Barry Odom isn’t pretending Purdue can coast its way back into relevance. If the Boilermakers are going to get back on the map, he says the program has to be aggressive - in recruiting, in fundraising and in how the whole operation thinks about competing in today’s Big Ten.
That urgency is sharpened by what’s happened just down the road. Curt Cignetti has already changed the conversation at Indiana, and Odom pointed to that turnaround as proof that college football can shift fast when a program commits fully.
"What he's done in two years, it's never been done in the game before, ever," Odom told ESPN's Adam Rittenberg. "So it's put everybody else on what's happened, what are we doing? That's real."
For Purdue, Odom said the path forward starts with investment and a stronger push to land and keep top talent. He stressed that the school has resources it can lean on, from a large alumni base to business connections across the state.
"Creatively, with 600,000 alumni, with so many Fortune 500 companies that we have contact and communication with, in how you do business, we better try to be competitive," Odom said. "So you've got to be aggressive. You've got to have a fundraising mentality in every level of your administration within college athletics."
The timing makes Odom’s message even more pointed. Athletic director Mike Bobinski hired him after Ryan Walters’ brief and unsuccessful run in West Lafayette, but Bobinski is set to retire at the end of the calendar year, which means Purdue is also looking for its next athletic director.
Odom said that hire matters, and he made clear what he wants from the next person running the department.
"We need to be innovative and aggressive in bringing in revenue," Odom said. "Especially in regard to funds available on top of what the revenue share cap is, and how important that is."
The climb back will not be a small one. Purdue was in the Big Ten Championship Game in 2022, but the program has since tumbled hard. Over the last three seasons, the Boilermakers are 7-30, and they have gone winless in Big Ten play over the past two years.
That slide has shown up in the stands and in the preseason projections. Fan support has dipped, and multiple media outlets are once again picking Purdue to finish last in the conference.
Still, Odom believes the current college football landscape leaves room for a quick rebound. He may not promise an Indiana-style leap, but he does think Purdue can be fixed and pushed back toward Big Ten contention.
In Other News...
Braden Smith Briefly Reopened A Purdue Scenario Fans Had To See
A recent court injunction has created a fresh layer of uncertainty for former student-athletes from the 2022 recruiting class, opening the door to a fifth season of college eligibility. For Purdue fans, it briefly brought back the familiar question of what Braden Smiths next step might look like, especially with the former Boilermakers point guard still sitting at the center of the programs recent rise and owning the NCAAs career assist record.
Purdues backcourt picture is already taking shape for the coming season, with returning guard Omer Mayer and incoming recruit Luke Ertel giving the staff options to work with. Another former Boilermaker, Loyer, could also be in play if he ends up being eligible, though he has not confirmed a decision, and the broader eligibility ruling only added a little more intrigue to a roster situation that was already worth watching. [Read more 🡒]
Purdue's Rebuilt Backfield Could Decide How Fast Barry Odom Changes Things
Purdue spent the offseason trying to remake its running back room, and the overhaul has a chance to shape how quickly Barry Odom can put his stamp on the offense. After leaning heavily into the transfer portal, the Boilermakers added Fame Ijeboi, Jerrick Gibson and Travis Terrell Jr. to a group that returns only Antonio Harris from last season, giving offensive coordinator Josh Henson more options than he had a year ago.
The bigger question is not just who handles the carries, but how Purdue chooses to use them. Odom and Henson have talked through the idea of multiple backs sharing the workload, a path that could make the running game more explosive and more dependable if the pieces fit together early in 2026. For a program looking for faster progress, the backfield may end up being one of the clearest signs of whether the rebuild is taking hold. [Read more 🡒]
Purdue Volleyball Has The Depth To Aim Even Higher In 2026
Dave Shondell spent Big Ten Volleyball Media Day leaning into what Purdue has become under his watch: a team with enough returning pieces to believe it can keep climbing. The Boilermakers bring back 71% of last seasons production, including several starters, and that kind of continuity gives Purdue a real base as it looks to build on last years success and push for even more in 2026.
Dior Charles and Grace Heaney echoed that confidence, pointing to the depth that should make this group hard to pin down once the season gets rolling. The early schedule will not allow much time to ease in, with Creighton, Texas A&M and Georgia all waiting in the opening stretch, so Purdues ceiling may come down to how quickly that returning talent turns into an even deeper, more complete rotation. [Read more 🡒]