First Look: Indiana State
Here’s an early look at Purdue’s first opponent of the 2024 season, the Indiana State Sycamores.
Date/Time: Saturday, August 31, Noon E.T.
Location: Ross-Ade Stadium
Surface: Bermuda Grass
Capacity: 61,441 (tickets)
Weather: It appears the heat will somewhat dissipate heading into Saturday.
2024 schedules/2023 records: Purdue 4-8 (3-6 Big Ten), Indiana State 1-10 (1-7 Missouri Valley)
Series notes: Saturday will mark the seventh meeting between the in-state programs, as Purdue holds a 6-0 advantage. Though the series began in 1926, the previous five meetings all came between 1990 and 2022. 20-14 Purdue wins in 1990 and 2013 stand as the only two competitive matchups in the series, with decisive Boilermaker victories coming in the remainder of the battles. Most recently, Purdue dominated the Sycamores in a 56-0 blowout in 2022. The Boilermakers have never lost to an FCS opponent.
TV: BTN
Early line: Purdue -32.5, O/U 48.5
STORYLINES TO WATCH
Year Two
It’s year two for Ryan Walters in West Lafayette. Though year one resulted in a 4-8 record, optimism remains high that Walters will lead the Boilermakers to competitiveness in the new-look Big Ten. An impressive transfer portal haul combined with a strong recruiting class should help improve the roster as Purdue enters 2024.
Additionally, it’s year two for Hudson Card. The Texas transfer battled through injuries in 2023, a season which provided highs and lows for the Austin native. Now, he’s fully healthy and ready to go for his second year as a Boilermaker. The message from the program has remained consistent: they expect a sizable jump in Card’s second year in the system. In a Big Ten littered with average-at-best quarterback play, how high can Card climb in the pecking order across the league?
INJURY REPORT
No, Purdue couldn’t avoid the injury bug during fall camp. Wide receiver CJ Smith (hamstring) and cornerback Nyland Green (foot), both projected starters who transferred in from Georgia, won’t play on Saturday. Walters spoke optimistically that the pair would be ready for Notre Dame when he announced their absence for Indiana State, but Purdue will miss both projected starters.
Purdue could also limit snaps or entirely hold out a number of key contributors with nagging injuries through fall camp. Wide receivers Jayden Dixon-Veal and Kam Brown each missed a bulk of camp and may see limited action at best. The same goes for athletic tight end George Burhenn. Left tackle Corey Stewart arrived from Ball State with high expectations, but will Purdue push him through an injury to face an FCS foe?
Purdue does look healthier on the defensive side of the ball, as defensive lineman Joe Anderson might be the only key contributor to watch on game day. If he can’t go, Purdue fans may see Damarjhe Lewis, the oft-injured veteran who impressed in 2021 as an Indiana transfer.
Ryan Walters on the Sycamores and the new season
“We are an entirely different locker room. Their bodies are different (Purdue’s team). As a staff we have grown. You find things that work, that feeling. There’s no need to micromanage. We are in a much different place from where we were last year.”
