After jumping out to a 2-0 record to begin the season, UCLA will kick off Big Ten play against Purdue on Saturday night at the Rose Bowl.

Unlike the Bruins, who have outscored opponents 73-34, the Boilermakers are coming off a double-overtime loss to Wake Forest and will be hungry for a win to begin conference play.

Despite heading into the game as a double-digit underdog, Purdue coach Barry Odom didn’t offer up any bulletin board material for the Bruins.

“I look at the team Coach [Bob] Chesney has put together and the way they’ve played the first two weeks – a lot of respect for him on how he has coached his entire career. His teams have a certain way they play, a certain style and DNA and it shows up everywhere when you watch them on film,” Odom said.

Chesney shared similar sentiments on how Odom and the Boilermakers operate.

“There’s a lot here. They are a complete team,” Chesney said. “They know exactly who they are on offense. They know exactly the schemes they want to employ and they know the people they want to get the ball to.”

Since it’s an 8 p.m. kickoff, that means it will be 11 p.m. local time for Purdue. Odom doesn’t believe the time change will make a big difference in how the team prepares leading up to the game.

The only thing Odom wishes was different was to have a late, great broadcaster on the call.

“The only thing I wish and don’t think we can get it done [was] if Keith Jackson was on the broadcast,” Odom said. “You think about the history of that stadium and you go back to all the games in that stadium … hearing his voice in the background brings back a lot of memories.”

The Bruins brought in an assortment of offensive weapons over the offseason and, two games into the season, they have established their identity.

Wayne Knight, Anthony Woods and Jaivian Thomas are a part of a dangerous Bruins backfield. Knight leads all backs with 21 carries for 168 yards and six touchdowns. He’s found the end zone three times in each game so far.

“They got a three-headed monster,” Purdue defensive coordinator Kevin Kane said. “They’re all good backs. They’re able to break tackles, they’re not the biggest guys … but they all run like they’re 200-plus pounds. They’re physical dudes.”

Although they are finding resounding success on the ground, the Bruins have struggled to build momentum in the passing game. Nico Iamaleava has thrown for 335 yards with no touchdown passes and two interceptions to begin the year. However, the senior can flip a game at a moment’s notice with his arm talent.

With wide receivers Mikey Matthews out and Aidan Mizell listed as doubtful, UCLA will rely on Brian Rowe Jr. and Semaj Morgan to handle a bulk of the production.

Purdue has forced only one turnover through two games. If the Bruins take care of the ball and execute on the ground, it could be a long night for the Boilermakers’ defense.

The Boilermakers got into a shootout in their 38-36 loss to Wake Forest last week. Their offense is capable of putting up numbers under offensive coordinator Josh Henson.

Led by quarterback Ryan Browne and running back Fame Ijeboi, Purdue’s offense has a lot of experience. Browne has completed more than 75% of his passes for 646 yards and four touchdowns.

Ijeboi, a Minnesota transfer, has established himself as the lead back with 38 carries for 201 yards and four touchdowns. He is a tough runner between the tackles, but he isn’t anything the Bruins haven’t already seen.

Unlike last week when UCLA held SDSU to 45 passing yards, Purdue will present a much bigger threat through the air.

Browne is a multi-year starter for the Boilermakers and Purdue will need him at his best in order to compete for four quarters.

“It’s a good team. A really, really good team led by a really good quarterback and a phenomenal running back and a whole crop of receivers,” Chesney said earlier this week. “There’s just a lot of really good players on this team. All things we just got to make sure we’re really buttoned up with at the end of the week.”

Purdue will have to deal with one of the best budding linebacker duos in college football in Sammy Omosigho and Jalen Woods.

Omosigho leads the team with 21 tackles, while Woods is right behind him with 20. Both players are capable of wrecking offensive game plans and will be tough to stop as they grow more and more comfortable in defensive coordinator Colin Hitschler’s scheme.

When: Saturday, 8 p.m.

Where: Rose Bowl

TV/Radio: Big Ten Network/790 AM