10 Observations from Bucket Game

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Here is what has us talking after Purdue’s 66-0 loss on Saturday night in Memorial Stadium.

1 – What’s the future of Ryan Walters? That was the biggest story surrounding tonight’s game. AD Mike Bobinski’s silence on the matter has been deafening. With Signing Day looming on Wednesday, a decision on Walters likely will come soon after tonight’s game. It has to. The fan base is enraged at the direction of the program. Why does Walters think he’s the man for the job?

“Because I’m prepared to do so, I know exactly what this place needs,” he said “I know exactly what holes we need to fill. I’ve got a pretty concrete and solidified plan moving forward that I feel will be beneficial to this program.

“I am frustrated, I’m disappointed, I’m angry about the results this year. I hear the fan base, and I hear the student body, and I’m frustrated and disappointed like they are. They also know who I am and the plan that we have, and I’m confident in that plan and sometimes when you build something, things take time. I feel like going into year three and being able to attack the holes that we need to fill and get the right people in place to push forward, I feel comfortable in that plan, confident in that plan.”

Has Bobinski told Walters he’ll be back in 2025?

“I’m not the person to ask that question,” he said.

2 – Nadir. That’s the word that keeps coming to mind. Was this the lowest moment in Purdue football annals? Maybe. To lose like this to a rival which is on the precipice of an historic season while Purdue is finishing a 1-11 season is demoralizing, depressing and disappointing.

3 – Was this the worst team in Purdue history? Well, you could certainly make a case for it–and it looked like it tonight in getting out gained 582-67 and going 0 of 11 on third downs. Purdue began the day 17th in the Big Ten in scoring offense, 16th total offense. It was last in scoring and total defense. There are plenty more gruesome stats for this one-win team. Look them up if you want to depress yourself.

“Extremely disappointing, not only because it’s a game that you just got dominated by, but because of what was on the line in terms of a trophy game, an in-state rivalry,” said Walters. “That was as dominating a performance as I’ve ever seen. Hat’s off to Coach Cignetti and what they got going on over here.”

4 – Speaking of history … it was made tonight with an 11th loss in a row. The last time that happened was over three seasons, from 1906-08. This is not good. Purdue opens 2025 vs. Ball State and then Southern Illinois, so maybe the skid will end then, right?

5 – Let is snow! The game looked–at times–to be played in a snow globe. The stands were full on what had to be the biggest game in Indiana history, as a College Football Playoff bid hangs in the balance. In what was a crowning moment for the Hoosiers became a boring game, with IU racing to a 28-0 halftime lead and never looking back.

Two years ago, Purdue clinched a trip to the Big Ten title here. Now, it is at rock bottom.

6 – That was the last time you’ll likely see Hudson Card at Purdue. He is expected to move on after spending two largely uneventful season in West Lafayette following his transfer from Texas. The staff never was able to harness his abilities.

7 – Purdue opted to start Ryan Browne at QB to start the second half. On the first play, he and Devin Mockobee muffed a hand-off exchange and lost the ball. IU recovered. The Hoosiers went on to kick a field goal. The sequence epitomized this terrible, awful, pitiful, horrible night.

8 – Is this the last time we see players like TE Max Klare, RE Will Heldt and S Dillon Thieneman, among others? They could have some attractive options at other schools via the portal. And Walters’ shaky status is hurting high school recruiting with 2025 prospects.

“Yeah, we’ve gotten questions about that,” said Walters if recruits are asking about his future.

“It’s difficult because of the uncertainties out there. I mean, obviously, I know what I would be telling recruits if I was recruiting against us. We’ll see where all that goes.”

9 – This miserable season ended the only way it should have … with another humiliating loss. Add it to the pile of embarrassment: 66-7 vs. Notre Dame; 38-21 vs. Oregon State; 52-6 vs. Wisconsin; 35-0 vs. Oregon; 45-0 vs. Ohio State; 49-10 vs. Penn State.

Will Walters be the head coach of Purdue in 2025?

“I hope so,” he said.

10 – We can put a bow on one of the most dubious stats I ever can recall: Purdue was out scored 104-13 in the first quarter in 2024. And the lone TD came in the opener vs. FCS Indiana State. So, Purdue never scored a TD vs. a FBS foe in the first quarter all season. Amazing, isn’t it? Why didn’t things click this year for Purdue?

There’s a there’s a lot of factors. And I think, you know,

“We’ve had a lot of adversity this season, starting after the Nebraska game,” said Walters. “You couple adverse moments with some some inexperience and playing against the type of opponents that we’re playing, it can be hard to have success. That is my job to find out and figure out ways to be creative and do so.”