	0	20	0	7	27
Washington State	14	3	13	3	33

2002 Sun Bowl

Purdue 34
Washington 24
Dec. 31, 2002
El Paso, Texas

The Boilermakers overcame a 17-0 deficit in the first quarter (in which they were held without a first down and to minus eight yards total offense) by scoring 34 uninterrupted points to beat Washington 34-24 in a rematch of the 2000 Rose Bowl. After sophomore running back Joey Harris put Purdue ahead 24-17 thanks to a 10-yard run, junior linebacker Gilbert Gardner put the game away when he forced a fumble and returned it 19 yards for a touchdown. Sophomore quarterback Kyle Orton completed 25 of 37 passes for 283 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions en route to being named the game's Most Valuable Player.

Score By Quarters
Purdue	0	14	17	3	34
Washington	17	0	0	7	24

2004 Capital One Bowl

Georgia 34
Purdue 27 (OT)
Jan. 1, 2004
Orlando, Florida

The Boilermakers overcame a 24-0 deficit only to fall 34-27 in overtime to Georgia. Junior quarterback Kyle Orton, who suffered a dislocated left thumb, sprained toe and cracked rib during the game, completed 20 of 34 passes for 230 yards. He tied the Purdue bowl record with two rushing touchdowns. Senior wide receiver John Standeford had seven catches for 102 yards and became the Big Ten career receptions leader with 266.

Score By Quarters Purdue 0 10 0 17 0 27 Georgia 14 10 0 3 7 34

2004 Sun Bowl

Arizona State 27
Purdue 23
Dec. 31, 2004
El Paso, Texas

In a season full of gut-wrenching losses, the Boilermakers suffered another in the Sun Bowl, falling 27-23 to 21st-ranked Arizona State. Purdue took the lead 23-20 with 1:14 remaining on a 6-yard pass from senior quarterback Kyle Orton to junior tight end Charles Davis, but the Sun Devils took the ensuing kickoff and marched 80 yards in four plays to score the game-winning touchdown with 43 seconds left. Purdue finished the season with five losses by a total of 14 points.

Score By Quarters
Purdue	0	2	7	14	23
Arizona State	3	0	7	17	27

2006 Champs Sports Bowl

Maryland 24
Purdue 7
Dec. 29, 2006
Orlando, Florida

In its return to postseason play, Purdue could not get on track offensively, dropping a 24-7 decision to Maryland. The Terrapins opened a 21-0 second-quarter lead before the Boilermakers scored their lone touchdown on a 12-yard pass from sophomore quarterback Curtis Painter to sophomore wide receiver Greg Orton with 30 seconds to go before halftime. Painter finished the season with a Big Ten-record 3,985 passing yards.

Score By Quarters
Purdue	0	7	0	0	7
Maryland	7	14	3	0	24

2007 Motor City Bowl

Purdue 51
Central Michigan 48
Dec. 26, 2007
Detroit, Michigan

Sophomore Chris Summers kicked a 40-yard field goal as time expired to give Purdue an exhilarating 51-48 victory over Central Michigan. The Boilermakers rolled to a 34-13 halftime advantage before the Chippewas mounted a remarkable comeback that saw the game tied at 41 and 48. Junior quarterback Curtis Painter set school records with 546 passing yards and 540 yards of total offense. The teams combined for 1,022 yards of total offense (Purdue 587 and Central Michigan 435).

Score By Quarters
Purdue	21	13	7	10	51
Central Michigan	6	7	28	7	48

2011 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl

Purdue 37
Western Michigan 32
Dec. 27, 2011
Detroit, Michigan

The Boilermakers put on a special teams display, recovering two onside kicks and returning a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown en route to a 37-32 victory over Western Michigan. Trailing 15-10 in the second quarter, freshman Raheem Mostert took a Bronco kickoff to paydirt and the Boilermakers led the rest of the way. Despite surrendering 439 yards in the air, the Purdue defense held Western Michigan to 46 yards rushing and forced seven turnovers (four interceptions, three fumbles), including the game-sealing strip by freshman end Ryan Russell.

Score By Quarters
Purdue	7	20	7	3	37
Western Michigan	8	7	10	7	32

2013 Heart of Dallas Bowl

Oklahoma State 58
Purdue 14
Jan. 1, 2013
Dallas, Texas

A fast start by Oklahoma State overwhelmed the Boilermakers, who were unable to get their offense clicking until the second half of a 58-14 loss to the Cowboys. Oklahoma State raced out to a 28-0 first-half advantage and the lead swelled to 45-0 before the Boilermakers got on the board with a 32-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Robert Marve to sophomore fullback Brandon Cottom. Marve finished with 212 yards and two touchdowns on 21-of-34 passing, while senior running back Akeem Shavers rushed for 93 yards.

