Villanova’s Kevin Willard says a home-and-home with Purdue is in the works, starting in 2027

Villanova coach Kevin Willard has indicated that his program is working toward a home-and-home series with Purdue, with a potential start date in 2027. The comment was first reported by IndyStar after Willard spoke on Jon Rothstein’s show, Inside College Basketball Now, framing the Purdue matchup as one the programs have been actively trying to schedule rather than a future wish that remains theoretical.

For Purdue, the broader picture is that the Boilermakers continue to pursue a nonconference slate stacked with established high-major opponents. That matters because, even for a team that often controls its conference résumé inside the Big Ten, an early-season test against another blue-chip program is one of the clearest ways to strengthen the NCAA tournament case should the postseason path become anything other than straightforward.

IndyStar reported additional context that helps pin down what “working on a home-and-home” could look like on Purdue’s calendar. The Boilermakers are already scheduled to play Tennessee in Knoxville on Dec. 11, 2027, and that game sits within Purdue’s typical approach of adding two or three power-conference opponents outside the league slate. In other words, Purdue is not merely filling dates, it is trying to build a nonconference sequence that keeps the schedule profile consistently demanding.

The same IndyStar report also ties the Purdue-Villanova discussions to what these programs have done to play meaningful one-off games in recent years. Since 2016, Purdue and Villanova have met three times. Those meetings include a 2016 game as part of the Gavitt Games, a 2019 NCAA Tournament run that featured Purdue defeating Villanova in the second round, and the 2021 Hall of Fame Tip-Off, where Purdue also won. The recurring matchups explain why the concept of a return series has momentum with both fan bases and why it fits the logistical rhythm of top programs.

One unresolved detail in the reported discussion is the location for Villanova’s home game. Willard did not specify whether the Wildcats’ portion of the home-and-home would be played on campus at Finneran Pavilion or in downtown Philadelphia at Xfinity Mobile Arena, according to IndyStar. That distinction matters because it can affect the practicalities of game-day operations, travel planning, and the scale of the event, even when the opponent and timing are aligned.

If the teams ultimately finalize terms for a 2027 start, the next step will be clarity on dates and venue commitments for both sides. Purdue supporters will be watching whether the series integrates cleanly into the Boilermakers’ multi-game nonconference structure, and Villanova followers will want to know whether the program keeps the game in its on-campus home environment or opts for an arena-style staging.

Taken together, the hint functions as a report of intent at a time when college schedules increasingly reflect long-term relationships between programs. A Purdue-Villanova home-and-home would give each school a repeatable benchmark outside its league, and it would also reinforce how the Big Ten and Big East preserve high-quality cross-conference exposure for players before the conference grind begins.