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The 2020 Purdue football season was disappointing in a lot of ways, and that only makes the pressure for 2021 that much higher. After two straight losing seasons (and a whole smorgasbord of one-possession losses) the time to turn this around is now. Thanks to the pandemic the original Purdue schedule for 2021 has been shifted around a bit:
2021 Original Schedule:
Sept. 4 - OREGON STATE
Sept. 11 - at UConn
Sept. 18 - at Notre Dame (Shillelagh Trophy Game)
Sept. 25 - ILLINOIS (Cannon Trophy Game)
Oct. 2 - MINNESOTA (Homecoming)
Oct. 9 - at Ohio State
Oct. 16 - NEBRASKA
Oct. 30 - at Iowa
Nov. 6 - MICHIGAN STATE
Nov. 13 - at Wisconsin
Nov. 20 - at Northwestern
Nov. 27 - INDIANA (Old Oaken Bucket Game)
2021 NEW SCHEDULE
Sept. 4 - OREGON STATE
Sept. 11 - at UConn
Sept. 18 - at Notre Dame (Shillelagh Trophy Game)
Sept. 25 - ILLINOIS (Cannon Trophy Game)
Oct. 2 - MINNESOTA (Homecoming)
Oct. 9 - BYE
Oct. 16 - at Iowa
Oct. 23 - Wisconsin
Oct. 30 - at Nebraska
Nov. 6 - MICHIGAN STATE
Nov. 13 - at Ohio State
Nov. 20 - vs. Northwestern (WRIGLEY FIELD!!!)
Nov. 27 - INDIANA (Old Oaken Bucket Game)
So it is not too different than before. The Ohio State game shifts from October 9 to November 13th. After Nebraska played at Purdue in 2019 and 2020 (originally it was the season opener and supposed to be in Lincoln) that game has now shifted from at Purdue on October 16 to at Nebraska on October 30. Purdue was originally supposed to host Wisconsin in 2020, then was pandemic-shifted to Madison before that game was cancelled altogether. That means this year’s Wisconsin game shifts from November 13 at Wisconsin to October 23 at Purdue. Purdue’s trip to Iowa goes from October 30 to October 16.
And, of course there was the earlier news today that Purdue will play Northwestern at Wrigley Field.
It won’t be easy. Purdue must play two of the four CFB playoff teams on the road in Notre Dame and Ohio State, plus host Wisconsin (who always beats us) and an allegedly top 10 Indiana. Still, the path to 7-8 wins is there.