| Year: | 1890 |
| Team: | Purdue |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Indiana Intercollegiate Athletic Association |
| Short Conf: | IIAA |
| Record: | 3–3 |
| Conf Record: | 2–1 |
| Head Coach: | Clinton L. Hare |
| Hc Year: | 1st |
| Captain: | Robert A. Lackey |
The 1890 Purdue football team was an American football team that represented Purdue University during the 1890 college football season. The team compiled a 3–3 record in the university's third season fielding an intercollegiate football team. Clinton L. Hare, a Yale alumnus who had been the coach of the Butler football teams that handed Purdue its sole losses in 1887 and 1889, was hired as Purdue's football coach in 1890.[1] On November 1, 1890, Purdue lost to Michigan, 34–6, in the first football game between two teams that would later become members of the Big Ten Conference.[2] Three weeks after losing to Michigan, Purdue defeated Illinois, 62–0. The team concluded its 1890 season with a loss to Butler, leaving Purdue 0–3 in three games against Butler football teams since 1887.[1]
Robert A. Lackey was the team captain.[3]