By Danielle Daniels
10/5/2023
ROSEMONT, Ill. – With the Big Ten Conference footprint growing westward, Purdue Football’s league opponents for the next five seasons were unveiled by the conference office Thursday afternoon (Oct. 5).
The Big Ten’s primary objective was to ensure that each team plays one another at least twice, once at home and once on the road, over a five-year period.
While teams will play each conference opponent twice, they will not play an opponent three times over the five-year period aside from 12 “Protected Matchups.” The Protected Matchups are a combination of historic/geographic rivalries and trophy games. Purdue is part of two of the 12 Protective Matchups; the Boilermakers will face Illinois (Cannon Trophy) and Indiana (Old Oaken Bucket) each year to continue the tradition of those annual rivalry games.
Along with playing at Illinois and Indiana in 2024, Purdue is set to travel to Michigan State, Ohio State and Wisconsin. The Boilermakers host four conference opponents next season, welcoming Nebraska, Northwestern, Oregon and Penn State to Ross-Ade Stadium. One of the newest members of the Big Ten, Oregon makes the trip to West Lafayette for the third time in history. Purdue hosted the Ducks in 1979 and 2008 before playing out west in 2009.
The announcement finalizes Purdue’s opponents for the entire 2024 campaign with non-conference matchups set as well. The Boilermakers host Indiana State (Sept. 7) and Notre Dame (Sept. 14) in consecutive weeks before flying 2,300 miles cross-country to face Oregon State (Sept. 21).
In 2025, Purdue has home games against Ohio State, Rutgers and USC to go along with the two rivalry games. The Boilermakers and the Trojans have played four times throughout history, starting with Purdue’s 14-13 victory in the 1967 Rose Bowl. The only time USC traveled to West Lafayette was 47 years ago in 1976. Road games for the Boilermakers include matchups at Michigan, Minnesota, Northwestern and Washington. Purdue is no stranger to visiting the Huskies, making five trips to Seattle throughout program history starting with a 13-6 win in 1961.
The 2026 campaign features Maryland, Minnesota, Washington and Wisconsin facing the Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium. Along with traveling to Illinois and Indiana, Purdue goes to Iowa, Penn State and UCLA. The Boilermakers have battled UCLA on the road twice throughout history, including a 0-0 tie back in 1959. The trek out west will be the sixth overall meeting between the Boilermakers and Bruins.
The Cannon Trophy and Old Oaken Bucket games return home in 2027, while Purdue is also set to host Michigan State, Penn State and UCLA. Hitting the road, the Boilermakers travel all over the country with trips to Maryland, Nebraska, Ohio State and Oregon.
Home contests in 2028 include Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska and Northwestern. Along with the two rivalry games, the Boilermakers have road trips to Michigan State, Rutgers and USC. Purdue has faced the Trojans in the L.A. Memorial Coliseum twice throughout history (1975, 1998).
2024
Home: Nebraska, Northwestern, Oregon, Penn State
Away: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan State, Ohio State, Wisconsin
Non-Conference: Indiana State (Sept. 7), Notre Dame (Sept. 14), at Oregon State (Sept. 21)
2025
Home: Illinois, Indiana, Ohio State, Rutgers, USC
Away: Michigan, Minnesota, Northwestern, Washington
2026
Home: Maryland, Minnesota, Washington, Wisconsin
Away: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Penn State, UCLA
2027
Home: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan State, Penn State, UCLA
Away: Maryland, Nebraska, Ohio State, Oregon
2028
Home: Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, Northwestern
Away: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan State, Rutgers, USC
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