| Year: | 1987 |
| Team: | Purdue Boilermakers |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Big Ten Conference |
| Short Conf: | Big Ten |
| Record: | 3–7–1 |
| Conf Record: | 3–5 |
| Head Coach: | Fred Akers |
| Hc Year: | 1st |
| Off Coach: | Bob Stanley |
| Oc Year: | 1st |
| Def Coach: | Phil Bennett |
| Dc Year: | 1st |
| Mvp: | Anthony Hardy |
| Captain: | Mike Connors, Anthony Hardy, Fred Strickland |
| Stadium: | Ross–Ade Stadium |
The 1987 Purdue Boilermakers football team represented Purdue University as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1987 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by first-year head coach Fred Akers, the Boilermakers compiled an overall record of 3–7–1 with a mark of 3–5 in conference play, tying for sixth place in the Big Ten. Purdue played home games at Ross–Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana.
Jeff George transferred following the hiring of Fred Akers as head coach, who had recently been fired from Texas.
See also: 1987 Wisconsin Badgers football team.