Fame Ijeboi runs for 195 yards against his old team as Purdue routs Minnesota

Fame Ijeboi spent last season as Minnesota's backup running back. On Saturday night he ran all over the Gophers. The Purdue tailback finished with a career-high 195 rushing yards and three touchdowns in a lopsided Boilermakers win, Pro Football Network reported.

Ijeboi averaged 6.3 yards per carry, and his longest run went for 30 yards. Purdue coach Barry Odom called the performance tremendous and said Ijeboi "cares about his teammates," according to Pro Football Network. Ijeboi gave the credit to his offensive line.

The numbers put him in Purdue's record book. According to the outlet, the 195 yards are the 15th-best single-game total in program history and the most by a Boilermaker since Markell Jones ran for 217 at Indiana in 2017. His three touchdowns give him nine this season, tying Kory Sheets' 2006 mark for the most by a Purdue player through six games since 1995.

Most of the damage came early. Ijeboi had 131 yards on 18 carries before halftime, and Purdue went into the break up 20-3. That was the program's largest halftime lead in a Big Ten game since 2018. Quarterback Ryan Browne added 81 rushing yards on seven carries, including a 12-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. He also went 14-of-24 for 159 yards and threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to George Burhenn.

The game broke a slump for Ijeboi. He had run for 41 yards against Notre Dame and 65 at Illinois in his previous two games, averaging 3.4 yards per carry in both. His old career high was 114 yards against Wake Forest on Sept. 12.

The matchup carried extra weight because of where he came from. As a redshirt freshman at Minnesota in 2025, Ijeboi ran for 441 yards and two touchdowns while playing behind Darius Taylor. Purdue defensive coordinator Kevin Kane coached the Gophers' linebackers last season. According to The Journal Gazette, as cited by Pro Football Network, Kane was the one who convinced Purdue's offensive staff that Ijeboi was the right fit.

A rough night for Minnesota

The other side of the ball was just as bad for Minnesota. Taylor had 15 yards on seven carries. Pro Football Network reported that the Gophers' rushing total was the lowest by a Purdue opponent in a Big Ten game since Penn State's 18 yards in 2004. Drake Lindsey hit Jalen Smith on a 42-yard touchdown pass that cut the deficit to 27-13 in the third quarter. Purdue answered with two fourth-quarter touchdowns.

Coach P.J. Fleck said Purdue dominated in nearly every phase. He said the Boilermakers deserved a lot of credit and that his team has to get much better.

The loss came one week after Minnesota beat Michigan 20-14. The Gophers now have a week off before hosting Iowa on Oct. 24. Iowa just ran for 263 yards in a 41-24 win at Washington, so Minnesota's run defense will have to be fixed by then.

Purdue has a short week. Washington visits Ross-Ade Stadium on Friday night for an 8 p.m. ET kickoff on Fox, and the Huskies are coming off that home loss to Iowa. Their run defense just gave up 208 yards to Hawkeyes back Kamari Moulton, so Ijeboi could get plenty of carries again.