Purdue Uniform Schedule 2026: Every Jersey and When the Boilermakers Wear It

Purdue only has two jersey colors, but between two helmets and three pants, the Boilermakers can change the look every Saturday without ever leaving black and gold. This is the full Purdue 2026 uniform schedule: the black home jersey, the white road jersey, the old gold and black helmets, and a week-by-week outlook for all twelve games in Barry Odom's second season. Two games in, Purdue has already used both helmets. We update this page as each combination is confirmed.

The Purdue 2026 Uniform Sets

The Nike set is built on a simple idea: black and old gold, with a black and white stripe that runs down the helmet, around the sleeves and along the pants. Purdue mixed it constantly in Odom's first season in 2025, wearing the gold helmet, the black helmet, black pants, white pants, gold pants and a head-to-toe black look at different points of the year. We have not seen a new 2026 alternate announced. Big Ten home teams wear color and visitors wear white, so the black jersey is the Ross-Ade Stadium default and the white jersey travels. The helmet and pants are where the week-to-week guessing happens.

The Full Purdue 2026 Uniform Schedule, Week by Week

September 4 vs. Indiana State. ★ Confirmed from the Big Ten Network broadcast: black helmet, black jersey, white pants. The helmet is the black shell with the gold P and a gold and white center stripe, and the white pants carry the black and gold side stripe. Indiana State came in with white helmets, white jerseys and blue pants. Purdue won 44-19 on a Friday night that hit 93 degrees at kickoff, the warmest night game at Purdue this century according to the program.

September 12 vs. Wake Forest. ★ Confirmed from Purdue Athletics game photos: old gold helmet, black jersey, gold pants, the most traditional Purdue combination there is, for Ag Day at Ross-Ade. Wake Forest wore black helmets and white jerseys. The Demon Deacons won 38-36 in double overtime in a noon Eastern game on FS1.

September 19 at UCLA. White expected. The Big Ten opener for both teams and Purdue's first meeting with the Bruins at the Rose Bowl. Kickoff is 8 p.m. Pacific, 11 p.m. Eastern, on the Big Ten Network, the latest start for a Purdue game since a trip to Hawaii in 2006, so ESPN lists it under September 20. UCLA is expected in its blue home jerseys; our UCLA 2026 uniform schedule tracks the Bruins. The helmet is the question: Purdue wore the black helmet with the white jersey on the road in 2025.

September 26 vs. Notre Dame. Black expected. The Shillelagh Trophy game at 2 p.m. Eastern in West Lafayette, with the Irish in white. Our Notre Dame 2026 uniform schedule has the visitors.

October 3 at Illinois. White expected. The Purdue Cannon game at Gies Memorial Stadium, and it is also Illinois Homecoming with a "Hail to the Orange Out" theme, so the Illini could be in navy or in orange. Kickoff time is still to be announced.

October 10 vs. Minnesota. Black expected. Purdue's Hammer Down Cancer game. Kickoff time to be announced.

October 16 vs. Washington. Black expected. A Friday night game at 8 p.m. Eastern on FOX, which ESPN files under October 17. Purdue opened the season in the black helmet on a Friday night, so this is a date to watch. The Washington 2026 uniform schedule covers the Huskies.

October 24. Bye.

October 31 at Penn State. White expected. Halloween at Beaver Stadium, with Penn State in its home blue. See the Penn State 2026 uniform schedule.

November 7 vs. Maryland. Black expected. Homecoming at Ross-Ade Stadium, the home date we are watching most closely for an alternate or a special helmet. The Maryland 2026 uniform schedule has the Terrapins' side.

November 14 at Iowa. White expected. Kinnick Stadium, with Iowa in black and gold, so this is the rare game where both teams are black and gold programs. Our Iowa 2026 uniform schedule notes this date falls in the window for the Hawkeyes' annual military appreciation game.

November 21 vs. Wisconsin. Black expected. The final home game, with Wisconsin in white. The Wisconsin 2026 uniform schedule tracks the Badgers.

November 28 at Indiana. White expected. The Old Oaken Bucket game in Bloomington against the defending national champion closes the regular season. Kickoff time to be announced.

The Bottom Line

Purdue has worn the black jersey twice, but it has not looked the same twice: the black helmet over white pants on a hot Friday night, then the old gold helmet over gold pants for a Saturday noon kickoff. That is the pattern to expect all season. Black at Ross-Ade, white on the road at UCLA, Illinois, Penn State, Iowa and Indiana, and the helmet and pants as the variables. The Friday night Washington game and Homecoming against Maryland are the two dates most likely to bring something different. The grid above has every date, and we star each game as the combination is confirmed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What jersey is Purdue wearing this week?

Purdue plays at UCLA on Saturday, September 19, at 11 p.m. Eastern, and the white road jersey is expected because the Bruins wear blue at home. Last week against Wake Forest, Purdue wore the old gold helmet, black jersey and gold pants. The week-by-week grid above lists every game with the expected set, and we update it as combinations are confirmed.

What are Purdue's football uniforms for 2026?

A black home jersey with old gold numerals, a white road jersey with black numerals, and gold, black and white pants that all carry a black and white or black and gold side stripe. The helmets are an old gold shell with a black P and a black and white center stripe, and a black shell with a gold P. Nike makes the uniforms.

What color helmet does Purdue wear?

Old gold is the primary helmet, with the black block P on the side. Purdue also has a black helmet with a gold P, and it wore the black helmet in the 2026 opener against Indiana State before switching back to old gold against Wake Forest.

Does Purdue have a new alternate uniform in 2026?

Nothing new has been announced. Purdue has used an all-black look with a script helmet in the past, and it mixed black helmets, black pants and white pants throughout 2025. The Friday night Washington game and Homecoming against Maryland on November 7 are the likeliest spots for a special look.

What did Purdue wear against Wake Forest?

The old gold helmet, black jersey and gold pants on September 12 at Ross-Ade Stadium. Wake Forest won 38-36 in double overtime.

What did Purdue wear against Indiana State?

The black helmet, black jersey and white pants in the season opener on Friday, September 4. Purdue won 44-19.

How many games does Purdue play in 2026?

Twelve regular season games: seven at Ross-Ade Stadium and five on the road, with a bye on October 24. Nine are Big Ten games, and the Washington game on October 16 is a Friday night. The full schedule with expected uniforms is in the grid above.