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Notre Dame embarrassed Purdue earlier this season, and the Boilermakers bounced back to beat Minnesota the next week.
Michigan blew Purdue out last Saturday, but if history is an indicator, it'll be much tougher for the Boilermakers to recover this time.
Purdue plays at No. 19 Wisconsin on Saturday, where the Badgers have won 14 straight. The Boilermakers last beat Wisconsin in 2003, and the Badgers have won all five games since, including the last three by an average score of 32-5.
Purdue recovered nicely after this year's loss to Notre Dame with a win over Minnesota, a close loss to Penn State and a victory over then-No. 23 Illinois. Because of that, the Boilermakers believe they can recover again.
''We know how talented of a team they are,'' linebacker Joe Holland said. ''We know as a team what we're capable of if we eliminate some of the mistakes.''
Purdue coach Danny Hope believes the team improved after the Notre Dame loss because it took the right approach.
''That's what I like about our players and our team,'' he said. ''That's why I'm always optimistic that we're getting better, have a chance to win on Saturdays. They show up and get it on. I like the way they practice, get up on Saturdays taking the field believing we can win. I don't have any question about our team rebounding or wanting to win. I'm excited about that part of it.''
Wisconsin offers a much different challenge than Minnesota provided. The Badgers average 45 points and 491 yards per game. The Badgers have bludgeoned Purdue with their ground attack for years, but now, quarterback Russell Wilson leads the nation in passing efficiency.
''They haven't turned the ball over many times,'' Hope said. ''A lot of that has to do with his efficiency as a quarterback. Everything about the quarterback position you'd like to see, he does them and he does it well.''
That passing game, paired with running back Montee Ball's 21 touchdowns, make Wisconsin's offense one of the most balanced in college football.
''They have a lot of weapons,'' Holland said. ''They can do so many things. They can spread it out a little bit, and also put two tight ends, two running backs in. It makes them a very difficult offense to stop.''
The Badgers also might be in a bad mood after back-to-back losses to Michigan State and Ohio State knocked them out of the national title race. Hope doesn't see much of a difference between the Wisconsin team that won its first six games by at least 31 points and the one that lost the last two by a combined 10 points.
''They look the same to me on film in every one of their games,'' Hope said. ''They do the same things and they're really good at them.''
Then, there is the issue of playing in front of 80,000 loud fans at Camp Randall Stadium.
''Their student section is second to none,'' Holland said. ''They're not too far from our sideline, and I think they pride themselves on making a difference, and doing all that they can to distract their opponent. It makes it a lot of fun.''
Hope knows that few people outside of his locker room will expect the Boilermakers to win on Saturday. But in his three years, he has sprung a few surprises, including a home win against No. 7 Ohio State and a road win at Michigan in 2009, a victory at Northwestern in 2010 and the win over Illinois this season. Those wins make Hope comfortable as an underdog.
''I like that role at times,'' he said. ''I'm a competitive person. Being the underdog doesn't deter my belief in winning. We've won a lot of big games over the years that we were underdogs before the game. Once the game starts, all the bets are off, you have to play the game.''
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Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/cliffbruntap
