His team down 21-0 last week to then-No. 2 Michigan State, Purdue coach Darrell Hazell made eye contact with some of his players.
"They had a different look in their eye that second half and really believed they could win the football game," Hazell said.
The Boilermakers overcame three first-half turnovers to push the Spartans to the brink before losing 24-21 in East Lansing, Mich. From near midfield, Purdue had two last-second heaves near the end zone fall to the ground.
The Gophers (3-2, 0-1 Big Ten) will play pesky Purdue (1-4, 0-1) on Saturday in West Lafayette, Ind.