Purdue football will have earliest start ever in 2027 after moving up opener

WEST LAFAYETTE − Conference schedule expansion in the ACC left North Carolina nixing its trip to play at Purdue's Ross-Ade Stadium in 2027.

Purdue football instead will host Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) program Albany , per a contract agreement signed in January. That information was obtained by the Journal & Courier through a public records request.

Originally scheduled for Sept. 11, 2027, an amended contract signed in August agrees to move the date to Purdue 's season opener on Aug. 28, 2027. It would mark the earliest date for a Purdue game to be played. The Boilermakers have played five times on Aug. 30, most recently against Ball State in 2025.

The date change cost Purdue an additional $75,000, making the total payout to Albany's athletic department $575,000 to host the Great Danes, per the amended contract.

Check out our Purdue football vs Washington photo gallery: Best images

Purdue will now play Miami (Ohio) on Sept. 11, also per an amended contract signed earlier this month. That game was originally scheduled for Sept. 18.

The Boilermakers also are scheduled to travel to Notre Dame on Sept. 4, per a 2017 contract. The six-game contract ends with Notre Dame visiting Purdue on Sept. 23, 2028.

The remaining nine games on the 2027 schedule includes home contests with Illinois, Indiana, Michigan State, Penn State and UCLA along with road games at Maryland, Nebraska, Ohio State and Oregon. The dates for those games will be revealed by the Big Ten Conference at a later time.

Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on X and Instagram @samueltking.