Purdue head coach Barry Odom took a shot at Indiana over a scheduling cancellation

Purdue newly hired head football coach Barry Odom has brought the passion, intensity and fighting words back in the 'Old Oaken Bucket' rivalry with Indiana.

The Boilermakers head honcho had no trouble taking a big shot at Curt Cignetti and Indiana over some recent scheduling adjustments, making the Hoosiers non-conference schedule one of the weakest in the country.

“I could take the approach of one of the other schools in the state and cancel games, do some of those things, but the schedule is what it is,” Odom said during an appearance on The Fan Morning Show on 107.5 The Fan in Indianapolis. “We’re going to try to get as good as we can get and go win those games.”

Indiana was scheduled to visit the Virginia Cavaliers in the first game of a home-and-home series in 2027 and 2028 but it was recently cancelled by Indiana, who had to pay UVA 500,000 to cancel.

The Hoosiers will also host non-conference home games against Kennesaw State, Indiana State and UMass this upcoming 2025 season.

This season, Purdue will play in state rival, Notre Dame on Saturday, September. 20th, in South Bend. The other two non-conference opponents on the schedule are Ball State (Aug. 30) and Southern Illinois (Sept. 6).

Prior to the Boilermakers hiring Odom he spent time at UNLV. Odom went 19-8 in two seasons and led the Rebels to back-to-back Mountain West championship game appearances.

Purdue will need to do a lot more than talk, last season Indiana embarrassed Purdue in a 66-0 win. Indiana finished the season (11-1, 8-1 Big Ten) clinching a College Football Playoff berth, making it the best season in school history.

Purdue on the other hand ended their season losing their last 11 games, suffering three shutouts and six losses of 35 or more points. Purdue opens their season August 30th at home against Ball State.