Purdue capped a 9-2 season with a hard-fought 14-13 victory over USC. A pair of touchdowns by sophomore fullback Perry Williams, and a last-second interception of an attempted two-point conversion by senior defensive back George Catavolos secured the victory for the Boilermakers. Senior defensive back John Charles was voted the game's Most Valuable Player for his outstanding play.

Sophomore quarterback Mark Herrmann threw for two touchdowns and rushed for one more to earn offensive Most Valuable Player honors in a convincing 41-21 victory over Georgia Tech. Purdue's "junk" defense caused a couple of first-half turnovers en route to a commanding 34-7 halftime lead. The win left the Boilermakers with a 9-2-1 overall record, marking only the second nine-win season in the school's history.

A last minute, 38-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Mark Herrmann to junior tight end Dave Young gave the Boilermakers their third consecutive bowl victory in dramatic fashion. Herrmann enjoyed another Most Valuable Player performance with a 21-completion, 303-yard evening. Purdue led 21-0 in the third quarter but fell behind 22-21, setting up the last-second heroics by Herrmann and Young. The victory gave the Boilermakers their only 10-win season in history.

Purdue kept its bowl record perfect with a 28-25 upset victory over Missouri. Senior quarterback Mark Herrmann was selected offensive Most Valuable Player with a four-touchdown pass performance. It marked the third consecutive year Herrmann earned MVP honors. The Boilermakers held off a furious Missouri rally to end the 1980 campaign with a 9-3 record.

Purdue held a 24-14 halftime lead, but Virginia scored the only points of the second half on a touchdown and two field goals to pull out the win. Junior quarterback Jim Everett passed for 253 yards and three touchdowns, but Purdue gained just 75 yards rushing and committed four turnovers in dropping its first bowl game. The Boilermakers finished the 1984 season with a 7-5 record.

Quarterback Billy Dicken passed for 325 yards, and Purdue scored three touchdowns in the third quarter on the way to a 33-20 win over Oklahoma State. Dicken connected with wide receiver Chris Daniels for a 69-yard touchdown pass to give the Boilermakers a 30-13 lead. Purdue had 454 total yards while holding the Cowboys to 368 and forcing four turnovers. Dicken and sophomore free safety Adrian Beasley were selected the Offensive and Defensive Most Valuable Players.

Purdue drove 80 yards in 54 seconds to upset fourth-ranked Kansas State 37-34 and capture its second straight Alamo Bowl championship. Quarterback Drew Brees hit wide receiver Isaac Jones on a 24-yard pass with 30 seconds left for the winning touchdown. Brees completed 25 of 53 passes for 230 yards with three touchdowns. Jones caught 11 passes for 98 yards. Purdue's defense recorded five sacks, including three and a half by end Chike Okeafor. Free safety Billy Gustin tied the Alamo Bowl record with two interceptions.

Georgia overcame a 25-0 deficit to defeat the Boilermakers 28-25 in overtime. Purdue scored on four of its first five possessions of the game. Georgia closed to within 25-10 at halftime and trailed 25-18 after three quarters before scoring the tying touchdown with 1:19 left in the game on an 8-yard pass play that was deflected by two Purdue defenders. Kicker Travis Dorsch missed a 43-yard field goal on the Boilermakers' first possession of overtime, and Georgia kicker Hap Hines nailed a 21-yarder on the Bulldogs' first time with the ball.

Purdue's fourth-quarter comeback came up short as the Boilermakers fell to No. 4 Washington 34-24. Trailing 34-17 midway through the final stanza, the Boilermakers scored on a 42-yard jaunt by running back Sedrick Brown with 6:37 remaining. Less than two minutes later, Purdue was in scoring position again, but kicker Travis Dorsch's 42-yard field goal attempt hooked left. Washington took over and ran out the clock. Quarterback Drew Brees, playing in his final collegiate game, completed 23 of 39 passes for 275 yards with two touchdowns.

Another near miss. The Boilermakers mounted an impressive comeback that came up just short in a 33-27 loss to 13th-ranked Washington State. Trailing 33-20, Purdue scored with 1:53 left and recovered the ensuing onside kick at its own 49-yard line. But the potential game-winning drive stalled at the Washington State 22. Quarterback Kyle Orton completed 38 of 74 passes for 419 yards with two touchdowns and four interceptions. The 74 attempts are the most in NCAA bowl history.

The Boilermakers overcame a 17-0 deficit in the first quarter (in which they were held without a first down and to minus eight yards total offense) by scoring 34 uninterrupted points to beat Washington 34-24 in a rematch of the 2000 Rose Bowl. After Joey Harris put Purdue ahead 24-17 thanks to a 10-yard run, Gilbert Gardner put the game away when he forced a fumble and returned it 19 yards for a touchdown. Kyle Orton completed 25 of 37 passes for 283 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions en route to being named the game's Most Valuable Player.

The Boilermakers overcame a 24-0 deficit only to fall 34-27 in overtime to Georgia. Kyle Orton, who suffered a dislocated left thumb, sprained toe and cracked rib during the game, completed 20 of 34 passes for 230 yards. He tied the Purdue bowl record with two rushing touchdowns. John Standeford had seven catches for 102 yards and became the Big Ten career receptions leader with 266.

In a season full of gut-wrenching losses, the Boilermakers suffered another in the Sun Bowl, falling 27-23 to 21st-ranked Arizona State. Purdue took the lead 23-20 with 1:14 remaining on a 6-yard pass from Kyle Orton to Charles Davis, but the Sun Devils took the ensuing kickoff and marched 80 yards in four plays to score the game-winning touchdown with 43 seconds left. Purdue finished the season with five losses by a total of 14 points.

In its return to postseason play, Purdue could not get on track offensively, dropping a 24-7 decision to Maryland. The Terrapins opened a 21-0 second-quarter lead before the Boilermakers scored their lone touchdown on a 12-yard pass from Curtis Painter to Greg Orton with 30 seconds to go before halftime. Painter finished the season with a Big Ten-record 3,985 passing yards.

Chris Summers kicked a 40-yard field goal as time expired to give Purdue an exhilarating 51-48 victory over Central Michigan. The Boilermakers rolled to a 34-13 halftime advantage before the Chippewas mounted a remarkable comeback that saw the game tied at 41 and 48. Curtis Painter set school records with 546 passing yards and 540 yards of total offense. The teams combined for 1,022 yards of total offense (Purdue 587 and Central Michigan 435).

The Boilermakers put on a special teams display, recovering two onside kicks and returning a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown en route to a 37-32 victory over Western Michigan. Trailing 15-10 in the second quarter, Raheem Mostert took a Bronco kickoff to paydirt and the Boilermakers led the rest of the way. Despite surrendering 439 yards in the air, the Purdue defense held Western Michigan to 46 yards rushing and forced seven turnovers (four interceptions, three fumbles), including the game-sealing strip by Ryan Russell.