Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger and Purdue head coach Matt Painter have announced the two programs will begin a home-and-home series during the 2025-26 seasons, according to a release from Cyclones’ basketball.
In 2025, Otzelberger and the Cyclones will be on the road at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Indiana, with the return game being played at Hilton Coliseum in 2026.
Both venues are considered among the most difficult places to play in college basketball, and with the recent success from both programs, it’s one of the most exciting nonconference games of the near future.
Iowa State (19-5, 9-4 Big 12) enters this weekend as the No. 10 team in the AP Poll and a three-seed in Joe Lunardi’s latest bracketology update. Meanwhile, Purdue (19-6, 11-3 Big Ten) currently sits at No. 7 in the AP Poll and projects as a two-seed in next month’s tournament.
The Boilermakers have enjoyed sustained success under Matt Painter, and are currently enjoying perhaps their greatest stretch yet. Purdue has made nine consecutive tournament appearances, has been a one-seed in each of the last two tournaments, and was the national runner-up to UConn in 2024.
The Cyclones are having incredible success under Otzelberger, as they’ve made the NCAA Tournament in all three seasons under his leadership, including two Sweet Sixteen runs. This year appears to be the best team he’s had, too, especially with Milan Momcilovic back in the rotation.
Iowa State is 2-3 against Purdue all-time, and last faced them in the 2017 NCAA Tournament, an 80-76 Purdue victory.
