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Barry Odom vows to keep fighting, swinging as Purdue seeks to halt skid

On3 imageby: Tom Dienhart19 hours agoTomDienhart1
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(David Banks/USA Today)

Purdue has lost five in a row. And Barry Odom isn’t flinching.

“I don’t think that anybody thought this was just going to be a cakewalk,” said Odom. “You walk in and everything’s fine and don’t have any setbacks. That’s usually not life.”

Odom has navigated rough waters before. In his first season as Missouri head coach in 2016, Odom’s Tigers lost five in a row during a 4-8 campaign. The next season, Odom’s squad started 1-5 and rebounded to win six in a row and make a bowl. In 2019, Mizzou also lost five in a row at one juncture of the season.

“You just got to keep fighting, you got to keep swinging,” said Odom. “Nobody cares. You wake up and you pour everything you got into the program, and at the end of the day, you know that you did every single thing you could to move the program forward. And if you did that, you’re making progress. And we’ve come a long way since January. We got a long ways to go. I’m not confusing that message.”

Odom’s message to the team following the 19-0 loss at Northwestern?

“I’ll keep that between me and the team,” said Odom.

Words won’t matter as much as action for a Boilermaker team coming off a dispiriting, non-competitive loss that left everyone associated with the program–and fans–muttering to themselves. Some good news?

“We had I think our best Monday practice of the year today, which is exciting to see,” said Odom. “Had really good meetings. A little bit extended in the meeting room today to cover some things we needed to and then on the field for an hour and 10 minutes. Our guys were energetic, enthusiastic, played with a purpose and with passion, and that was good to see.”

If Purdue (2-5 overall; 0-4 Big Ten) is going to end its misery, it may have to do so without the quarterback who started the first seven games: Ryan Browne. He sustained a hard hit at Northwestern, forcing him out of the game with a left (non-throwing) shoulder injury. Malachi Singleton finished the contest and seemingly would be in line to make his first career college start after transferring to Purdue from Arkansas prior to the 2025 season. Browne did practice today, but …

“After today, I would say (Browne) would be doubtful,” said Odom. “There’s a difference in practicing and no contact and executing a game plan. So, we’ve got to train multiple quarterbacks, which we will. Malachi continues to improve. Bennett Meredith does, as well. But (Browne) would be doubtful at this point on where we are at in the game plan.”

If Browne can’t go, it will be the ninth season in a row Purdue has started at least two different quarterbacks. The last season a Boiler QB made every start? It was 2016 with David Blough.

Time is running out on the 2025 season. Next up: A noon ET homecoming visit from a Rutgers (3-4 overall; 0-4 Big Ten) squad that’s reeling as badly as Purdue. The Scarlet Knights have lost four in a row, coming off a 56-10 evisceration at the hands of Oregon, which pin-balled 750 yards off the Scarlet Knight defense in New Brunswick last Saturday.

“You got to dig in, and you got to trust what you believe in,” said Odom. “And get the people in every single situation, from players, to organization, to stay aligned in the vision and keep pushing forward.”

MORE: First look: Rutgers | First and 10: Rutgers at Purdue | Barry Odom: Purdue QB Ryan Browne ‘doubtful’ for Rutgers game

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