BLOOMINGTON — There is a silver lining for Purdue football enthusiasts as the 2024 season comes to a close.
The Boilermakers concluded their challenging season with a staggering 66-0 defeat against the 10th-ranked Indiana at Memorial Stadium, allowing fans to shift their focus to the upcoming 2025 season.
The statistics paint a grim picture of Purdue’s performance throughout the year. The team ended the season with a disappointing record of 1-11, having been shut out in the first half during five games. Remarkably, they failed to score a touchdown in the first quarter across their 11 matchups against FBS opponents, being outscored 104-13 in first quarters and 236-53 in first halves overall. Indiana dominated the field, leading 28-0 by halftime in their final face-off.
The second half brought a change in quarterback, but the misfortunes continued. The first play of the half resulted in a fumbled exchange that Indiana capitalized on, leading to another field goal. The onslaught continued, with Indiana even executing a surprise fake punt for an 18-yard gain while comfortably in the lead. Purdue struggled to gather momentum, failing to accumulate triple-digit total yards and turning the ball over four times.
The future of head coach Ryan Walters remains uncertain as speculation about his position ramped up weeks ago amidst mounting losses. Frustration among fans has grown significantly, leading to the loss of three recruits from the 2025 recruiting class this week alone, totaling eight decommitments from the class overall.
Despite the challenges, there’s hope that the team can regroup and focus on rebuilding for the next season. New recruits and strategies could usher in a brighter future for the Boilermakers, providing fans with a reason to remain optimistic.
As Purdue analyzes this difficult season, the lessons learned can pave the way for improvements and a more competitive roster moving forward. The commitment from both fans and the coaching staff will be essential in generating the necessary momentum for a comeback in 2025.