Why Purdue football coordinators are confident in 2026 season, yet know what's at stake

WEST LAFAYETTE — Josh Henson and Kevin Kane spent the last month trying to outwit the other.

Now Purdue football's offensive and defensive coordinators are unified in hoping to play complementary football Friday night against someone other than their own team.

For Kane, Friday's kickoff against Indiana State is a first chance to prove Barry Odom's decision to hire him for the role he'd had in 2023 and '24, an unpopular move for fans, was the right choice.

For Henson, it's a chance to show growth after 2025 provided him the first chance to be a full-time offensive play caller in a decade.

"These small little details and just organizing and running an offense, one year back into it, I'm rolling on those things," Henson said four days ahead of the season opener. "Because of that, it's given our coaching staff the ability to go coach our guys on all the small details and I feel like we're further along in that area."

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Henson and Kane were somewhat handicapped the last time they were in this position.

Henson's offense is significantly more talented than a season ago. Theoretically that means more production and time of possession, thus more opportunities to fully divulge in the playbook a season after the Boilermakers averaged just 18.8 points per game and never scored more than 27 points in the final eight games.

Kane came to Purdue under Ryan Walters, whose defensive system at Illinois boosted his resume into a name of heat coaching hot boards and landed him a first-time head coach role with the Boilermakers, implemented his system and Kane had to operate within it.

The staff, minus two exceptions, was terminated after the 2024 season, following a 1-11 record in which the defense allowed nearly 40 points per game.

Indiana State will not be an accurate gauge, as evidenced by a 49-0 victory over the Sycamores during said 2024 season, but it is a launching point. The game and stats still count, so while the Sept. 12 game against Wake Forest is a better comp, Friday's game still has meaning.

Indiana State might be the perfect opponent to build momentum before a series of 11 straight games against Power 4 programs and Notre Dame.

Meetings in 2022 and '24 resulted in Purdue winning by a combined score of 105-0, the latter a 49-0 victory with Kane on staff that marked Purdue's only shutout in two years with Kane on staff.

"I understand what it's like to be let go," Kane said. "Every day it's a reminder that this is a fragile position to be in and I don't want this thing breaking."

Experience across the board defensively, a better offensive line and allotment of playmakers offensively and the continuity of going through a full spring and fall camp together should result peak performance, as much as first game performances can go.

"There's harmony in the room. They know each other's strengths," Odom said. "Right now, there is little to zero ego, which is always beneficial for a program and an organization when you're dealing with this many people

"Josh has done a great job as Kevin has and (special teams coordinator) James Shibest on building a plan with their side of the ball and putting our players in position to be able to use their skills that they have. I think we've been really deliberate with that and I think that will allow us to be a little more versatile on both sides of the ball."

Nathan Baird and Sam King have the best Purdue sports coverage, and sign up for IndyStar's Boilermakers newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Why Purdue football coordinators are confident in 2026 season, yet know what's at stake

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