WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. >> What a difference a fortnight can make.

Coming off a rivalry game victory over Iowa, the Gophers had beaten Michigan State on Oct. 28 and went into Halloween parties feeling good, sitting in first place in the Big Ten West Division.

Two weeks later, Minnesota has lost two straight, with a 49-30 blowout loss to Purdue at Ross-Ade Stadium on Saturday — an almost never-ending series of defensive calamities and capitulations.

From first place in the division to struggling to reach bowl eligibility. Minnesota (5-5, 3-4 Big Ten) needs one win to reach the requisite six victories over the next fortnight: at No. 1 Ohio State next week and at home versus rival Wisconsin on Nov. 25.

Purdue (3-7, 2-5) had lost four straight games with a sputtering offense, but the Boilermakers put up season highs in total yards (604), rushing yards (353) and points.

“Bad game, not a bad life, not a bad program, not a bad team, just bad game,” Fleck said. “Unfortunately, it all kind of unraveled for us a little bit (on Saturday).”

The breakdowns were foreshadowed at the end of the 27-26 loss to Illinois last week. It was also reminiscent of another Illinois game in 2018, when the Illini destroyed Minnesota so completely that defensive coordinator Robb Smith was fired the next day.

Running backs Devin Mocokbee and Tyrone Tracy each went over 120 yards rushing and a touchdown apiece. Card added 44 on the ground and another score.“There were some play calls where it may have been the end that misfit, it may have been the tackle that misfit, it may have been the safety or the (linebacker),” Jalen Logan-Redding said. “At the end of the day, there were too many misfits.”

On Saturday, Boilermakers quarterback Hudson Card was made to look like Drew Brees or even Aidan O’Connell. Card threw for three touchdowns and 251 yards.

The Gophers cut the Purdue lead to 28-20 at halftime, but the offense went missing in action in part of the second half for a third straight week. Minnesota rushed for 18 yards in the third quarter and didn’t complete a pass.

The Gophers allowed 28 first-half points — the most since Michigan scored 35 in the 2020 season opener.

The Gophers’ defense could do nothing to stop Purdue’s offense on its opening four drives. The Boilermakers produced four touchdown drives spanning at least 75 yards apiece.

It was the first time Purdue scored four touchdowns to start a game since 2004 against Ball State.

After Mockobee’s 65-yard run late in the second quarter — the longest rush allowed by the U this season — the Boilermakers were averaging an unbelievable 25.5 yards per play.

Mockobee and Tracy averaged more than eight yards per carry.

Minnesota’s defense missed injured starting linebackers Cody Lindenberg and Maverick Baranowski, but breakdowns came along the defense line and secondary as well.

It was Minnesota’s offense that set the frenetic pace on its opening drive, but they, nor the defense, couldn’t keep up.20, but the offense went missing in action in the second half for a third straight week.