WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue opens its 137th season of football, including the 101st at Ross-Ade Stadium, hosting Indiana State in an in-state matchup. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. ET on BTN.
The Boilermakers are 6-0 against the Sycamores, including a 56-0 win two years ago. Making his Purdue debut, Devin Mockobee recorded a team-high 78 rushing yards with one touchdown in the 2022 victory over Indiana State.
QUICK HITS
• Dillon Thieneman, the 50th All-American in program history, is a consensus Preseason All-American; setting program freshman records for interceptions (6) and solo tackles (74), Thieneman was tabbed the FWAA Freshman Defensive Player of the Year and the Big Ten Freshman of the Year last season.
• Purdue has produced four All-Americans over the past three seasons (Thieneman - 2023, Charlie Jones - 2022, David Bell - 2021, George Karlaftis - 2021), the most in a three-year stretch since 1967-69.
• Behind Mockobee and Tyrone Tracy Jr. (New York Giants), Purdue led the Big Ten in rushing in conference games (184.6 ypg); Purdue was the only team in the Big Ten with two running backs to rush for more than 500 yards in league contests (Mockobee – 625, Tracy – 624).
• Kydran Jenkins recorded 15.5 TFLs a season ago, ranking third in the Big Ten and 18th nationally, the most by a Boilermaker since George Karlaftis (Kansas City Chiefs) in 2019 and the first Boilermaker to lead the team in back-to-back seasons since Jake Replogle (2014-15).
• Purdue added 23 players in the transfer portal, including 14 from Power 4 schools; the group was a consensus Top 10 class in the transfer rankings when 14 of the transfers joined the team for the spring semester.
• One year after recorded the highest total and average attendance since 2007, Purdue Football sold out its season ticket allotment (42,000) for the 2024 campaign; the Notre Dame game (Sept. 14) sold out one day after going on sale to the public. All tickets for the Purdue student section, the Ross-Ade Brigade, are also sold out for the year.
• Boilermaker legend and College Football Hall of Famer Mark Herrmann is the new color analyst for Purdue football games on the Boilermaker Sports Network, taking over following the retirement of Purdue Football alum Pete Quinn, who spent 32 seasons in the announcing chair calling Boilermaker games on the gridiron.
• Purdue will debut new jerseys for the 2024 season.
• Thirteen Boilermakers have already earned their undergraduate degrees, six from Purdue and seven from other schools before transferring to Purdue.
PURDUE FOOTBALL IS BACK
• The Boilermakers kick off their 137th season of football in 2024.
• Purdue holds a 78-52-6 mark in season openers, while going 92-39-4 in home openers. The Boilermakers have won 22 of their last 26 home openers.
• Ross-Ade Stadium has been Purdue's home for 100 seasons, marking the 2024 campaign as the 101st full season; Ross-Ade will turn 100 years old on November 22 when the Boilermakers play at Michigan State.
• Purdue closed out the 1924 season with its first game at Ross-Ade, a 26-7 Homecoming win over Indiana (Nov. 22, 1924).
YEAR 2 OF THE WALTERS ERA
• Purdue begins its second season under the guidance of head coach Ryan Walters.
• The three pillars of Walters' program: Competitive, Tough, Disciplined.
• Known as a players' coach, Walters has established a culture in which everyone in the program feels like family.
• Hired at age 36 after being named the 2022, On3 Coordinator of the Year Walters, now 38, is one of the youngest coaches in college football - the fourth youngest among the Power 4 conferences (Kenny Dillingham - 34, Dan Lanning - 38, Sherrone Moore - 38).
• Despite the record not being what Walters and Purdue wanted, facing one of the toughest schedules in the country, there were several positives the Boilermakers could take away from Walters' first year in West Lafayette to build off of heading into the 2024 season.
RECAP OF 2023
• Purdue's first 11 opponents on its 12-game 2023 schedule did not have a losing record at the time of their matchup against the Boilermakers, resulting in one of the nation's most difficult schedules.
