| Year: | 1997 |
| Team: | Purdue Boilermakers |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Big Ten Conference |
| Short Conf: | Big Ten |
| Coachrank: | 15 |
| Aprank: | 15 |
| Record: | 9–3 |
| Conf Record: | 6–2 |
| Head Coach: | Joe Tiller |
| Hc Year: | 1st |
| Off Coach: | Jim Chaney |
| Oc Year: | 1st |
| Cooff Coach1: | Tim Lappano |
| Cooc1 Year: | 1st |
| Off Scheme: | Spread |
| Def Coach: | Brock Spack |
| Dc Year: | 1st |
| Def Scheme: | 4–3 |
| Captain: | Brian Alford |
| Captain Year: | Senior |
| Captain2: | Rosevelt Colvin |
| Captain2 Year: | Junior |
| Captain3: | Mark Fischer |
| Captain3 Year: | Senior |
| Stadium: | Ross–Ade Stadium |
| Champion: | Alamo Bowl champion |
| Bowl: | Alamo Bowl |
The 1997 Purdue Boilermakers football team represented Purdue University as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1997 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by first-year head coach Joe Tiller, the Boilermakers compiled an overall record of 9–3 with a mark of 6–2 in conference play, placing in a three-way tie in the Big Ten. Purdue had its best season since 1980. The team played home games at Ross–Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana.
See also: 1997 NCAA Division I-A football rankings.
See also: 1997 Toledo Rockets football team.
Joe Tiller's first game as Purdue head coach[3]
See also: 1997 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team.
In Joe Tiller's first home game, Purdue snapped an 11-game losing streak to Notre Dame as fans tore down the goalposts after the victory. Edwin Watson, who had two touchdown runs, had said earlier in the week that former head coach and new Irish offensive coordinator Jim Colletto "was used to losing here (Purdue), so it would be nothing new for him."[4]
See also: 1997 Northwestern Wildcats football team. [6]
See also: 1997 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team.
See also: 1997 Wisconsin Badgers football team.
With the win over Wisconsin, Purdue is off to its best start since 1978 and produced their first five-game winning streak since 1980.[9]
See also: 1997 Illinois Fighting Illini football team. [10]
See also: 1997 Iowa Hawkeyes football team. [12]
See also: 1997 Michigan State Spartans football team. [13]
See also: 1997 Penn State Nittany Lions football team. [15]
See also: 1997 Indiana Hoosiers football team and Old Oaken Bucket.
See also: 1997 Alamo Bowl. [20]