BLOOMINGTON – Purdue football fans may find a silver lining as the 2024 season comes to an end.
The tumultuous season concluded with a disheartening 66-0 defeat against 10th-ranked Indiana at Memorial Stadium, prompting Boilermakers supporters to look ahead to the 2025 season.
Purdue’s struggles were evident throughout the season, with a notably painful statistic: they were shut out in the first half for the fifth time, finishing the year with no first-quarter touchdowns against 11 FBS opponents. Overall, they were outscored 104-13 in first quarters and 236-53 in the first halves of games, with Indiana leading 28-0 at halftime in their final outing.
The second half provided little relief, as a fumbled exchange on the first play resulted in Indiana scoring a field goal. Indiana kept the pressure on, even opting for a fake punt that resulted in an additional 18 yards while leading 38-0 in the third quarter. Purdue could not manage to reach 100 total yards and recorded four turnovers in the game.
In the wake of the team’s disappointing performance, speculation surrounds the future of head coach Ryan Walters, which has intensified as the losses began stacking up. Frustration from the fanbase has led to a growing number of decommits from the 2025 recruiting class; eight players have withdrawn their commitments this week alone, a concerning trend as the early signing period approaches.
As the 2024 season concludes, Purdue fans can look forward to new beginnings in 2025. With the potential for fresh talent and renewed strategies in the upcoming year, there remains hope that the Boilermakers can turn things around. Rebuilding efforts, along with a strong focus on player recruitment, could set the stage for a more competitive season ahead, enabling the team to regain its footing in college football.
This situation underscores the cyclical nature of sports, where challenging seasons pave the way for growth and future successes.