After back-to-back dominant seasons, Matt Painter’s Purdue Boilermakers enter 2025-26 with expectations as high as ever. The program has become a staple near the top of the rankings, and this year’s group again looks like a national championship contender. The path won’t be easy, Purdue’s schedule is packed with neutral-site battles, true road challenges, and a grueling Big Ten grind that will test whether the Boilers can finally finish the job in March.
A loaded nonconference slate
Purdue wastes no time diving into high-profile matchups. After warmups against Evansville and Oakland, the Boilermakers hit the road Nov. 13 at Alabama, a hostile test early in the season. Just a week later, they travel to the Bahamas for the Baha Mar Championship, where Memphis awaits in the opener and either Texas Tech or Wake Forest follows.
The Boilers will also face Marquette (Dec. 13), another projected top-10 team, and Auburn (Dec. 20 in Indianapolis), giving Painter’s squad multiple battles against national powers before Christmas.
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Big Ten roadblocks
The Big Ten slate opens Dec. 2 at Rutgers, immediately throwing Purdue into a tricky road environment. The league schedule then stretches into the new year with heavyweight clashes sprinkled throughout:
Jan. 27 at Indiana – Always one of the most heated rivalry games in college basketball.
Feb. 14 at Iowa – A Valentine’s night trip that won’t come with much love from the Hawkeyes’ crowd.
Feb. 20 vs Indiana – The return rivalry matchup at Mackey Arena, one of the toughest home courts in the country.
Feb. 26 vs Michigan State – A late-season battle that could have major title implications.
March 7 vs Wisconsin – Senior Day at Mackey to close the regular season.
Road swings through USC, UCLA, Maryland, and Ohio State add even more challenges to what’s arguably the deepest conference in the country.
National title stakes
With a veteran core, size inside, and Painter’s proven system, Purdue enters the season among the favorites to cut down the nets. But this schedule ensures nothing will come easy. Survive November’s gauntlet, hold steady in January, and defend Mackey Arena through February, that’s the recipe to deliver the Boilermakers back to the Final Four stage and maybe beyond.
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