The Week 10 loss to Michigan was yet another reminder of how rough the season has been for the Boilermakers. The defeat dropped them to the bottom of the Big Ten standings, and things won’t get any easier as they now prepare to host Ohio State. For HC Barry Odom, it’s a reunion of sorts, as he welcomes back a familiar face who left Purdue for the Buckeyes, despite the head coach’s efforts to keep him.

The player in question is TE Max Klare, who transferred from Purdue to Ohio in December last year. He had a standout season with the Boilermakers, which attracted the attention of HC Ryan Day. Around the same time, Purdue named Barry Odom as the new head coach. During his pre-Ohio State press conference on November 3, the HC was asked about Max Klare.

“Max Klare is an Ohio State Buckeye. When you got here, did you have a conversation with him at all? Is there anything you recall?” a reporter asked.

“I met with the team first when I got here. It was limited numbers in the team meeting, and then I had a meeting after that team meeting with a group of guys, who I think had already entered their names in the portal at that point. I believe Max was in there. I don’t know if he was in that meeting, but we had a conversation, and I tried to keep them all. But there was a certain point that they had already made up their mind,” Odom said.

Odom said he tried to keep Max Klare on his roster, but Max had already made up his mind about the transfer. Barry Odom ultimately failed to convince the TE to stay, losing him to this week’s opponent. The loss stung even more as Klare quickly became an integral part of Ohio State’s offense, while Purdue endured a season filled with setbacks.

However, the head coach is not mad at Klare. “I’m happy for him that he continues to find success. The window of being a college football player is so short. If guys decide to go to a different school, I wish them the best.”

At Purdue, Max Klare had 51 catches for 685 yards and 4 TDs. His numbers were so impressive that Ryan Day had to add him to the roster. His addition meant that the HC would have multiple strong offensive options at his disposal. In seven games this season, Max has posted 20 catches for 204 receiving yards, 1 TD, and 10.2 yards per catch. And now he will face his former team, where he had his breakout season.

Ohio State couldn’t have come at a worse time for Barry Odom’s Purdue

Purdue’s 2025 season has been devastating, to put it lightly. The Boilermakers have a 2-7 record, with six of those defeats coming against B1G opponents. Their offense has been underwhelming, averaging 22.9 points per game this season. That puts them in the lower tier of offense nationally.

Purdue’s defense has also struggled, allowing 30.4 points per game. Against the rushing defense, they have given up around 4.30 yards per carry. These stats indicate how poorly Purdue has played this season. Now, sitting dead last in the Big Ten, they face a monster this week: Ohio State.

For Ryan Day, this matchup will be another one off the list. There is a possibility that QB Julian Sayin could use this game to pad his stats and cement his position in the Heisman race. The odds, unsurprisingly and overwhelmingly, favor Ohio State. They are favored by 28.5 points.