While Purdue football will contend with familiar Big Ten Conference foes like Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio State and Indiana this year, the 2024 season will be quite different when it comes to the Big Ten Conference and the future of college football.
The reason?
Expansion has entered the Big Ten Conference during the offseason as national powers Oregon and Southern California joined Washington and UCLA in joining the Big Ten.
For Purdue football coach Ryan Walters, the additions add another layer to an already strong conference.
“Anytime you add four teams like an Oregon, a USC, a UCLA and a Washington to the Big Ten Conference, it’s just going to add to the prestige, add to the strength of the Big Ten Conference. Those are great storied programs with great coaching staffs and great players. I’m looking forward to competing against them year in and year out,” Walters said recently.
A season ago, Washington played Michigan in the National Championship Game, while Oregon has traditionally been among the top teams. Southern California saw former quarterback Caleb Williams capture the 2022 Heisman Trophy.
This season, both UCLA and Washington are entering the season with new coaches, while Oregon, Southern California and Washington will all look to replace high quality quarterbacks.
While the conference has changed, the location of the Big Ten Conference championship game has not. Indianapolis will remain the home of the championship game for the foreseeable future, and that is music to the ears of Walters.
“As far as playing the Big Ten Championship game staying here in Indy, I think it adds to the tradition of the Big Ten Conference,” he remarked. “Obviously I’m a little biased, but this is a great venue and a great location for a championship game.”
The first taste of the new additions will come on Oct. 18 when Oregon flies into Ross-Ade Stadium for a Friday night clash.
Purdue football will open the 2024 season at home on Aug. 31 when the Boilermakers entertain Indiana State.
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