Purdue has been everywhere this week, and the timing could hardly be better with the start of the college football and volleyball seasons drawing closer in West Lafayette.
The biggest on-field storyline is football camp, which opened Thursday and is now rolling through a month of work before Purdue meets Indiana State on Sept. 4 at Ross-Ade Stadium. The Boilermakers finished their third practice Saturday, a day that also doubled as Fan Day.
Barry Odom, Josh Henson and Kevin Kane have all already addressed the media, and the message from the coaching staff has been consistent: having the full roster together since spring ball has given Purdue a real chance to build cohesion and continuity across the offseason.
That matters now because the Boilermakers are trying to stack quality reps wherever they can. Henson said three starting spots on the offensive line are still up for grabs as August begins, and that position battle lines up with Odom’s emphasis on getting the run game established this fall.
Off the field, Purdue’s new athletic director Tommy McClelland became the center of attention almost immediately after his introductory press conference. His line aimed at Indiana spread quickly online on Thursday and Friday.
"Every recruit, every current student-athlete will hear this message repeatedly: We are here to win championships. If you don't want to win championships, go to Indiana," McClelland said confidently. "Make no mistake, we are here to win Big Ten championships and national championships."
The comment landed awkwardly, especially with Indiana coming off a 16-0 season and a national championship. McClelland later acknowledged that he had missed on the one-liner, but Purdue fans had bigger reasons to listen closely to what he said.
What really mattered in that presser was his focus on finding new, innovative ways to generate revenue and support the athletic department, coaches and student-athletes.
Purdue also had one of its greatest alums back in the spotlight over the weekend. Drew Brees, who played in West Lafayette from 1997-2000, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton and used the moment to speak warmly about the school that helped shape his career.
"I chose Purdue because of its academic reputation, playing in the Big Ten," Brees said. "Very quickly, you realize all the incredible things about Purdue.
I learned about the Cradle of Quarterbacks. That's something that still people probably don't realize about the university. ...
If you want to be a quarterback or an astronaut, go to Purdue."
Brees has long been a proud ambassador for Purdue, and his Hall of Fame weekend only added to that reputation. He remains one of the top quarterbacks in Boilermaker history and one of the best to ever do it in the NFL.
There’s also a basketball note worth tracking. Purdue big man Enzo Shahrvin is still waiting on NCAA clearance after arriving in West Lafayette in July.
A source told Purdue Boilermakers On SI that there has been no update on Shahrvin’s eligibility for the 2026-27 season. He may have one year available to him, but until the NCAA clears him, he cannot play.
Shahrvin traveled with Purdue on its trip to Canada for four games, though he did not take part in those contests. As of Friday, there was still no timeline for a ruling.
On the volleyball side, Purdue is carrying real momentum into 2026. Head coach Dave Shondell, middle blocker Dior Charles and opposite hitter Grace Heaney were in Chicago last Monday for Big Ten Volleyball Media Day, coming off a 27-7 season in 2025 that ended with a run to the regional final round of the NCAA Tournament.
Shondell sounded especially upbeat about what this group can be. His biggest takeaway was that the Boilermakers are "considerably better" than they were a year ago.
He also pointed to the team’s depth, which looks even more important now that the redshirt rule is gone. Purdue expects a lot from this roster in 2026 because of the talent it brings back and the way the group is built.
"We have 17 players. One through 17, there's not that much [separation]," Shondell said.
"That will make it difficult because there are going to be some great players who aren't going to play as much as they want. We have to establish a love for one another, a team-first mentality.
We have that. It's a unique group of players."
In Other News...
Purdue Takes An Early Camp Hit That Could Test Two Position Groups
Purdues first week of fall camp had been relatively clean health-wise, with the only early absence coming from freshman defensive end Max Carmicle as he works back from offseason surgery. That made the news from Barry Odom a rougher checkpoint for a roster still trying to settle in, especially with camp intended to sort out depth before the season gets rolling.
The latest concern centers on two players who were in line to matter in different ways for the Boilermakers next phase of roster building. Odom said both are likely out for the year, a setback that leaves Purdue to rework its options at spots where every practice rep matters, even if each player should keep his long-term eligibility intact. [Read more 🡒]
Purdue Still Has One Big Fall Camp Battle That Could Define The Offense
For two straight seasons, Purdue has gone into fall camp without a true No. 1 wide receiver, and that uncertainty has shown up in the passing game. Heading toward the 2026 season, the Boilermakers are trying to sort out a room that looks deeper and more competitive than it has in a while, with several returners back in the fold and five transfer additions arriving to push the competition.
Barry Odom and Josh Henson have plenty of options to weigh, which is a good problem to have, but it also leaves one of the offenses biggest questions unresolved. Someone still has to separate from the pack and become the primary target, and until that happens, Purdues passing attack will be waiting on one of camps most important answers. [Read more 🡒]
Purdue Volleyball Opens With Big Expectations And An Early Reality Check
Purdue opens the 2026 volleyball season carrying the kind of expectations that usually come with a top-10 ranking, and the Boilermakers have plenty of reasons to feel good about where they stand. The AVCA preseason poll placed Purdue at No. 9, a reflection of both last seasons results and the firepower it brings back, with 71% of its offensive production returning. Kenna Wollard, Taylor Anderson and Grace Heaney give the Boilermakers a familiar core as they try to turn that continuity into an even higher ceiling.
The early schedule, though, is not doing Purdue many favors. Multiple matches against top-20 opponents are waiting right out of the gate, which means the Boilermakers will get a quick read on how real that preseason buzz is and how much room there still is to grow. For a team with lofty expectations, the opening stretch looks less like a warmup and more like an immediate test of where Purdue belongs. [Read more 🡒]