New AD's diss makes it seem Indiana is living rent-free in Purdue's head

Indiana football head coach Curt Cignetti. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

New AD Tommy McClelland's ill-conceived diss makes it look like Indiana is living rent-free in Purdue's head

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Aug 6, 2026 3:14 PM ET

New Purdue Boilermakers athletic director Tommy McClelland thought he would score points when he poked fun at the Indiana Hoosiers on Thursday, but he instead made a fool of himself.

At a news conference, Purdue introduced McClelland, who's replacing retiring AD Mike Bobinski. The former Rice Owls AD outlined his goals for the program during the session, but that wasn't the main talking point after he took a half-baked shot at the school's in-state rival.

Tommy McClelland tries to roast Indiana but fails

"We are here to win championships," McClelland said. "If you don't want to win championships, go to Indiana."

Is McClelland not a big college football person? The Hoosiers just won their first national championship in college football during a 27-21 win over the Miami Hurricanes in the College Football Playoff National Championship. Led by Heisman-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the Hoosiers became the first team to go 16-0 since the CFP expanded to 12 teams during the 2024 season.

NEW: Purdue AD Tommy McClelland in his introductory press conference:

"We are here to win championships. If you don't want to win championships, go to Indiana."

(via @BigTenNetwork)https://t.co/pwjsY4Axo9 pic.twitter.com/nqIYR1ks8Q
— On3 (@On3) August 6, 2026

Last season, the Hoosiers clobbered Purdue 56-3 on the road. That was one of many blowout losses for the Boilermakers, who went 2-10 and lost four games by 24 points or more.

Perhaps McClelland was thinking about men's basketball, which is more popular in Indiana. The Boilermakers have established themselves as a top program in recent years, reaching the Elite Eight last season. Indiana, meanwhile, hasn't made the NCAA Tournament since the 2022-23 season.

Indiana still boasts a richer tradition than Purdue. The Hoosiers have won five national championships, while the Boilermakers have none.

McClelland should've done more research before making this comment. He thought it would be a sick burn, but it made him the punchline instead. Perhaps McClelland will soon learn why Indiana is nicknamed "The Hoosier State."

Clark Dalton

Clark Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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