Purdue football prepares to prove Big Ten doubters wrong

INDIANAPOLIS — Back in 2022, Purdue football went 8-4 and won the Big Ten West, ending the season with a loss in the conference title game to Michigan at Lucas Oil Stadium.

On Tuesday, the Boilermakers found themselves on the field at Lucas Oil again, this time for Big Ten Media Day, picked to finish last in the newly expanded conference by preseason polls after winning four games in 2023.

“The three things we talk about in our program all the time are being competitive, tough, and disciplined. There’s a reason why competitive is at the forefront,” said second year head coach Ryan Walters.

“When you go 4-8, you have a chip on your shoulder. You have something to prove. That, coupled with 18 out of 18, that just adds fuel to the fire.”

The 2024 season brings stability with the coaching staff, as Walters retains most of his guys, and more importantly, returns his starting quarterback Hudson Card. The redshirt senior transferred from The University at Texas Austin, where he spent most of his career waiting to be the guy.

“Last year was his first season as a starting quarterback with a brand new system, so it’s almost like he was a freshman a year ago,” said Walters, who cited growth in Card’s playmaking abilities and on-field decisions as major points of growth over the offseason.

Card added muscle in the offseason without losing his speed and edge, but more importantly has a new confidence and sense of comfort as a leader on and off the field.

“You start to make those steps going into year two,” said Card. “Defensively, offensively, special teams, we all have year two under our belt.”

Card got some weapons in the offseason, including a trio of transfer wide receivers Kam Brown from UCLA, as well as Georgia’s De’Nylon Morrissette and C.J. Smith. Purdue’s transfers are a consensus top 10 class, ranked seventh by Rivals and tenth by ESPN, adding depth at offensive line, the secondary, and another dynamic Big 10 running back in Illinois’ Reggie Love.

“They got in here and immediately got to work,” said Card. “Coach Walters found guys who are great at football and fit our scheme, but they’re also great teammates.”

“The guys we added from the portal, they have a chip on their shoulder as well,” said Walters. “They have feel like they have something to prove.”

Card, like the rest of his teammates have heard the noise all offseason long. They heard Indiana’s new head football coach Curt Cignetti say ‘Purdue sucks’ in his introductory press conference. They read the tweets. They all saw their No. 18 ranking before they got to Lucas Oil. They know the future is in their hands.

“I try not to look too much at that, good or bad, but it adds some fuel to the fire,” said Card. “It’s something we want to prove everyone wrong. I know what our team is capable of, and ultimately it’ll be up to us to go out there and prove it.”

It will not be an easy road for the Boilermakers, who have one of, if not the toughest strength of schedule in the Big Ten, and one of the top ten hardest in the country.

“With difficult scenarios come opportunities to do something special and to leave a legacy,” said Walters. “We have the opportunity to do just that.”

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