Purdue set to host Indiana State in season opener

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

Coming off a 2-10 season, Purdue hits the field for the first time in 2026 on Friday night when they host Indiana State (0-1).

It will be the eighth all-time meeting between the state schools, with the Boilermakers winning the previous seven, including a 49-0 win in 2024.

Friday's game will kick-off at 7 p.m. on Big Ten Network.

Here is a look at some of the storylines heading into Week 1.

Make a statement

It has been a tough couple of seasons for Purdue, with just three total wins, they worst two-year stretch for the Boilermakers since World War II.

If they are going to start to turn it around under second-year head coach Barry Odom, it starts with Friday night's game against Indiana State.

Odom downplayed opening the season against an FCS opponent, saying this week that Purdue was more focused on itself and building "winning habits."

A strong performance against the Sycamores can help establish those habits further, and with five of their first seven games at home, can give the Boilermakers a stepping stone into the rest of the season.

With a win, Odom will become just the ninth coach in program history to win their first two season openers.

New Faces

While it isn't quite as dramatic as last year, when Purdue welcomed in 82 new players and 46 transfers, there was still a dramatic shift with the Boilermakers' roster this year.

Purdue will have 54 new players on this year's roster from a year ago, including 32 transfers — 19 from Power 4 schools.

With Odom and his staff secure, Purdue was able to use a much more targeted approach in the transfer portal, getting many of the players in during the spring and acclimated to the team dynamics.

That should lead to a bigger impact than a year ago, when more than 40 players arrived on campus after spring workouts were finished.

Air it Out

Quarterback Ryan Browne returns for Purdue after starting all 12 games a year ago, completing 199 of 338 passes for 2,153 yards, nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

Having a veteran quarterback with the same coaching staff should lead to significant improvements with an offense that scored just over 18 points a game last year.

In Indiana State's season-opening loss to Southeast Missouri State, the Sycamores allowed Redhawks quarterback Braylen Ragland to complete 80% of his passes for 274 yards.

While the Boilermakers have liked the work of their transfer running backs in Fame Ijeboi, Travis Terrell Jr. and Jerrick Gibson, Friday is a perfect chance to rely on your veteran signal caller and allow him to build some in-game connections with a new-look receiving corps led by Bisi Owens.

Three in a Row?

Purdue's defense hasn't had many highlights during the past few seasons, but one of them has been the way the defense has started the season.

The Boilermakers have shut out their opponents in each of the previous two season openers – topping Ball State 31-0 last year and Indiana State 49-0 two years ago.

Purdue returns Charles Correa in the secondary, who collected nearly 100 tackles a season ago, earning him All-Big Ten honorable mention honors.

But as a whole, the Boilermakers need to significantly improve on a unit that allowed 31.8 points a game (117th in FBS) and allowed 423 yards a game (120th in FBS).

Purdue added veteran players on the defensive line and secondary in the portal.

If they can make Indiana State one dimensional like the Sycamores were in their opener (288 passing/58 yards rushing on 31 attempts), it will lead to good things for the Boilers.

Friday Night Lights

The game against the Sycamores will be just the 17th Friday game in the 138-year history of Purdue football. Recently, the day hasn't been kind to the Boilermakers.

Purdue has lost its last six Friday games, and eight of its last nine. The last win came against Ohio in 2017.

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos