Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/87065
and deliver in perhaps the season's most important game — and not just because it's the next one. "This certainly is a game that could springboard our football team and our program and put us in position to really do some great things as a team and as a program," Hope said. "The magnitude of the game and the opportunity is huge. We all recognize that. "There's still a lot of great football left to be played. A win this Saturday would be huge for our football team but only if we continue to follow it up with a win the next Saturday and the next Saturday and the bulk of the time throughout the course of the season." j Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema has won nearly 75 percent of his games since taking over as the Badgers' head coach six years ago. He has yet to lose to Purdue, or be challenged by the Boilermakers for that matter. Dave Stluka gram is too? — with the game against Wisconsin Saturday. Win and the Boilermakers are in a great position in the Leaders Division. Lose and Wisconsin might have a clear path to the Big Ten Championship game in Indianapolis. The following are our thoughts now, on the eve of Purdue's game vs. Wisconsin. • Kyle Charters: "Purdue's season is at a crossroads — is it too much to say its pro- • Stacy Clardie: "I realize there are plenty of games left after this and maybe Purdue winds up shocking Ohio State in Columbus next week, but I can't envision a 'special' sea- son for the Boilermakers (i.e. 8-plus wins, title) without beating the Badgers on Saturday. And it's going to take a big-time effort from the O-line to do so. " this week. It wasn't the loss to Michigan that was so disappointing, it was the magnitude of it. But just when you count Hope's teams out, they surprise you. I expect that this week. • Brian Neubert: "Last season, Wisconsin was a national championship caliber of team that just screwed it up. This year, the Badgers have taken a significant step back- ward, but only by their standards, and their standards are pretty considerable. What did we see from Purdue against Michigan to suggest it'll win this important Leaders Division game? Well, it made a couple field goals. That's a start, at least. " GOLDANDBLACK EXPRESS • volume 23, express 6 • 2 • Alan Karpick: "The notion of Danny Hope the Resilient will be put to the test again " "