Purdue is currently at rock bottom, hoping to turn things around with a new head coach and some new players. As they prepare to face the 11th toughest schedule in the nation, Michigan on the docket will not be a walk in the park:
The Purdue Boilermakers are currently at rock bottom not only in the Big Ten, but perhaps the entire country. After going 1-11 last season and firing head coach Ryan Walters, star defensive back Dillon Thieneman, tight end Max Klare and linebacker Yanni Karlafits, to name a few, hit the transfer portal for a new home.
Purdue overhauled its entire football program this offseason, bringing in new head coach Barry Odom and replacing the 56 players that transferred out with 50 new transfers and 15 incoming freshmen.
While the long-term outlook may be better, the 2025 season may be rough for Purdue.
The Basics
Game info: Saturday, Nov. 1, Time and Network TBD
2024 record: 1-11
2025 projected wins: 3.5 (per FanDuel)
Last matchup: 2023: Michigan won, 41-13
Roster Moves
Notable draft losses: OL Marcus Mbow (New York Giants)
Notable portal losses: S Dillon Thieneman, TE Max Klare, DE Will Heldt, OL DJ Wingfield, DL Cole Brevard, WR Jahmal Edrine, OL Mahamane Moussa, CB Nyland Green, DL Jeffrey M’Ba, CB Tarrion Grant, TE Drew Biber, QB Marcos Davila, LB Yanni Karlaftis
Notable portal additions: CB Ryan Turner, DE Miles Mitchell, OL Tyrell Green, WR Nitro Tuggle, QB Malachi Singleton, CB Tony Grimes, OL Marques Easley, OL Bradyn Joiner, DL Breylon Charles, QB Ryan Browne, LB Sanders Ellis, OT Jalen St. John
State of the Program
Odom has an extremely tall task ahead of him. There are just so many questions surrounding the roster, the schedule and the staff, which makes it difficult to tell if the FanDuel projection of 3.5 wins is unfairly low or, just like in 2025, is too high.
The first thing Odom had to do this offseason was restock the cupboards with new players from the portal and high school ranks. Arguably Purdue’s four best players — Thieneman, Heldt, Klare and Karlafits — joined 52 of their teammates by entering the transfer portal.
Odom had to start from scratch, replacing nearly his entire offense outside of running back Devin Mockobee — who has piled up 2,466 yards and 21 total touchdowns in three years — and overhaul the defense.
Purdue went shopping for mid-major talent that was looking to make the jump to the next level. It found Monmouth edge rusher Miles Mitchell, who recorded 30 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and one forced fumble last year. Eastern Kentucky interior offensive lineman Tyrell Green did not allow a sack in 285 pass blocking snaps, according to PFF, and also transferred in. On top of that, quarterbacks Malachi Singleton, Ryan Browne and Evans Chuba all transferred in from Power Four programs, albeit with not much playing time at their former schools.
As for the schedule, the Boilermakers got a tough roll of the dice, facing a murderer’s row in the non-conference and in the Big Ten for anyone to go up against, let alone 70 newcomers. Purdue will see Indiana, Notre Dame and Ohio State, as well as Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, USC and Washington. Per College Football News , Purdue’s schedule ranks as the 11th-toughest nationally and third in the Big Ten.
Reasonable expectations for Odom and his staff would be surpassing the projected number of 3.5 wins, plus finding a quarterback to go into 2026 with. Purdue should defeat Ball State (Aug. 31) and Southern Illinois (Sept. 6) to start the year, and will have the best chance of defeating Minnesota, Northwestern and Rutgers all within three weeks of each other.
Who knows? Maybe a strong Big Ten team such as Washington or USC will fall short of expectations and Odom can steal a win or two more. But let’s not get this thing twisted — it should not be a year of contention for the Boilermakers.