Purdue’s 2026 schedule leaves little room to breathe, and Monday’s preseason AP poll made that even clearer. Five Boilermaker opponents landed in the first Top 25, with two more teams also getting votes, giving Barry Odom’s group a brutal set of hurdles before the season even starts.
The last time Purdue knocked off an AP-ranked opponent came on Nov. 12, 2022, when it beat No. 21 Illinois.
Since then, the Boilermakers have been waiting for another shot at a ranked scalp. This fall, they’ll get several.
The best opening, though, appears to be Washington.
That doesn’t mean it’s easy. The Huskies rolled Purdue 49-13 in Seattle last season, and they bring back star quarterback Demond Williams Jr. plus seven starters on an offense that averaged 34.1 points per game in 2025. That’s a dangerous group, and former Boilermaker head coach Ryan Walters has already shown he can build a defense.
Still, Purdue has a few things going for it this time. The game is at home on a Friday night, which means Washington has to make the long trip to the Midwest. Purdue’s pass rush should also be in a better spot than it was a year ago, and getting more heat on Williams would go a long way toward making this one interesting.
If Purdue didn’t have to go to State College, Penn State would probably get the nod here. There’s plenty of buzz around Matt Campbell and what he’s bringing to the Nittany Lions, but there are also real questions. Penn State returns only four total starters, though Campbell has brought two dozen former Iowa State players with him.
Campbell’s Cyclones won eight games last season, but they also dropped multiple games they probably should have finished off. The catch for Purdue is that this one is at Beaver Stadium, which makes it a much steeper climb. Even so, it has the feel of a sneaky matchup on Halloween.
Iowa is another game Purdue will circle, even if the trip to Kinnick Stadium in November makes it a tough one. The quarterback situation is once again part of the conversation for Kirk Ferentz’s team, but Iowa’s defense and special teams have long been the kind of ingredients that make life miserable for opponents.
If Purdue can slow the Hawkeyes down, it can keep things close. But the Boilers will need a big offensive day and a clean game without turnovers to have a real chance.
Notre Dame sits near the top of the challenge list as well. The Fighting Irish are one of the best teams in the country entering 2026, even after losing their top two running backs, Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Prince.
They still return six offensive starters and eight starters on defense. Purdue showed some fight in last year’s meeting, putting up 30 points in the rain at Notre Dame Stadium, but the Irish will still come to Ross-Ade Stadium with plenty of talent.
Then there’s Indiana, which remains the toughest assignment on the calendar. Curt Cignetti has dominated Purdue over the last two seasons, winning the last two meetings by a combined 122-3. The comments from new Purdue AD Tommy McClelland may have only added more fuel there.
The Hoosiers are coming off a perfect season and a national championship run. They return just four offensive starters, but they added quarterback Josh Hoover and wide receiver Nick Marsh through the transfer portal. With a roster still loaded with talent and the game set for Bloomington, it’s again the hardest matchup on Purdue’s schedule.
In Other News...
Barry Odoms Latest Purdue Update Raised Two Early Season Concerns
Barry Odom said Purdue came out of its latest scrimmage with plenty to build on, including 175 plays and a film review that stretched into extended meetings. The Boilermakers' offensive line drew positive marks, and Odom also pointed to several defensive ends who have separated themselves early in camp, giving the staff a clearer read on a few key spots as the season gets closer.
Still, the update left two early concerns hovering over the final stretch of preseason work. Purdue is watching the left side of its line after Joey Tanona came up with an ankle sprain, and the kicking game remains unsettled with no firm answer yet. For a team trying to lock in its first-week depth chart, those are the kinds of details that can matter long after a productive scrimmage fades from memory. [Read more 🡒]
Purdue Still Has 3 Crucial Camp Questions As Opener Nears
Purdue has now stacked up nine fall camp practices and finished its first scrimmage, and the early returns have been encouraging. Barry Odom said the work was productive and injury-free, with the offensive line drawing positive marks as the Boilermakers keep sorting out the pieces before the opener.
There are still a few spots worth watching, though, and the line remains one of the bigger ones. The staff is also continuing to evaluate the defensive end rotation and the kicking job, two areas that could shape the first stretch of the season once camp shifts into game-week mode. [Read more 🡒]
Purdues Left Tackle Battle Could Shape Ryan Brownes Early Protection
Purdues offensive line picture is starting to come into focus with the season opener against Indiana State approaching, and the biggest question still hanging over the unit is who will be protecting Ryan Brownes blind side. Starting left tackle Joey Tanona has been working back from an ankle sprain, and head coach Barry Odom said his full recovery is expected soon as the Boilermakers try to settle the line before game week.
In the meantime, Oklahoma State transfer Nuku Mafi has stepped into the first-team role at left tackle during fall camp, giving Purdue a look at a possible short-term answer and some added competition once Tanona is ready. However it shakes out, the position will be one of the more important battlegrounds for a team looking to keep its quarterback upright and its offense on schedule early in the season. [Read more 🡒]