Purdue 2025 football schedule analysis: Toughest stretch
A schedule can make or break a season. Ask any coach.
Purdue’s 2025 slate is filled with challenges and opportunities. This series is a breakdown of what’s ahead for the Boilermakers this fall. Next up: Toughest stretch.
• Toughest non-conference game: at Notre Dame, Sept. 20
• Toughest conference: Ohio State, Nov. 8
• Who they don’t play: Oregon, UCLA, Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Maryland, Penn State
• Easiest game: Southern Illinois, Sept. 6
• Best chance to pull an upset: USC, Sept. 13
• Best chance to be upset: Ball State, Aug. 30
• Toughest stretch: November, at Michigan, Ohio State, at Washington, Indiana
The logic: Woof. November could break Purdue … if it is not broken by then. The final month of the season includes three consensus preseason top 25 teams. And the fourth squad–Washington–features ex-Boilermaker head coach Ryan Walters, the Husky DC who no doubt would love to thump Purdue. The good news–I guess it’s good news: Purdue has an off week before it closes the season at home in a primetime Black Friday Old Oaken Bucket clash vs. IU.
The history: It’s not good vs. Michigan (47-14), Ohio State (42-15-2) or Washington (7-2-1). Purdue has a commanding 77-43-6 edge over Indiana but is coming off its worst loss ever–and worst loss in school history–vs. the Hoosiers: 66-0.
Top 10
- 1New
JP Poll Top 20
Big shakeup after Week 2
- 2
Heisman Odds shakeup
Big movement among favorites
- 3Hot
Eli Drinkwitz comes clean
Knew rule was broken
- 4
Deion Sanders
Fires back at media
- 5Trending
Big 12 punishes ref crew
Costly mistake in Kansas-Mizzou
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The lowdown: The Wolverines have won the last seven meetings dating to a 2009 Purdue victory in Ann Arbor. The Buckeyes have won the last three meetings with Purdue last winning in 2018 in the “Tyler Trent Game.” The Boilers will face off vs. their former TE: Max Klare. The Boilermakers won the last time out vs. the Huskies in the 2002 Sun Bowl. Before that, Purdue had lost seven in a row to U-Dub. This will be the Boilers’ first trip to Seattle since 1989.
The bottom line: What will be Purdue’s record when November gets here? 2-6? 3-5? 4-4? What will be its state of mind? Will the Boilermakers have anything to play for aside from pride as we all begin to rake leaves and Christmas shop?
