Who Won the Purdue Football Game: A Brutal Look at the Old Oaken Bucket and Beyond

Who Won the Purdue Football Game: A Brutal Look at the Old Oaken Bucket and Beyond

So, you're looking for who won the Purdue football game. If you're talking about the big finale—the one that really matters to everyone in the state of Indiana—it wasn't the news Boilermaker fans wanted.

The Indiana Hoosiers won the Purdue football game on November 28, 2025.

It wasn't just a loss. It was a 56-3 dismantling at Ross-Ade Stadium. Honestly, it was a tough way to end a year that felt like a long uphill climb for a program in transition.

The Old Oaken Bucket Result: What Happened?

The final score was 56-3. Yeah. You read that right. Indiana came into West Lafayette with a 12-0 record and played like the playoff contender they are. Purdue, on the other hand, finished their season 2-10 overall and 0-9 in the Big Ten.

Basically, the Hoosiers took control from the jump. Ryan Browne, who has shown flashes of being "the guy" for the Boilers, finished with 238 passing yards. That sounds decent on paper. But when you only put up three points? The yardage becomes a footnote. Max Singleton and Andrew Harris tried to find some room on the ground, but Indiana’s defense was a brick wall.

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The Boilermakers haven't had a winless conference season in a long time. 2025 was a gauntlet.

Who Won the Purdue Football Game Throughout the 2025 Season?

If you aren't asking about the Indiana game, maybe you're thinking of one of the rare times the Boilers actually came out on top. They did start the year with a bit of hope.

  • August 30: Purdue vs. Ball State. Purdue won 31-0. It was a clean sheet, a dominant showing, and everyone thought Barry Odom’s first year might be a surprise.
  • September 6: Purdue vs. Southern Illinois. Purdue won 34-17. Two and zero. Life was good in West Lafayette.

Then the wheels didn't just fall off; they sort of disintegrated. After those first two weeks, Purdue didn't win another game. They lost to USC (33-17), got hammered by Notre Dame (56-30), and dropped a heartbreaker to Rutgers (27-24) where a walk-off field goal by Jai Patel sealed their fate.

The Barry Odom Era: Why the Struggle?

Whenever a new coach takes over, there’s talk about "culture" and "rebuilding." Barry Odom, coming over from UNLV, inherited a roster that was thin in key spots.

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The Big Ten is unforgiving. You can't just "sorta" be ready for teams like Ohio State or Michigan. When Purdue played the Buckeyes in early November, the result was a 34-10 loss. Against Michigan? A 21-16 defeat that was actually closer than people expected. It showed that the talent is there, but the consistency is miles away.

Key Stats from the 2025 Season

  • Final Record: 2-10
  • Conference Record: 0-9
  • Total Points Scored in Season Finale: 3
  • Standout Player: Devin Mockobee remained a bright spot, consistently grinding for yards even when the offensive line was struggling.

Is the Basketball Team Doing Better?

If you landed here because you're a Purdue fan looking for any good news, you're probably looking for the basketball scores. While the football team struggled, the men’s basketball team has been on a tear.

On January 14, 2026, Purdue beat Iowa 79-72. Braden Smith went absolutely nuclear in the second half, scoring all 16 of his points after the break and tying the Big Ten record for assists. If you're wondering who won the Purdue game lately, and you mean basketball, it’s almost always the Boilers. They are 16-1 and sitting pretty at the top of the rankings.

What’s Next for Purdue Football?

The 2026 schedule is already looking like a monster. They open with Indiana State on September 5, which should—hopefully—be a win to get some momentum back. Then they’ve got Wake Forest and a massive rematch with Notre Dame.

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Rebuilding in the era of the transfer portal is fast, but it’s also volatile. Odom has to hit the portal hard this offseason to find defensive depth and maybe another weapon for Browne or Singleton.

If you want to keep tabs on the progress, the spring game in April 2026 will be the first real look at how the roster is shaking out. For now, the focus in West Lafayette has firmly shifted to Mackey Arena and the quest for a deep March Madness run.

Actionable Insights for Fans:

  • Check the official Purdue Sports website for the 2026 Spring Game date to see the new roster additions.
  • If you're looking for tickets to the 2026 home opener against Indiana State, the early-bird season ticket renewals usually start in February.
  • Keep an eye on the Transfer Portal windows; Purdue's success in 2026 depends heavily on finding experienced defensive linemen.