Purdue's new athletic director, Tommy McClelland, made a notable statement during his introductory press conference, directing recruits seeking to win championships to consider Indiana University and implying others should look elsewhere. McClelland, who previously served as AD at Rice, officially began his tenure at Purdue on Thursday.
"Every recruit, every student-athlete will hear this message repeatedly: we are here to win championships," McClelland said. "We are here to win championships. If you don’t want to win championships, go to Indiana."
This statement comes shortly after Indiana secured the college football national championship in January. The Hoosiers' championship-winning quarterback was also selected first overall in the 2026 NFL Draft. Indiana's football program is currently led by coach Curt Cignetti, who is described as the best coach in the sport. Purdue has not won a national title in football or men's basketball.
While Purdue has recently had a stronger men's basketball program than Indiana, Indiana holds five national championships in basketball, compared to Purdue's zero. McClelland's comments appear to overlook Indiana's recent football success and its historical basketball achievements.
Purdue's football team has won a total of three games over the past two seasons. McClelland's remarks have been characterized as a form of trash talk directed at Indiana athletics, particularly in light of Purdue's football struggles.
