Purdue's football journey in 2024 was a tale of woe. Under the leadership of Ryan Walters, the team went 1 - 11 and endured an 11 - game losing streak. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)

The Need for a Coaching Shift

The disastrous 2024 season served as the catalyst for a much - needed coaching change. As college athletics embarked on a new era in 2025, Purdue recognized the importance of taking decisive steps to position their football program for success. Athletic director Mike Bobinski emphasized this in a statement, stating, "We are determined to provide the University and our loyal fans with football performance that lives up to the excellence of Purdue and deserves their continued support."The Boilermakers' season came to a crushing end on Saturday night with a 66 - 0 loss to No. 10 Indiana in the rivalry game. This marked the worst defeat in the history of the Old Oaken Bucket rivalry. Purdue ended the season on a dismal note, having lost 11 consecutive games and securing only one win against FCS - level Indiana State. Outside of a narrow 50 - 49 overtime loss at Wisconsin, the Boilermakers were rarely in contention to win other games. They were outscored by an average of 40 - 16 and suffered six losses by at least 35 points, making them arguably the worst power conference team in the country.Ryan Walters, 38, joined Purdue after two seasons as Illinois' defensive coordinator. Prior to that, he served as an assistant at Missouri and held the position of defensive coordinator for three seasons. Before venturing into coaching, Walters played defensive back at Colorado. Despite his defensive background, Walters took on the offensive play - calling duties during the season. It was a significant decision as he installed himself as the offensive play - caller before the loss to Illinois, marking the first time he had called offensive plays in his coaching career.Purdue is not alone in facing coaching vacancies. North Carolina fired coach Mack Brown before its season finale, and UCF coach Gus Malzahn resigned on Saturday to take on the offensive coordinator job at Florida State. This indicates the challenging landscape of college football coaching.In conclusion, Purdue's 2024 season was a rollercoaster of losses and setbacks. The coaching change is a step in the right direction, but there is a long road ahead for the Boilermakers to regain their former glory. They will need to work hard and make strategic decisions to build a stronger football program.