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Purdue Players Talk About the Old Oaken Bucket Game

ESPN's Football Power Index Predicts Purdue Football 2021 Game Outcomes

The ESPN Football Power Index projects Purdue football to end the 2021 season with between five and six total wins. The team's most difficult matchups are against Notre Dame and Ohio State.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue football opens fall camp on Aug. 6, and with it comes the countdown toward a full slate of games during the 2021 season. 

The Boilermakers haven't posted a winning record since 2017 when the program went 7-6 in coach Jeff Brohm's first season leading the team. However, Purdue looks to return to winning form in what is expected to be a competitive Big Ten East division this upcoming season. 

As of now, the cards are stacked against the Boilermakers. According to ESPN's Football Power Index, Purdue is expected to win between five and six of its games with just a 0.5% chance of winning the conference. 

The team will have its easiest matchups in the first two weeks of the season when it faces off against Oregon State and UConn. Those games set up Purdue with a contest against Notre Dame in Week 3, one of its most difficult opponents of the year. 

However, no opponent will serve as a tougher challenge to Brohm and his team than the reigning Big Ten Champion Ohio State Buckeyes in Columbus on Nov. 13. 

Below are the game-by-game projections of Purdue football's 2021 schedule: 

  • Sept. 4 vs. Oregon State: 80.3% chance of winning
  • Sept. 11 at UConn: 94.5% chance of winning 
  • Sept. 18 at Notre Dame: 14.1% chance of winning
  • Sept. 25 vs. Illinois: 77.9% chance of winning
  • Oct. 2 vs. Minnesota: 60.5% chance of winning 
  • Oct. 16 at Iowa: 30.5% chance of winning
  • Oct. 23 vs. Wisconsin: 36.4% chance of winning
  • Oct. 30 at Nebraska: 37.5% chance of winning 
  • Nov. 6 vs. Michigan State: 55.8% chance of winning
  • Nov. 13 at Ohio State: 6.9% chance of winning
  • Nov. 20 vs. Northwestern*: 39.6% chance of winning 
  • Nov. 27 vs. Indiana: 44.6% chance of winning

* - Neutral site game

  • PURDUE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE: Purdue's 2021 college football schedule includes nine Big Ten games and three nonconference matchups. The team will travel to South Bend, Indiana, to play Notre Dame for the first time since 2014. CLICK HERE
  • JEFF BROHM SPEAKS ON MATCHUP WITH NOTRE DAME: Purdue football is scheduled to finish its 2021 nonconference slate against Notre Dame on Sept. 18. The last time the Boilermakers defeated the Fighting Irish was back in 2007 at Ross-Ade Stadium. CLICK HERE
  • PURDUE SPEAKS ABOUT OLD OAKEN BUCKET GAME: The Old Oaken Bucket Game between Purdue and Indiana will return during the 2021 season. The Boilermakers will fight to reclaim the Bucket after losing a close game in West Lafayette two seasons ago. CLICK HERE
  • FROM THE RIVALS' PERSPECTIVE: The Old Oaken Bucket Game between Purdue and Indiana will return during the 2021 season. Here's a look at what the game mean's from the perspective of the Hoosiers' football program. CLICK HERE
  • PURDUE FOOTBALL ISN'T DISTRACTED BY NIL: The Purdue football program is providing its student-athletes a support system to allow them to take advantage of their name, image and likeness. Despite the freedom to pursue deals, the Boilermakers remain focused on their performance and studies. CLICK HERE
  • GEORGE KARLAFTIS HUNGRY FOR RETURN: After his season was cut short due to injury and COVID-19, Purdue defensive end George Karlaftis is excited to get back on the field. He's working hard, doing whatever the team needs to help the program win in 2021. CLICK HERE
  • JEFF BROHM READY TO FACE PRESSURE: For Purdue football, there's going to be pressure to win this upcoming season, but coach Jeff Brohm believes the team is close to returning to winning form. The Boilermakers posted a 2-4 record last year, which included three losses by one score. CLICK HERE
  • BROHM ADDRESSES QUARTERBACK BATTLE: The Purdue football program will head into fall camp with a group of quarterbacks competing for starting job. Coach Jeff Brohm says the team looks to have a starter in mind early on, but he won't hesitate to utilize more than one quarterback this season. CLICK HERE
  • PURDUE FOOTBALL ENCOURAGED TO GET VACCINATED: Coach Jeff Brohm and the Purdue football program are looking to have a 90% vaccination rate by the end of July. While student-athletes are not required to be vaccinated for the fall season, the team continues to urge its players to get the vaccine. CLICK HERE

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