“Shaky Ground: Purdue Football’s Ryan Walters Faces Uncertainty as Team Struggles at 1-10”

Purdue football will likely keep Ryan Walters as their head coach.

The Purdue football program may see a familiar face return with head coach Ryan Walters. According to sources cited by Tom Dienhart and Pete Nakos of On3.com, “Walters is trending to return for the 2025 season.” Currently, he is navigating a challenging 1-10 season after finishing 4-8 last year with the Boilermakers. However, extending his contract seems unusual given the performance of his predecessor.

Jeff Brohm led Purdue to three bowl games, winning two, with his first two seasons showing promise as he achieved seven and six wins, respectively. Despite his success, Brohm resigned to join Louisville, leaving the search for a capable replacement difficult.

This year marks the first season of the Big Ten expansion, which now includes former Pac-12 teams USC, UCLA, Washington, and Oregon. This expansion enhances the competitiveness of the conference, particularly with Oregon ranked No. 1 in the country.

So why might Ryan Walters stay with Purdue? One significant factor is financial. If Purdue decides to fire Walters, it would owe him $ 9.3 million under his contract, a considerable amount for a school that doesn’t excel in football. Furthermore, terminating him could signal to donors that the program lacks direction. The Big Ten expansion is another crucial aspect; the addition of these four teams complicates winning games.

Additionally, Walters is only in his second season, and Purdue has lagged in investing in NIL (Name, Image, Likeness), which affects recruitment. For context, Ohio State allocated $ 20 million to their NIL fund. While Purdue has opportunities to catch up with its Big Ten rivals, retaining Walters could prove to be a wise decision.

When Brohm departed for Louisville, he took a sense of stability with him. The 2025 season may provide Walters with the opportunity to establish himself. Addressing the transfer portal, NIL, and recruiting should be his top priorities. While Purdue has experienced some narrow defeats, that doesn’t justify their significant number of losses.

Nonetheless, the university appears committed to supporting Walters as they navigate uncertain challenges ahead. If the 2024 season mirrors the previous one, he will likely be dismissed. However, if he can lead the team to a bowl game, he could remain in charge for an extended period.