With Ohio State’s victory over Penn State behind them, attention now shifts toward the season’s biggest test — The Game against Michigan. Before that, the Buckeyes face three lesser opponents, starting with a road matchup at Purdue.
Although Ohio State fans still remember the painful 2018 loss at Ross-Ade Stadium, the Buckeyes have dominated the Boilermakers in the Ryan Day era, winning their last three meetings by at least four touchdowns, including 41–7 and 45–0 blowouts in 2023 and 2024.
Now led by new head coach Barry Odom, Purdue is undergoing a complete rebuild. The Boilermakers sit at 2–7 and remain winless in Big Ten play. After the failed two-year stint of Ryan Walters (4–8, then 1–11), Odom fresh off success at UNLV — has been tasked with restoring competitiveness. He has emphasized “16 core values” centered on toughness, consistency, and teamwork, hoping to revitalize the program’s culture.
Despite their struggles, Purdue’s defense has shown flashes, ranking 30th nationally in sacks (21). Defensive end CJ Nunnally IV has been a bright spot, collecting five sacks and forcing two fumbles. Linebackers Mani Powell and Charles Correa have also contributed three sacks apiece. Still, Purdue’s defense ranks poorly overall, giving up 234.4 passing yards per game, and the offense has been plagued by turnovers a -10 margin, among the worst in the nation.
Offensively, quarterback Ryan Browne has thrown nine touchdowns against seven interceptions. The team averages just 22.9 points per game while allowing 30.4, ranking outside the top 100 nationally in both categories.
Beyond the current struggles, Purdue remains a proud program with a storied history, particularly its “Cradle of Quarterbacks.” Legendary passers such as Len Dawson, Bob Griese, and Drew Brees all came through West Lafayette, earning Purdue a reputation as one of the great quarterback-producing schools in college football. Brees, the most famous of the group, went on to win a Super Bowl and set multiple NFL records.
The Boilermakers also boast some of the most unique rivalry traditions in the Big Ten. They play for three classic trophies — the Shillelagh Trophy (vs. Notre Dame), the Purdue Cannon (vs. Illinois), and the Old Oaken Bucket (vs. Indiana). The latter, dating back to 1925, is especially iconic; after each game, a link engraved with either “P” or “I” is added to the chain around the bucket to mark the winner. Purdue leads the all-time series against Indiana 77–43–6.
Though this year’s Boilermakers are rebuilding and far from contention, their history, traditions, and new leadership under Barry Odom ensure they remain a program worth watching even as Ohio State prepares for bigger battles ahead.
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