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Purdue becomes bowl-eligible with win over No. 5 Michigan State 40-29

It's been a big year for the Boilermakers. The team also upset second-ranked Iowa 24-7 stopping the Hawkeyes' 12-game win streak.
Credit: AP
Purdue wide receiver David Bell (3) makes a catch for a touchdown against Michigan State during the first half of an NCAA college football game in West Lafayette, Ind., Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. β€” Purdue ended Michigan State's bid for an undefeated season on Saturday with another shocking upset over a top-10 team this season. 

The Boilermakers had their fourth Big Ten Conference victory of the season with a 40-29 win over the Spartans at Ross-Ade Stadium.

The Spartans were undefeated and came into Saturday's game with a No. 5 ranking in The Associated Press college football poll.

Leading the Boilermakers to victory was Aidan O’Connell who threw for a career-best 536 yards and matched his career-high with three touchdown passes.

Purdue's David Bell broke a school record with 15 career 100-yard receiving games. The star wideout has played in 26 games. 

The game was tied until Purdue running back King Doerue scored his second touchdown of the season in the third quarter giving the Boilermakers a 28-21 lead.

The Spartans lost to Purdue for the first time since 2006. With the Big Ten's last unbeaten team going down, the conference could miss the College Football Playoff for the third time in five years.

It's been a big year for the Boilermakers. Purdue became bowl-eligible for the first time in three years and extended its FBS record for wins over top-five teams when unranked themselves to 17 upsets. 

The team also upset second-ranked Iowa with a 24-7 victory that stopped the Hawkeyes' 12-game win streak in its tracks.  

After the upset, Purdue moved into the AP's rankings at No. 25 for the week, snapping the longest current AP poll drought for a Power Five school. Purdue was last ranked in 2007. 

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