• The Boilermakers battled throughout the season to finish tied for fourth in the Big Ten West, while winning both rivalry games (Indiana - Old Oaken Bucket), Illinois - Cannon Trophy) for the third straight season.
• In Walters' debut season guiding the Old Gold and Black, Purdue found success in all three phases of the game. The offense led the Big Ten in rushing in conference contests, averaging 184.6 yards per game. Purdue's defense recorded 35 sacks, the most since 2004 and the third-most in program history, and the special teams unit averaged 24.2 yards per kickoff return, Purdue's best since 2004 and the fourth-most all-time.
• Individually, Dillon Thieneman became an All-American (Third Team – AP) and was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year after setting school records for interceptions (6) and solo tackles (74) by a freshman.
ROSS-ADE PACKED ALL SEASON LONG
• With three of Purdue's six home games coming against preseason Top 10 teams, Ross-Ade Stadium is expected to be packed all season long.
• The 2023 season featured Purdue's highest home attendance, both average and total, since the 2007 campaign, but those marks might be broken this season.
• With more than 42,000 season ticket holders, including more than 5,000 new season ticket holders, season tickets sold out for the 2024 season.
• Student season tickets also sold out five hours after going on sale, a record-breaking time.
• Purdue's in-state matchup against Notre Dame sold out one day after going on sale to the public.
DIFFICULT SCHEDULE
• A season ago, Purdue did not face a team with a losing record at the time of the game until battling Indiana for the Old Oaken Bucket in the season finale. This year's schedule may be even tougher.
• Purdue's schedule was ranked the 11th hardest in the nation by ESPN's Football Power Index, fourth by College Football News, seventh by College Football Network and sixth by Sports Grid.
• Four preseason Top 10 teams appear on the Boilermakers' 2024 schedule: No. 2 Ohio State (Nov. 9), No. 3 Oregon (Oct. 18), No. 7 Notre Dame (Sept. 14) and No. 8 Penn State (Nov. 16).
• No other team in the country plays more Top 10 teams than Purdue. Only Florida matches the Boilermakers with four Top 10 opponents.
• Three of the Top 10 matchups are at home, as Purdue hosts Notre Dame, Oregon and Penn State at Ross-Ade Stadium.
IN-STATE OPPOSITION
• A schedule rarity, Purdue will play three opponents from the state of Indiana this season.
• After beginning the season against Indiana State, the Boilermakers have a bye week before facing Notre Dame for the Shillelagh Trophy (Sept. 14).
• Sticking with tradition, Purdue closes out the regular season by battling Indiana with the Old Oaken Bucket up for grabs.
• The last time three in-state opponents were on Purdue's schedule occurred during the 2013 season, with four such seasons this century.
PURDUE VS. THE FCS
• Purdue will face an FCS opponent for just the second time since 2016 when it won 45-24 over Eastern Kentucky in the season opener.
• Indiana State was the last FCS team to battle the Boilermakers, and Purdue cruised to a 56-0 victory (Sept. 10, 2022).
• From 2006 to 2016, the Boilermakers faced an FCS opponent every season except for 2009. Four of those games were against the Sycamores.
LAST TIME WE MET
• Purdue's defense forced a fumble on the opening play of the game to set the tone in a 56-0 rout of Indiana State (Sept. 10, 2022). The 56-point margin of victory was the largest for Purdue since a 59-point shutout win over Southeast Missouri in 2011.
• Devin Mockobee, making his Purdue debut as a redshirt freshman, led the rushing attack with 78 yards and one touchdown on 13 carries.
• Aidan O'Connell (Las Vegas Raiders) was efficient in his one half of action with four touchdowns and 211 yards on 17-of-19 passing; O'Connell was one completion and attempt shy of breaking the Purdue single-game record for completion percentage (a minimum of 20 attempts was needed to qualify).
• Charlie Jones (Cincinnati Bengals) caught three touchdown passes, finishing the day with nine receptions for 133 yards.
