Phil Steele: Purdue will not reach eight-win mark from last season

Purdue was very successful in Jeff Brohm’s final two seasons with the Boilermakers. However, with him spurning more time in West Lafayette for his alma mater of Louisville, Phil Steele expects a step back from the program.

Steele wasn’t very high on Purdue in his season preview for the upcoming college football campaign. He cited inexperience, with their players as well as their new coach, along with a tough schedule as reasons why he believes the Boilermakers won’t be be reaching eight-plus wins for the third straight season.

“They have a tougher schedule and have just 11 starters back and a first year head coach,” wrote Steele. “I do not see them repeating as Big Ten West champs or matching last year’s eight wins”

In total, Purdue went 17-10 overall over the past two years including 12-6 in the Big Ten. After winning 0.417 of his games over his first four seasons with 19 total, he won nearly as many in this last pair of seasons with a winning percentage of 0.632.

That included a chance to represent the western division of the Big Ten in the conference championship last season before losing to Michigan in Indianapolis. They also closed the season with a brutal 63-7 loss to LSU in the Citrus Bowl.

Now, with Ryan Walters taking over, Steele isn’t yet sure about the new regime for the Boilermakers or this year’s team. It remains to be seen where he can lead them but, heading into the season, Steele expect’s Brohm’s departure to play a significant role in how Purdue’s year goes in 2023.

Athlon Sports projects Big Ten’s order of finish in 2023

Athlon Sports projected the Big Ten Conference order of finish for the 2023 season and there’s some familiarity after the last two years.

Michigan and Ohio State are the favorites this year, but just happen to be in the same division of course. That’ll change in 2024 with the addition of USC and UCLA.

But nonetheless, the East is stacked while the West will be wild once again with a more even playing field.

Big Ten projected order of finish

Championship: Michigan over Wisconsin

EAST

1. Michigan (12-1, 8-1)
2. Ohio State (11-1, 8-1)
3. Penn State (10-2, 7-2)
4. Maryland (7-5, 4-5)
5. Michigan State (6-6, 4-5)
6. Rutgers (5-7, 3-6)
7. Indiana (4-8, 2-7)

WEST

1. Wisconsin (9-4, 6-3)
2. Iowa (8-4, 5-4)
3. Minnesota (7-5, 5-4)
4. Illinois (6-6, 4-5)
5. Nebraska (6-6, 3-6)
6. Purdue (5-7, 3-6)
7. Northwestern (3-9, 1-8)

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