The Boilers will meet Kentucky in the program’s first trip to historic Rupp Arena since 1979
The Purdue Boilermakers will make their second ever trip to Rupp Arena and their first since 1979 to square off against the Kentucky Wildcats in a preseason exhibition game that will feature two programs with Final Four aspirations. This will be the first meeting between the two programs since 1997’s ‘Great Eight’ early season tourney in Chicago, Illinois, a in which #7 Kentucky beat #6 Purdue 89-75. The game will be played on October 24th with time and television providers yet to be announced.
SCHEDULE ANNOUNCEMENT
Sure, it’s only an exhibition, but it’s a big one.
: Friday, Oct. 24, 2025
: Lexington, Kentucky / Rupp Arena
️: Ticket info to be announced pic.twitter.com/gK7beGJ1AG— Purdue Men’s Basketball (@BoilerBall) May 2, 2025
The Boilers are one of the favorites following the return of their top four scorers along with the additions of Oscar Cluff and Omer Mayer along with the return of 7’4 freshman Daniel Jacobsen. In ESPN’s ‘Way Too Early’ post transfer portal ranking, Purdue led the way at the top with the Wildcats coming in at #10 with a slew of transfers and incoming top 20 recruits Jasper Johnson to rebuild their roster.
This marks the third straight season where Purdue has hit the road for their exhibition game to force the team to learn how to play in difficult environments with their previous two exhibitions coming against Arkansas and Creighton. Both of those ended with Purdue ‘losses’ but the experience provided excellent opportunities for growth in seasons that turned into a National Championship appearance and a Sweet 16 loss to #1 Houston.
Purdue has again ramped up their non-conference slate in an effort to prepare themselves for the B1G and NCAA Tourney with games against Alabama, Auburn (Indy Classic), Kent State, Marquette, and Iowa State already. The Boilers will also travel to the Bahamas for the Baha Mar Tourney for a four team tourney but the opponents for that are unknown at this time (rumored that Texas Tech could be one opponent). Purdue also received their B1G schedule earlier this week and will home games against Illinois, Michigan, Michigan State, Indiana, Oregon, and Wisconsin.
SCHEDULE ANNOUNCEMENT
2025-26 Big Ten Opponents
: ILL, IU, IOWA, MINN, UM, MSU, ORE, PSU, WASH, WIS
️: IU, IOWA, MD, NEB, NW, OSU, RUT, UCLA, USC, WIS pic.twitter.com/BvMMw9F2Hq
— Purdue Men’s Basketball (@BoilerBall) April 29, 2025