• The 145 yards of total offense allowed by Purdue were the fewest given up by the defense in more than 25 years.
The Boilermakers are 6-0 against the Sycamores, including a 56-0 win two years ago. Making his Purdue debut, Devin Mockobee recorded a team-high 78 rushing yards with one touchdown in the 2022 victory over Indiana State.
QUICK HITS
• Dillon Thieneman, the 50th All-American in program history, is a consensus Preseason All-American; setting program freshman records for interceptions (6) and solo tackles (74), Thieneman was tabbed the FWAA Freshman Defensive Player of the Year and the Big Ten Freshman of the Year last season.
• Purdue has produced four All-Americans over the past three seasons (Thieneman - 2023, Charlie Jones - 2022, David Bell - 2021, George Karlaftis - 2021), the most in a three-year stretch since 1967-69.
• Behind Mockobee and Tyrone Tracy Jr. (New York Giants), Purdue led the Big Ten in rushing in conference games (184.6 ypg); Purdue was the only team in the Big Ten with two running backs to rush for more than 500 yards in league contests (Mockobee – 625, Tracy – 624).
• Kydran Jenkins recorded 15.5 TFLs a season ago, ranking third in the Big Ten and 18th nationally, the most by a Boilermaker since George Karlaftis (Kansas City Chiefs) in 2019 and the first Boilermaker to lead the team in back-to-back seasons since Jake Replogle (2014-15).
• Purdue added 23 players in the transfer portal, including 14 from Power 4 schools; the group was a consensus Top 10 class in the transfer rankings when 14 of the transfers joined the team for the spring semester.
• One year after recorded the highest total and average attendance since 2007, Purdue Football sold out its season ticket allotment (42,000) for the 2024 campaign; the Notre Dame game (Sept. 14) sold out one day after going on sale to the public. All tickets for the Purdue student section, the Ross-Ade Brigade, are also sold out for the year.
• Boilermaker legend and College Football Hall of Famer Mark Herrmann is the new color analyst for Purdue football games on the Boilermaker Sports Network, taking over following the retirement of Purdue Football alum Pete Quinn, who spent 32 seasons in the announcing chair calling Boilermaker games on the gridiron.
• Purdue will debut new jerseys for the 2024 season.
• Thirteen Boilermakers have already earned their undergraduate degrees, six from Purdue and seven from other schools before transferring to Purdue.
PURDUE FOOTBALL IS BACK
• The Boilermakers kick off their 137th season of football in 2024.
• Purdue holds a 78-52-6 mark in season openers, while going 92-39-4 in home openers. The Boilermakers have won 22 of their last 26 home openers.
• Ross-Ade Stadium has been Purdue's home for 100 seasons, marking the 2024 campaign as the 101st full season; Ross-Ade will turn 100 years old on November 22 when the Boilermakers play at Michigan State.
• Purdue closed out the 1924 season with its first game at Ross-Ade, a 26-7 Homecoming win over Indiana (Nov. 22, 1924).
YEAR 2 OF THE WALTERS ERA
• Purdue begins its second season under the guidance of head coach Ryan Walters.
• The three pillars of Walters' program: Competitive, Tough, Disciplined.
• Known as a players' coach, Walters has established a culture in which everyone in the program feels like family.
• Hired at age 36 after being named the 2022, On3 Coordinator of the Year Walters, now 38, is one of the youngest coaches in college football - the fourth youngest among the Power 4 conferences (Kenny Dillingham - 34, Dan Lanning - 38, Sherrone Moore - 38).
• Despite the record not being what Walters and Purdue wanted, facing one of the toughest schedules in the country, there were several positives the Boilermakers could take away from Walters' first year in West Lafayette to build off of heading into the 2024 season.
RECAP OF 2023
• Purdue's first 11 opponents on its 12-game 2023 schedule did not have a losing record at the time of their matchup against the Boilermakers, resulting in one of the nation's most difficult schedules.
