COACH: BARRY ODOM (FIRST SEASON)
ODOMS CAREER RECORD: 44-33
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: JOSH HENSON
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: MIKE SCHERER
2024 RECORD: 1-11, 0-9 BIG 10
2025 NATIONAL FORECAST: 104
2025 BIG 10 PREDICTION: 18
OFFENSE RETURNING STARTERS: 1
DEFENSE RETUNRING STARTERS: 0
2025 SCHEDULE:
AUG 30 BALL STATE
SEPT 6 SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
SEPT 13 USC
SEPT 20 AT NOTRE DAME
SEPT 27 OPEN DATE
OCT 4 ILLINOIS
OCT 11 AT MINNESOTA
OCT 18 AT NORTHWESTERN
OCT 25 RUTGERS
NOV 1 AT MICHIGAN
NOV 8 OHIO STATE
NOV 15 AT WASHINGTON
NOV 22 OPEN DATE
NOV 29 INDIANA
NOT ON THE SCHEDULE: IOWA, MARYLAND, MICHIGAN STATE, NEBRASKA, OREGON, PENN STATE, UCLA, WISCONSIN
WHAT TO EXPECT ON OFFENSE:
QB Ryan Browne left for North Carolina only to return to West Lafayette. Browne is scheduled to be the full-time starter after being a backup in 2024. The lone starter returning is RB Devin Mockobee. Virginia Tech transfer Malachi Thomas will provide depth in the running game. One of the biggest question marks will be at WR. The staff imported five receivers, including Chauncey Magwood (Central Florida) and Charlie Ross (USC). George Burhenn is expected to be the starting TE if he can come back from an ankle injury. The offensive line is a total rebuild anchored by transfer Jalen St. John (UNLV).
WHAT TO EXPECT ON DEFENSE:
CJ Madden returns after missing the 2024 season due to an ankle injury. The Boilermakers picked up two key portal rushers in CJ Nunnally (Akron), and Breeon Ishmail (Michigan). Transfers TJ Lindsey (Auburn) and Marcus Moore (Bowling Green) will anchor the inside. Adding depth inside will be Jamarrion Harkless, Demarco Kennedy, and Jamarius Dinkins. Every key player at LB is a transfer, including Sanders Ellis (Tennessee State), Alex Sanford (Arkansas), and Mani Powell (UNLV). The lone returner that may make an impact is Winston Berglund. In the secondary, Purdue lost one of the best in the Big 10 in Dillon Thieneman (Oregon). Like every other position Purdue went to the transfer portal and added six new names, including Tony Grimes (UNLV) and Crew Wakley (BYU).
WHAT TO EXPECT ON SPECIAL TEAMS: Spencer Porath returns after connecting on only 7-of-11 FG attempts. Purdue also grabbed former Arkansas punter Sam Dubwig in the portal.
2025 SEASON OUTLOOK: Full re-build mode is underway in West Lafayette. Barry Odom will attempt to clean up a 1-11 season with a ton of transfers. Odom was a winner at UNLV, winning 19 games in two seasons, but UNLV didn’t play in the Big 10. There are too many question marks to say this will be a turnaround season. The schedule is daunting with USC, Notre Dame, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio State waiting in the wings. It’s difficult to say if there are more than two wins on the schedule.
