Unveiling Purdue Football's 2025 Season Schedule
Must Wins
Ball State, with a 2024 record of 3-9, will bring an entirely new coaching staff. This will mark the inaugural game for both coaching staffs as Purdue takes on BSU. Ball State fired Coach Mike Neu before the end of the season and hired the Butler Head Coach, Mike Uremovich. It's hard to predict their roster at this point, as it will likely look very different by week 1.
The Salukis from Southern Illinois faced a tough 2024 season with a 4-8 record. However, for the Odom-led Boilers, this should be an easy win after the opening week against the Cardinals. Purdue aims to start the 2025 season with a 2-0 record.
50/50 Propositions
USC had a challenging initial Big Ten Season in 2024, finishing with a 6-6 record. They lost three games in a row to Minnesota, Penn State, and Maryland at one point. Will their struggles continue into the 4th year of the Riley era? This game will be a true test of Purdue's mettle.
Illinois had an impressive 2024 season, finishing with a 9-3 record and ranked 20th in the final AP Poll. This is always a close game between the two teams, even during Purdue's worst seasons. The Battle for the Cannon is always a toss-up.
At Minnesota, a team that has become quite consistent under PJ Fleck, Purdue needs to strive to match their win total. Fleck has the Gophers winning 6 to 8 games yearly and has a distinct identity. Can Purdue achieve the same with Odom?
Time to Pull an Upset
At Notre Dame, with a 2024 record of 11-1 and in the CFP, Coach Freeman has the Irish in great form since their upset against Northern Illinois. Their defense is one of the best in the nation, and they return a lot of talent on both sides of the ball in 2025. This will be a tough challenge for Purdue.
At Michigan, the Wolverines finished strong in 2024, adding momentum to the offseason after upsetting Ohio State. Coach Moore secured the best quarterback in the 2025 cycle and brought in a new OC in hopes of alleviating their offensive struggles. Purdue will need to be at their best to compete.
Vs Ohio State, it's always a tough game for Purdue. But let's not forget that Purdue has pulled off upsets against top-tier Buckeye teams in the past. If Ryan Day remains as the coach, Purdue could have another chance to upset the Buckeyes in front of a home crowd, especially if they show improvement throughout the season.
Vs Indiana, the Hoosiers are coming off their best season in history and are likely to be in a similar position next November. They have a favorable schedule and return a lot of their James Madison starters. The biggest question for the Hoosiers is who will be their quarterback.