Purdue Football Announces Home-and-Home series with TCU

Earlier today, Purdue and TCU announced a home-and-home series, with the first game occurring at Ross-Ade on Saturday, September 14th, 2019. The Boilermakers will travel to Fort Worth to face TCU on September 8th, 2029.

The addition of TCU wraps up Purdue’s non-conference schedule to complete the 2019 schedule:

• Aug. 31 - at Nevada
• Sept. 7 - Vanderbilt
• Sept. 14 - TCU
• Sept. 28 - Minnesota
• Oct. 5 - at Penn State
• Oct. 12 - Maryland (Homecoming)
• Oct. 19 - at Iowa
• Oct. 26 - Illinois
• Nov. 2 - Nebraska
• Nov. 9 - at Northwestern
• Nov. 23 - at Wisconsin
• Nov. 30 - Indiana

TCU’s trip to Ross-Ade in 2019 will be their 2nd B1G road game that season, as they face Ohio State in Columbus the following weekend (September 21st).

According to the press release from Purdue Athletics:

“Having played and coached under Howard Schnellenberger, I am a firm believer in playing the most competitive schedule you can on a yearly basis,” Purdue head coach Jeff Brohm said. “TCU has a great history and tradition, and certainly fits the criteria of an outstanding non-conference opponent. We look forward to the matchup.”

Purdue and TCU have met twice previously on the gridiron, opening the 1969 and 1970 seasons against each other. Behind 286 yards passing and four touchdown throws from 1969 unanimous All-American quarterback Mike Phipps, the 18th-ranked Boilermakers defeated the Horned Frogs 42-35 in Fort Worth in the inaugural meeting. In 1970, Purdue emerged with a 15-0 victory at Ross-Ade in Bob DeMoss’ first game as the Boilermakers’ head coach.

Barring a bowl game, this would be Purdue’s first game against a Big 12 team since Oklahoma State in the Heart of Dallas Bowl on January 1, 2013. It is the first regular season game against a Big 12 team since West Virginia in 1996, but they were in the Big East at the time. The last time Purdue played a scheduled game against a Big 8/12 conference foe was against Nebraska in 1958.

This large 10-year gap is unusual in college football. However, with the decrease in non-con games each team can play (down to 3 teams from 4), it will start to spread out non-con opponents, especially since Purdue was already slated to play Notre Dame in 2020, 2021, and 2024-2026. Purdue already had a 10-year gap scheduled between home-and-home games against Vanderbilt (coincidentally, also in 2019 and 2029).