WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Match-ups with Gonzaga, Iowa State and Tennessee highlight Purdue’s 2026-27 non-conference schedule.
The Boilermakers continue to play one of the nation’s most-difficult schedules. A year ago, Purdue ranked as the fifth-hardest nationally, and over the last three seasons, Purdue has played the second-, eighth- and fifth-most difficult schedules in the country, one of just four schools (Purdue, Alabama, Michigan, Tennessee) to play a top-10 schedule in each of the previous three seasons.
This year’s upcoming schedule figures to be another difficult one. After exhibition games against Ball State in Mackey Arena on Oct. 18, and at at National Finalist Connecticut on Oct. 27, Purdue heads to Las Vegas to face Gonzaga in the Hall of Fame Opening Night on Nov. 2. The Bulldogs are ranked in the top 10 of almost all the “way-too-early” top-25 polls.
Following the tilt with Gonzaga, Purdue returns home for five straight games against Valparaiso (18-15) on Nov. 6, Illinois State (23-13; NIT Finalist) on Nov. 9, Ohio (15-17) on Nov. 13, Lipscomb (19-13) on Nov. 17, and Oakland (16-16) on Nov. 20. Four of the five teams ranked inside the KenPom top 200 last year, with Ohio residing at 230 in the final KenPom ranking.
Purdue will then head to Fort Myers to face DePaul (16-16) on Nov. 24, and Oklahoma (21-16) on Thanksgiving Day in the Fort Myers Tip-Off. Both teams are expected to improve from last year after ranking 99th and 41st in the final KenPom rankings, respectively.
Purdue will then open Big Ten play against a to be announced opponent, before traveling to Iowa State (29-8) on Dec. 5, for the final game in a home-and-home series. The Cyclones are ranked in the top 20 of the way-too-early top-25 polls after reaching the Sweet 16 a year ago.
After another Big Ten game, Purdue will host Tennessee on Dec. 11, in Mackey Arena. The Volunteers reached the Elite Eight a year ago with a 25-12 record.
The Indy Classic opponent on Dec. 19, has yet to be announced and Purdue will close out its non-conference portion of the schedule on Dec. 21, against 2026 NCAA Tournament participant Cal Baptist (25-9). The Lancers were a 13 seed in last year’s NCAA Tournament, finishing the year ranked No. 105 in the KenPom rankings.
Purdue is also scheduling one more exhibition game, but details on that game will come out at a later date.
Purdue is ranked in the top 25 of all the early polls, and welcomes back six regulars as well as a highly-regarded incoming group for the 2026-27 season.
2026-27 Purdue Non-Conference Schedule
Oct. 18 -- Ball State (EXH)
2025-26 Record: 12-19 | Final NET ranking: 299 | Postseason: None
Series: Purdue leads 10-2 (Purdue, win-5)
Oct. 27 -- at Connecticut (EXH)
2025-26 Record: 34-6 | Final NET ranking: 9 | Postseason: L - NCAA Champ.
Series: Purdue leads 4-2 (UConn, win-2)
Nov. 2 -- vs. Gonzaga (Las Vegas)
2025-26 Record: 31-4 | Final NET ranking: 10 | Postseason: L - NCAA 2nd Rd.
Series: Purdue leads 5-0 (Purdue, win-5)
Nov. 6 -- Valparaiso (Mackey Arena)
2025-26 Record: 18-15 | Final NET ranking: 157 | Postseason: None
Series: Purdue leads 17-1 (Purdue, win-12)
Nov. 9 -- Illinois State (Mackey Arena)
2025-26 Record: 23-13 | Final NET ranking: 91 | Postseason: L - NIT Champ.
Series: Purdue leads 8-0 (Purdue, win-8)
Nov. 13 -- Ohio (Mackey Arena)
2025-26 Record: 15-17 | Final NET ranking: 232 | Postseason: None
Series: Purdue leads 6-2 (Purdue, win-2)
Nov. 17 -- Lipscomb (Mackey Arena)
2025-26 Record: 19-13 | Final NET ranking: 193 | Postseason: None
Series: Purdue leads 2-0 (Purdue, win-2)
Nov. 20 -- Oakland (Mackey Arena)
2025-26 Record: 16-16 | Final NET ranking: 175 | Postseason: None
Series: Purdue leads 3-0 (Purdue, win-3)
Nov. 24 -- vs. DePaul (Fort Myers, Fla.)
2025-26 Record: 16-16 | Final NET ranking: 101 | Postseason: None
Series: Purdue leads 12-9 (Purdue, win-2)
Nov. 26 -- vs. Oklahoma (Fort Myers, Fla.)
2025-26 Record: 21-16 | Final NET ranking: 47 | Postseason: L - Crown Champ.
Series: Oklahoma leads 6-4 (Oklahoma, win-1)
Dec. 5 -- at Iowa State (Hilton Coliseum)
2025-26 Record: 29-8 | Final NET ranking: 7 | Postseason: L - NCAA Sweet 16
Series: Tied 3-3 (Iowa State, win-1)
Dec. 11 -- Tennessee (Mackey Arena)
2025-26 Record: 25-12 | Final NET ranking: 17 | Postseason: L - NCAA Elite Eight
Series: Purdue leads 5-2 (Purdue, win-3)
Dec. 21 -- Cal Baptist (Mackey Arena)
2025-26 Record: 25-9 | Final NET ranking: 98 | Postseason: L - NCAA 1st Rd.
Series: First Meeting