The defensive backs rained on Brees' Heisman parade for most of the game.
Purdue coach Joe Tiller admitted he ordered Brees to throw deep early in the game in order to test Penn State's secondary.
They knew cornerback Bhawoh Jue's strength, but they believed Bruce Branch had something to prove.
"I think No. 10 (Jue) is a pretty good player," Boilermakers wide receiver Vinny Sutherland said.
"We went in to the game and knew that 10 was a better corner so we were trying to go for No. 1 (Branch)."
Branch, Jue and the rest of the secondary proved their worth to Purdue.
And they proved their worth to ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit.
The Saturday morning football "expert" and one of Ohio State coach John Cooper's pupils said Brees would "have a field day against an unathletic Penn State secondary."
"We tried to punish their receivers every time they caught the ball," defensive back Titcus Pettigrew said.
"We knew we had to let them know that we were there.
"I heard Kirk Herbstreit say this morning that Penn State had an unathletic secondary, so I knew we would go out and prove him wrong."
Gunslinger
What was a routine occurrence for one quarterback came as a total shock to another.
Brees frequently starts out of the shotgun formation, but Penn State coach Joe Paterno refused to implement it in his offense. Nittany Lions quarterback Rashard Casey said the offense practiced the shotgun, but he never thought it would be implemented — until Saturday.
Midway through the first quarter, Casey dropped back into the formation.
The play failed immediately as the quarterback was sacked by Chris Clopton and Brian Dinkins.
"Joe said, 'You don't believe me, do you, Casey?' " Casey said.
"I was like, 'It don't matter,' " the quarterback said.
Even when the play was called, there was an air of uncertainty to it.
"I walked up to the center and then I backed up," Casey said.
"The coaches didn't know I was going to do that.
"I have been waiting to do it for years and I finally got my chance," Casey said Saturday.
Hail Mary
Ironically, one of the most difficult plays in football is named for a religious figure known for grace and benevolence.
On the final play, Brees launched an arcing pass to the end zone, which was swarmed by both Purdue and Penn State players.
The play failed, as it often does.
But almost everyone knew the Boilermakers would try.
"It's the Big Ten. It's Purdue," Pettigrew said.
"We knew they were going to pass the ball and try to score."
Despite its disorganized nature, the Boilers actually practice the play once a week.
"You just try to get your three receivers down there," Brees said, "you throw the ball in the air, you got guys jumping up there. The tall guys jumping up in the air for it and the shorter guys waiting for the ball to pop out of the huddle."
There's not much religion involved, but at least there's some scientific element.
Quote of the Game
"She said until I catch something, I can't come home."
— Penn State defensive back Titcus Pettigrew on his mother, Sharon's, reaction after he dropped a near-interception.