Score By Quarters
Purdue	0	0	7	7	14
Oklahoma State	14	14	17	13	58

2017 Foster Farms Bowl

Purdue 38
Arizona 35
Dec. 27, 2017
Santa Clara, California

Sophomore quarterback Elijah Sindelar threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Anthony Mahoungou with 1:44 left in the game. Then, on Arizona's ensuing possession, junior safety Jacob Thieneman came up with an interception at the Purdue 36-yard line with 23 seconds remaining to clinch a thrilling 38-35 win. Sindelar completed 33 of 53 passes for career highs of 396 yards and four touchdowns to be selected the game's Offensive Most Valuable Player, all while playing with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. Senior wide receiver Gregory Phillips hauled in a Purdue bowl-record 14 receptions. Senior linebacker Ja'Whaun Bentley was voted the game's Defensive Most Valuable Player after recording eight tackles.

Score By Quarters
Purdue	14	17	0	7	38
Arizona	14	0	14	7	35

 

2018 Music City Bowl

Auburn 63
Purdue 14
Dec. 28, 2018
Nashville, Tennessee

Freshman wide receiver Rondale Moore capped an outstanding season with 11 receptions for 94 yards. He also scored one of the Boilermakers' two touchdowns on a 7-yard rush. In his final game at Purdue, senior quarterback David Blough completed 22 of 37 passes for 184 yards and scored on a 22-yard run. Auburn raced to a 21-0 lead and built a 56-7 halftime advantage en route to a 63-14 victory. Sophomore defensive end Derrick Barnes recorded three tackles for loss among 10 total stops, while junior linebacker Markus Bailey topped the team with 11 tackles. Some 22,000 Purdue fans were in attendance, the Boilermakers' largest bowl game turnout since the 2001 Rose Bowl.

Score By Quarters
Purdue	7	0	7	0	14
Auburn	28	28	7	0	63

 

2021 Music City Bowl

Purdue 48
Tennessee 45
Dec. 30, 2021
Nashville, Tennessee

An overtime goal line stand by the defense, followed by a 39-yard game-winning field goal by Mitchell Fineran lifted the Purdue football team to a 48-45 win over Tennessee in the 2021 TransPerfect Music City Bowl. In the highest scoring game in Music City Bowl history, the Boilermakers picked up their 11th bowl win behind 627 yards of total offense, including 534 in the air, a program best in a bowl. Purdue quarterback Aidan O'Connell threw for a program bowl record 534 yards and five touchdowns. The performance was O'Connell's sixth 300-yard passing game of the season and his fifth consecutive game with at least three passing touchdowns. The Long Grove, Ill., native became just the second Boilermaker in history to have multiple 500-yard games, joining Drew Brees. Completing 26-of-47 through the air, the fifth-year senior set a new school record for completion percentage in a single season 71.6%.

Score By Quarters Purdue 7 16 7 15 3 48 Tennessee 21 0 10 14 0 45

 

2023 Cheez-It Citrus Bowl

LSU 63
Purdue 7
Jan. 2, 2023
Orlando, Florida

Starting his second game at Purdue, Austin Burton threw for 74 yards on 12-of-24 passing before Michael Alaimo came on in relief in the second half. The redshirt junior set career highs 4-of-11 passing for 74 yards and his first career passing touchdown. TJ Sheffield was the Boilermakers' leading receiver with seven catches for 56 yards and a score. Purdue's lone scoring drive came early in the fourth quarter. The nine-play, 75-yard drive featured a 26-yard pass by wide receiver Abdur-Rahmaan Yaseen to Sheffield. The gadget play set up a 16-yard touchdown toss from Alaimo to Sheffield. The Tigers (10-4) outgained Purdue 594-256, totaling 225 yards and four scores on the ground, 369 passing yards and four touchdowns through the air and an interception returned for a touchdown late in the fourth.

Score By Quarters
Purdue	0	0	0	7	7
LSU	14	21	14	14	63

 

Purdue Bowl Game Most Valuable Players

1967 Rose - John Charles, defensive back

1978 Peach - Mark Herrmann, quarterback

1979 Bluebonnet - Mark Herrmann, quarterback

1980 Liberty - Mark Herrmann, quarterback

1997 Alamo - Billy Dicken, quarterback (offense)
   Adrian Beasley, free safety (defense)

1998 Alamo - Drew Brees, quarterback (offense)
   Rosevelt Colvin, defensive end (defense)

2000 Outback - Drew Brees, quarterback

2001 Sun - Akin Ayodele, defensive end (lineman)

2002 Sun - Kyle Orton, quarterback
   Shaun Phillips, defensive end (lineman)
   Anthony Chambers, returner (special teams)

2004 Capital One - Kyle Orton, quarterback (Purdue offense)
   Shaun Phillips, defensive end (Purdue defense)

2004 Sun - Brandon Villarreal, defensive tackle (lineman)
   Dave Brytus, punter (special teams)

2007 Motor City - Curtis Painter, quarterback
   Dustin Keller, tight end (lineman)

2011 Little Caesars Pizza - Akeem Shavers, running back
   Joe Holland, linebacker (lineman)

2017 Foster Farms - Elijah Sindelar, quarterback (offense)
   Ja'Whaun Bentley, linebacker (defense)

2021 Music City - Broc Thompson, wide receiver