Old National Presents: 3-2-1

It’s time for the 3-2-1, a look at Purdue football. Three things learned. Two questions. One bold statement.

Three things learned about Purdue football

1 – Walters’ status on hold

What will AD Mike Bobinski do with Ryan Walters? Will he bring Walters back with an overhauled staff? Or, will Bobinski clear the deck and hire a new head coach? It appears the lean is to retain Walters for a third season.

Everything seems to be trending that way.

If that’s the case, the retention would seemingly come with new coordinators and a massaged staff beyond that. Not a total 10-man staff overhaul, but significant change.

Bobinski genuinely likes Walters and wants him to be successful. But if Bobinski is retiring in the near future, does he want to hire a new coach ahead of the next AD? And the specter of paying a $9-plus million buyout to Walters with revenue sharing looming may be a concern to decision-makers along Northwestern Avenue.

2 – Waiting on decision day

When will Bobinski show his hand? Sunday after the Indiana game? Monday? Signing Day starts on Wednesday next week. The portal opens December 9. Time is ticking.

No idea when an announcement will be made. Ideally, if Walters is indeed coming back, Purdue would have said so by now. It just helps everything. Florida did so with Billy Napier, and Oklahoma did the same for Brent Venables. And it seemed to boost both programs down the stretch.

3 – Taking a visit

Is the battered 2025 recruiting class about to take another hit?

The latest worry: Purdue 2025 Fort Wayne (Ind.) Wayne ILB commit Kimar Nelson took a visit last weekend to N.C. State, which offered earlier this month. Nelson just committed to Purdue on November 4.

Keep an eye on Ohio ILB Grant Beerman, who took a visit to Illinois earlier this month and could be a flight risk. And Ohio OL Kuol Kuol visited Iowa State.

Purdue already has seen four members of its 2025 class de-commit: Drayden Pavey (Wisconsin commit); WR Lebron Hill (Vanderbilt), OL Takhyian Whitset (N.C. State). CB Dawayne Galloway has de-committed but not chosen a school.

Purdue has 12 2025 commits.

MORE: First look: Indiana | Three thoughts: Ryan Walters, Purdue basketball and more | First and 10 | Report: Purdue’s Ryan Walters ‘trending to return for 2025’

Two questions

1 – How ugly could things get at Indiana?

The Hoosiers are a 25.5-point favorite. Has IU ever been favored by more vs. the Boilermakers? Not from what we can tell. Per quick research, IU was -20.5 in 2013 and -21.5 in 2016.

The Hoosiers will be especially motivated to beat Purdue, as a win may clinch a College Football Playoff bid. And you know Curt Cignetti would like nothing more than to lay it on Purdue in doing so. And there is this: IU is smarting coming off its first 2024 loss, falling at Ohio State last week.

The Boilers have won three Buckets in a row and five of six.

As kickoff approaches, remember what Cignetti said at an IU hoops game shortly after getting the job: “Hey, look, I’m super fired up about this opportunity. I’ve never taken a back seat to anybody and don’t plan on starting now. Purdue sucks … but so does Michigan and Ohio State! Go IU!”

Some recent IU blowouts vs. Purdue:

-54-36 in 2015
-56-36 in 2013
-52-7 in 1988

Brace yourself.

2 – Could myriad players leave via the portal?

It no doubt is a concern. The players are watching and waiting to see what happens. Will Walters be back? If so, who will be the coordinators and assistants?

Those decisions will be huge factors for players who are on the fence. Among the key players with eligibility–and who won’t turn pro–you’d like to keep:

TE Max Klare
RB Devin Mockobee
WR Jahmal Edrine
WR Jaron Tibbs
WR Shamar Rigby
OT Bakyne Coly
OL Joey Tanona
OL Jaden Ball
RE Will Heldt
NT Mo Omonode
S Dillon Thieneman
DB Kyndrich Breedlove
DB Smiley Bradford

One bold statement: There will be few Power 4 head coach changes

OK. Maybe that’s too bold of a statement. But, thus far, only one Power 4 coach appears to be out (Mack Brown, North Carolina). It’s amazing.

There are 13 non-Power Four openings. So far, Power Four schools have been opting to fire coordinators instead of head coaches. Surely, some Power Four school will pull the trigger … right?