PURDUE FOOTBALL MONDAY PRESSER/GAME PREVIEW
BARRY ODOM MONDAY PRESSER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9aNvwHqQiw&t=7s
PURDUE OC JOSH HENSON: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_v_grgMqDzs&t=1s
PURDUE DC KEVIN KANE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K85IX3QLgqY&t=9s
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PURDUE VS. INDIANA STATE GAME NOTES:
Purdue begins its 139th season of football, including the 103rd at Ross-Ade Stadium, Friday night at 7 p.m. on BTN against Indiana State. • The Boilermakers dipped into the portal to bring in 32 newcomers during the offseason, down from the nation-leading 54 a season ago. With 19 additions from Power 4 conferences and four from the Group of 5, the 2026 portal class was ranked 24th nationally by On3. • The Boilermakers’ opener against Indiana State will mark the first of two Friday night contests this season (vs. Washington, Oct. 16). Purdue has played in 16 Friday night games over its previous 138 seasons with seven being played in the last 10 years. • Purdue has shut out its season-opening opponent in each of the last two seasons – 31-0 vs. Ball State in 2025, 49-0 vs. Indiana State in 2024. It is the only program to not allow a point in a season opener over the last two seasons. • A trio of Boilermakers earned spots on watch lists this summer. C.J. Madden was named to the AFCA Good Works Team and Wuerffel Trophy Watch List. George Burhenn was tabbed to the Comeback Player of the Year Watch List. Fame Ijeboi was placed on the Doak Walker Award Watch List. • Purdue will welcome back Leroy Keyes Purdue Athletics Hall of Fame inductee and Den of Defensive Ends member Ryan Kerrigan for his first broadcast on the Big Ten Network. • Purdue squared off with 11 ranked opponents over the last two seasons, including five top-5 teams, which tied for third and second, respectively, in the country over that span. • Purdue is known for the Cradle of Quarterbacks. Entering the 2025 NFL season, Purdue quarterbacks have thrown for 1,401 touchdowns in the Super Bowl era, more passing TDs than any other college. Cal (1,165) is second with 175 fewer touchdowns. • Drew Brees became the fifth Boilermaker enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame at a ceremony in early August. The Purdue Hall of Fame inductee rewrote the record book during his time at Purdue, before embarking on an historic 20-year NFL career, including a win in Super Bowl XLIV.
NUMBERS TO KNOW:
7 Seven Boilermakers arrived in West Lafayette after spring practice ended, compared to 46 newcomers during that period in 2025. 5 Five of the newcomers on the defensive side of the ball arrived with previous Big Ten experience – Jaden Mangham, Justin Denson Jr., Curt Neal, Anthony Speca and Jojo Hayden. 12 Ryan Browne started all 12 games for Purdue in 2025, marking the first time a Boilermaker quarterback started every game in a season since David Blough in 2016. 2025 Season 199-338, 2,153 Yds, 9 TDs 66 Rush, 206 Yds, 4 TDs After finishing third on the team in tackles last season, Charles Correa has emerged as leader of the defense heading into 2026. #5 • Charles Correa LB • Jr. • 6-3 • 230 Kuli’ou’ou, Hawaii 2025 Season 96 Tackles, 39 Solo, 7.5 TFL, 3 Sacks, 2 PBUs 96 Charles Correa made 96 tackles during the 2025 regular season to rank eighth in the Big Ten. He has the third most stops among Big Ten returners heading into 2026. 24 The Boilermakers scored at least 24 points in five games in 2025 for the first time since 2022.
COMPLETE GAME NOTES: https://storage.googleapis.com/purduesports-com-prod/2026/08/31/tykZBbAn4xw14KmkCiZoXe67UYjF8IZvxXFr8ilc.pdf
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