Low preseason ranking sets up opportunity for return of 'Spoilermakers'

In less than two weeks, thousands of fans from all corners of Indiana will gather at Ross-Ade Stadium for the first time since last November to watch Purdue kick off its 2024 season against Indiana State.

The Boilers, under head coach Ryan Walters in his second season at the helm, were assigned one of the nation’s most rigorous schedules.

Purdue is to face four preseason top-10 teams and travel to some of college football’s toughest road environments.

In the now 18-team Big Ten Conference, Purdue was picked to finish 18th on the USA Today poll to start the new era of the expanded Big Ten.

The Boilers are not new to the role of underdog, though. Purdue has the most wins in the FBS over top-5 teams while unranked during the AP top-25 era, earning themselves the “Spoilermaker” reputation.

In recent years, the “Spoilermakers” defeated both No. 2 Iowa on the road and No. 3 Michigan State at home in 2021 and No. 4 Ohio State in 2018, without ever holding a top-25 rank themselves.

The Boilers’ expected win total sits at 4.5 on many polls and they hold +30,000 odds to win the conference, tied with Indiana for worst in the Big Ten.

The first of the many dominant programs they’ll face is No. 7 Notre Dame in week three when they host the Fighting Irish for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff. The Irish will be the Boilers’ first true test of the season, as Purdue is the heavy favorite in week one and has a bye in week two.

The Boilers’ toughest stretch comes later in the season when they travel to Ohio Stadium on Nov. 9 to play the preseason No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes. The Buckeyes returned numerous starters from last season; they had the 9th-ranked transfer portal and 5th-ranked recruiting class, leading them to be in heavy contention for national champions and a sure test for the Boilermakers.

Purdue then returns home to host another preseason top-10 program in No. 9 Penn State, the next week on Nov. 16 at Ross-Ade Stadium. The Boilers will then have to regroup quickly and travel to Spartan Stadium to face Michigan State under the lights on Nov. 22.

While the odds don’t favor the Boilermakers, they’ve never needed them to, and the tough 2024 schedule only adds opportunities for more unforgettable upsets.

Purdue hosts Indiana State on Saturday, Aug. 31 at noon for the 2024 season’s first kickoff at Ross-Ade Stadium.