Old National Presents: The 3-2-1

Three things learned. Two questions. One bold statement. It’s The 3-2-1, a look at Purdue football.

Three things learned

1 – Chops gonna get paid

The world was notified via social media on Monday that monolithic NT Chops Harkless intended to enter the portal, which opens January 2. Can’t blame him. It’s how this ersatz system is set up.

A player would be foolish NOT to enter the portal. It’s the only way to check on your value nation-wide as you shout: “I’m open for business!” (But we all know contact and negotiations take place WELL before a player enters the portal.)

Bottom line is this: Chops is gonna get paid handsomely by some school. We’ve been told a few times that Purdue has all the resources it needs to compete with anyone.

Harkless is a player the staff MUST retain. Will Purdue put its money where its mouth is? This will be a good litmus test, as 345-pound NTs of his ilk are hard to come by.

Can the Boiler brass lure him back?

2 – Staff shakeup

Figures Barry Odom would alter his staff after a sobering 2-10 debut (0-9 Big Ten). Sure enough, news broke on Monday that RB coach Lamar Conard and OL coach Vance Vice were both out.

Neither was a surprise.

Conard was the lone holdover assistant from the Ryan Walters‘ staff; there were rumblings Devin Mockobee insisted Conard be retained as a condition of him coming back. As for Vice, there was thought to be a disconnect between him and OC Josh Henson, a former o-line coach himself.

Will there be more change?

3 -Blinding Crimson beacon

IU is in the midst of the greatest turnaround in college sports history, winning the Big Ten, earning consecutive College Football Playoff bids and going 24-2 (17-1 Big Ten) the last two seasons.

Meanwhile, Purdue is in the midst of its worst two-year run since 1941-42, going 3-21 with 11- and 10-game losing streaks to go along with an 18-game Big Ten losing streak.

Like it or not: The dichotomy between Purdue and Indiana is a major talking point anytime Boilermaker football is discussed.

What’s Purdue gonna do to close the gap and energize a shell-shocked fan base whose loyal support in recent years has been met with one numbing defeat after another?

The Purdue honchos say they have all the resources needed to flex with the best.

“We have everything that we need in order to compete with the best of the best,” said G.M. Brandon Lee. “Not only in our conference, but across the country, as well.”

OK. Show us what you have.

It all sets up the most fascinating offseason in recent Purdue history.

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Two questions

1 – Next RB coach?

It would not be a shock if Purdue moves assistant head coach/WR coach Cornell Ford to RB coach. Ford coached running backs at UNLV before sliding over to wideouts to accommodate retaining Lamar Conard. Ford also coached running backs at Missouri for 19 years. He never had coached receivers before in his career.

Purdue needs a legit wideout coach. The position has waned the last two years. Would Odom promote offensive analyst Bilal Marshall to WR coach? The former Boiler wideout helped with the position in 2025. And Marshall coached West Virginia’s wideouts in 2023 and 2024. Hmmmm.

I think Purdue needs to go find a veteran WR coach. This position can’t continue to flounder. Yes, better talent is needed–but better coaching is, as well.

2 – What does QB Malachi Singleton’s intent to hit portal mean?

Purdue’s No. 2 signal-caller announced his intention to enter the portal earlier this week. Can’t say it was a shock.

Singleton never gained much traction toward being the starter in West Lafayette, relegated to a change-of-pace role behind No. 1 man Ryan Browne.

What does Singleton’s imminent departure mean for the QB spot? Gotta think Purdue will bring in a replacement from the portal to battle for the job.

The quarterback depth chart does not inspire: Browne, Bennett Meredith, Evans Chuba … Those are your legit 2026 options.

One bold statement: Ryan Browne will be back

That’s my hunch. Is it good? It is bad? We can debate that for hours. But I just think it would be prudent to retain Browne and have him battle for the job with a signal-caller imported from the portal.

The key: The portal arrival has to be a guy with starting experience, not another career backup or unproven youngster.