• The Boilermakers battled throughout the season to finish tied for fourth in the Big Ten West, while winning both rivalry games (Indiana - Old Oaken Bucket), Illinois - Cannon Trophy) for the third straight season.
• In Walters' debut season guiding the Old Gold and Black, Purdue found success in all three phases of the game. The offense led the Big Ten in rushing in conference contests, averaging 184.6 yards per game. Purdue's defense recorded 35 sacks, the most since 2004 and the third-most in program history, and the special teams unit averaged 24.2 yards per kickoff return, Purdue's best since 2004 and the fourth-most all-time.
• Individually, Dillon Thieneman became an All-American (Third Team – AP) and was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year after setting school records for interceptions (6) and solo tackles (74) by a freshman.
ROSS-ADE PACKED ALL SEASON LONG
• With three of Purdue's six home games coming against preseason Top 10 teams, Ross-Ade Stadium is expected to be packed all season long.
• The 2023 season featured Purdue's highest home attendance, both average and total, since the 2007 campaign, but those marks might be broken this season.
• With more than 42,000 season ticket holders, including more than 5,000 new season ticket holders, season tickets sold out for the 2024 season.
• Student season tickets also sold out five hours after going on sale, a record-breaking time.
• Purdue's in-state matchup against Notre Dame sold out one day after going on sale to the public.
DIFFICULT SCHEDULE
• A season ago, Purdue did not face a team with a losing record at the time of the game until battling Indiana for the Old Oaken Bucket in the season finale. This year's schedule may be even tougher.
• Purdue's schedule was ranked the 11th hardest in the nation by ESPN's Football Power Index, fourth by College Football News, seventh by College Football Network and sixth by Sports Grid.
• Four preseason Top 10 teams appear on the Boilermakers' 2024 schedule: No. 2 Ohio State (Nov. 9), No. 3 Oregon (Oct. 18), No. 7 Notre Dame (Sept. 14) and No. 8 Penn State (Nov. 16).
• No other team in the country plays more Top 10 teams than Purdue. Only Florida matches the Boilermakers with four Top 10 opponents.
• Three of the Top 10 matchups are at home, as Purdue hosts Notre Dame, Oregon and Penn State at Ross-Ade Stadium.
IN-STATE OPPOSITION
• A schedule rarity, Purdue will play three opponents from the state of Indiana this season.
• After beginning the season against Indiana State, the Boilermakers have a bye week before facing Notre Dame for the Shillelagh Trophy (Sept. 14).
• Sticking with tradition, Purdue closes out the regular season by battling Indiana with the Old Oaken Bucket up for grabs.
• The last time three in-state opponents were on Purdue's schedule occurred during the 2013 season, with four such seasons this century.
PURDUE VS. THE FCS
• Purdue will face an FCS opponent for just the second time since 2016 when it won 45-24 over Eastern Kentucky in the season opener.
• Indiana State was the last FCS team to battle the Boilermakers, and Purdue cruised to a 56-0 victory (Sept. 10, 2022).
• From 2006 to 2016, the Boilermakers faced an FCS opponent every season except for 2009. Four of those games were against the Sycamores.
LAST TIME WE MET
• Purdue's defense forced a fumble on the opening play of the game to set the tone in a 56-0 rout of Indiana State (Sept. 10, 2022). The 56-point margin of victory was the largest for Purdue since a 59-point shutout win over Southeast Missouri in 2011.
• Devin Mockobee, making his Purdue debut as a redshirt freshman, led the rushing attack with 78 yards and one touchdown on 13 carries.
• Aidan O'Connell (Las Vegas Raiders) was efficient in his one half of action with four touchdowns and 211 yards on 17-of-19 passing; O'Connell was one completion and attempt shy of breaking the Purdue single-game record for completion percentage (a minimum of 20 attempts was needed to qualify).
• Charlie Jones (Cincinnati Bengals) caught three touchdown passes, finishing the day with nine receptions for 133 yards.
• The 145 yards of total offense allowed by Purdue were the fewest given up by the defense in more than 25 years.