It's looking like Louisville will open the 2017 football season against Purdue, in Indianapolis.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/stor...dianapolis

The teams will play a neutral site "Kickoff" game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, sources said. This is only the second game between these neighboring teams; the first, in 1987, ended in a 22-22 tie.

Mark,
Thanks for posting this. It is great news!

This should for all practical purposes be a home game. We took 15K to 20K to South Bend, over 250 miles away, in late November. I would expect at least 30K - 35K to make the 100 mile drive straight up I-65.

Already excited about this one.
CJ

Interesting. Purdue has fallen on some hard times of late. Kind of surprised they're doing this. IU continues to dodge Louisville in football. Finally scheduled for basketball next year.

Another guaranteed 10 P5 Opponents for 2017...

I do not really get the appeal of this game on a national level. Louisville is a good program but Purdue is...well, PU. Who the hell wants to watch Purdue get blown out on a neutral field?

It's not a made for TV game. It's a game with regional appeal. Much better than playing a MAC or D1AA team.

Plus it's a fun and easy trip for both fan bases. There are many Purdue grads in Louisville. Folks who don't live here probably wouldn't know that.

(05-10-2015 08:50 AM)Dr. Isaly von Yinzer Wrote:  I do not really get the appeal of this game on a national level. Louisville is a good program but Purdue is...well, PU. Who the hell wants to watch Purdue get blown out on a neutral field?

It's not a big deal, nationally, but it accomplishes a few things nonetheless:
1) it's a nice payday for Louisville - better than an away game at least.
2) it puts the Cardinals into the minds of college fans and high school players in the state of Indiana - a potential future recruiting ground for UL
3) At the end of the season, it's a chance for an ACC win over a Big Ten team; no one will bother to check that it was Purdue.

Color me bored with this announcement. Purdue has stunk for awhile. I'd rather go with against Mizzou in St Louis, against Tennessee in Nashville, against WVU in Cincy or Huntington, something like that if we are going with neutral games for 1st gamers.

I hope those kinds of games were at least discussed before "settling" on this one.

(05-10-2015 01:28 PM)dgrace4cards Wrote:  Color me bored with this announcement. Purdue has stunk for awhile. I'd rather go with against Mizzou in St Louis, against Tennessee in Nashville, against WVU in Cincy or Huntington, something like that if we are going with neutral games for 1st gamers.

I hope those kinds of games were at least discussed before "settling" on this one.

In 2016 our OOC is @ Marshall-(C-USA), @ Houston-(AAC), Charlotte-(Opening Game C-USA) and @ Kentucky-(SEC)...Purdue-(B1G at Lucas Oil Stadium in 2017) and Kentucky-(SEC) is a upgrade.

Most years Marshall and Houston give Purdue a run for their money.....kinda helped my point....if 2016 is that bad, then lets try to get the next Auburn in Atlanta game to start making up for the 2016 dud OOC opponents.

(05-10-2015 03:25 PM)dgrace4cards Wrote:  Most years Marshall and Houston give Purdue a run for their money.....kinda helped my point....if 2016 is that bad, then lets try to get the next Auburn in Atlanta game to start making up for the 2016 dud OOC opponents.

Point is all things being equal if you're going to play equal teams at least let them be P5 Opponents...going to Marshall should NEVER happen again...Houston I can live with because they are at least in the AAC and they are in a good recruiting area.

Purdue has been weaker than normal the past few years. With the changing nature of the sport, I don't exactly expect them to rise up again too far anytime soon, but Purdue has given Ohio State several close calls/upset losses over the years.

I remember not too long ago we were the Marshalls at home, looking to get P5 teams and if not calling them scared to come to our place. We should not forget that, and ever so often offer those deals to the G5 teams.

(05-10-2015 07:38 PM)dgrace4cards Wrote:  I remember not too long ago we were the Marshalls at home, looking to get P5 teams and if not calling them scared to come to our place. We should not forget that, and ever so often offer those deals to the G5 teams.

I understand that but in this new era Louisville or any P5 School can't afford that...we can't do the Arkansas State & Marshall on the road or even Middle Tennessee State in Nashville anymore...the only G5 schools in the CFP Era that are somewhat acceptable on the road are AAC/MWC Schools like Boise State, Fresno State, San Diego State, Navy, Air Force, Cincinnati, Houston, ECU, UCF, USF etc...etc or a Indy like BYU.

It makes much more sense in playing lower ranked P5 Schools like Purdue, Indiana, Iowa State, Washington State, Vanderbilt, Kentucky and Oregon State...at least get credit for beating a B1G, Big XII, SEC or Pac 12 School.

(05-10-2015 08:39 PM)Maize Wrote:  

(05-10-2015 07:38 PM)dgrace4cards Wrote:  I remember not too long ago we were the Marshalls at home, looking to get P5 teams and if not calling them scared to come to our place. We should not forget that, and ever so often offer those deals to the G5 teams.

I understand that but in this new era Louisville or any P5 School can't afford that...we can't do the Arkansas State & Marshall on the road or even Middle Tennessee State in Nashville anymore...the only G5 schools in the CFP Era that are somewhat acceptable on the road are AAC/MWC Schools like Boise State, Fresno State, San Diego State, Navy, Air Force, Cincinnati, Houston, ECU, UCF, USF etc...etc or a Indy like BYU.

It makes much more sense in playing lower ranked P5 Schools like Purdue, Indiana, Iowa State, Washington State, Vanderbilt, Kentucky and Oregon State...at least get credit for beating a B1G, Big XII, SEC or Pac 12 School.

Agree completely. Any G5 game played outside Louisville should be from the upper tier and/or have a specific purpose such as south FL recruiting.