Purdue started the season 0–3, averaging under seven points per game. Over the final eight games the Boilermakers went 3–5, failing to qualify for a bowl game for the 12 straight season. The Boilermakers also failed to win a road game.
Brian Alford received numerous postseason accolades, including First Team All-Big Ten honors by both the coaches and the media, and broke the Purdue record for most receiving touchdowns in a single season. Senior captain Emmett Zitelli was selected to the Second Team All-Big team by both the coaches and the media. After the season, none of the Boilermakers were selected in the 1997 NFL Draft, Zitelli signed as an undrafted free agent.
Preseason
In 1995 the Purdue Boilermakers had the second best season in the Colletto era. The team finished with a 4–6–1 regular season record, failing to qualify for a postseason bowl game for the 11th straight year. The Boilermakers struggled to win games, facing what was rated as the third most difficult schedule in the nation in 1995.[1] However, Purdue did finish first in the Big Ten in rushing offense.[2]
Going into 1996, there was doubt that Purdue could successfully replace all-time leading rusher Mike Alstott and have a winning season.[3] Entering the season, Colletto thought that each of his quarterbacks would be a contributor on offense, electing Rick Trefzger as the team's starting quarterback, and moving former tailback, Edwin Watson to fullback to replace Alstott.[4]
^"1995 Purdue Boilermakers Stats". www.sports-reference.com. USA TODAY Sports Digital Properties. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
^"Tim Salem Bio". www.fightingillini.com. University of Illinois-Champaign. Archived from the original on October 13, 2013. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
^Andrew Bagnato (November 5, 1996). "Purdue's Colletto 2nd Coach To Exit Big Ten Within Week". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
^Geoff Mosher (August 29, 1996). "Boiling point". ww.collegian.psu.edu. The Daily Collegian. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
^"Purdue's offense feels mountain of W. Va. pressure". The Indianapolis Star. September 22, 1996. Retrieved February 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Reeves, Watson key easy Purdue victory". The South Bend Tribune. September 29, 1996. Retrieved February 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
^"2022 Purdue Football Record Book" (PDF). Purdue University Athletics. p. 93. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
^"Purdue's Final Two-Deep for 1996". www.purduesports.com. Purdue University. Archived from the original on April 24, 2013. Retrieved December 3, 2013.
^"Purdue's Final Two-Deep for 1996". www.purduesports.com. Purdue University. Archived from the original on April 24, 2013. Retrieved December 3, 2013.
^"1996 Purdue football final statistics". Archived from the original on January 5, 2011. Retrieved November 29, 2010.