Many eyes will be on the second half of the Indy Classic on Saturday as Auburn and Purdue bring their talent to Indianapolis for a ranked showdown. These two teams face off for a second straight year after Auburn won by nearly 20 points last season before advancing to the Final Four, but things are very different twelve months later.
Early work from Auburn (8-3) hasn’t exactly been inspiring. The Tigers have had some missteps under new head coach Steven Pearl, with a few close calls and a few blowout losses, losing by nearly 30 to Arizona just two weeks ago. However, Auburn’s offense has been playing at a high level and was a big reason for notable wins over St. John’s and NC State in recent weeks, so let’s not act like the sky is falling entirely.
Across the court, Purdue (10-1) doesn’t really have a similar story, as the Boilermakers have largely looked like a national contender throughout the season. Their big loss to Iowa State from a few weeks ago still looks mind boggling, but the Boilermakers have stockpiled impressive wins, knocking out Alabama, blowing out Texas Tech, and largely taking care of business throughout the early campaign.
Auburn vs. Purdue: When and Where
Date: Saturday, December 20, 2025, 6:30 pm ET
Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana
Auburn vs. Purdue: Where to Watch or Stream
Watch: Peacock
Streaming: FuboTV
Auburn vs. Purdue: Betting Odds
Spread: N/A
Moneyline: N/A
Total: N/A
Auburn vs. Purdue: Series History
All-time series: Series tied 2-2
Last meeting: Auburn 87, Purdue 69 (December 21, 2024)
Projected Starting Lineups
Auburn Tigers
Keyshawn Hall (20.9 ppg, 8.8 rpg)
Tahaad Pettiford (16.1 ppg, 2.6 rpg)
Kevin Overton (10.6 ppg, 3.2 rpg)
KeShawn Murphy (10.1 ppg, 5.7 rpg)
Sebastian Williams-Adams (7.6 ppg, 3.1 rpg)
Purdue Boilermakers
Fletcher Loyer (14.1 ppg, 2.0 rpg)
Braden Smith (12.7 ppg, 9.2 apg)
Oscar Cluff (12.4 ppg, 9.3 rpg)
Trey Kaufman-Renn (13.4 ppg, 10.4 rpg)
C. J. Cox (7.4 ppg, 2.3 rpg)
Purdue possesses one of the most talented starting lineups in the country and this Auburn defense has a major test ahead of them. Last time out, the Tigers weren’t exactly controlling Chattanooga and will certainly need a better effort here. It’s just that the Boilermakers can win in so many ways, as Smith truly is among the best point guards in the land. If he and Loyer aren’t making their long-range shots, then Kaufman-Renn and Cluff are causing chaos down low. A lot of pressure will be on Hall and Pettiford and this offense, especially if the Tigers struggle containing this impressive frontcourt.
With revenge on their minds from last season, does Purdue take care of business and earn themselves another major victory in their home state? Will Auburn be able to put together a clean and efficient game or are they destined for another lousy effort like against Arizona and Michigan in recent weeks?