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(AP) -- Purdue is trying to win for its embattled coach.
 
Iowa is vying to curb a tailspin that's threatening to keep it out of a bowl game.
 
Neither the Boilermakers nor the Hawkeyes figured there would be so much at stake for a game that means so little in the Big Ten standings.
 
Purdue (3-6, 0-5) and Iowa (4-5, 2-3) have combined to lose eight straight league games heading into Saturday's showdown in Iowa City.

The Boilers have fallen apart after a 3-1 start that included a narrow loss at national title contender Notre Dame.
 
The Hawkeyes have dropped their last three games, including a 24-21 defeat at Indiana that gave the Hoosiers their first back-to-back league victories in five years.

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