For a third straight year, Purdue will have the ultimate motivation heading into a college football season. Multiple media outlets have extremely low projections for the Boilermakers as the 2026 campaign creeps closer.With Big Ten Football Media Days beginning this week in Chicago, both USA Today and Cleveland.com released their preseason Big Ten rankings, projecting where each team will finish at the end of the year.In both outlets, Purdue is predicted dead last in the conference for a third straight season. The Boilers were also picked to finish 18th in 2024 and 2025. They did not win a single Big Ten game either year.Purdue shouldn't need any additional motivation, as it's trying to end an 18-game conference losing streak entering the season. But if another dead-last expectation provides more fuel, then it certainly isn't a bad thing.Barry Odom and the Boilers will participate in Big Ten Media Days this week, taking quarterback Ryan Browne, linebacker Charles Correa and wide receiver De'Nylon Morrissette to represent the program. Purdue will be at the podium on Wednesday, July 29.Big Ten projected order of finishOhio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day and Purdue Boilermakers head coach Barry Odom shake hands. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters ConnectHere's a look at how the 2026 preseason projections looked for the Big Ten, from both USA Today and Cleveland.com.USA TodayOhio State BuckeyesOregon DucksIndiana HoosiersUSC TrojansMichigan WolverinesPenn State Nittany LionsWashington HuskiesIowa HawkeyesIllinois Fighting IlliniMinnesota Golden GophersNebraska CornhuskersUCLA BruinsWisconsin BadgersMaryland TerrapinsNorthwestern WildcatsRutgers Scarlet KnightsMichigan State SpartansPurdue BoilermakersCleveland.comOhio State BuckeyesOregon DucksIndiana HoosiersUSC TrojansMichigan WolverinesPenn State Nittany LionsWashington HuskiesIowa HawkeyesIllinois Fighting IlliniMinnesota Golden GophersNebraska CornhuskersWisconsin BadgersUCLA BruinsNorthwestern WildcatsMaryland TerrapinsMichigan State SpartansRutgers Scarlet KnightsPurdue BoilermakersCorrea a preseason All-Big Ten honorable mentionPurdue Boilermakers linebacker Charles Correa (5) celebrates a tackle. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectOnly one Boiler was selected as an All-Big Ten honorable mention in the preseason predictions from USA Today. Correa, who is entering his second year at Purdue, was the lone player to earn recognition.Correa is expected to be Purdue's defensive leader in 2026. He's coming off a 2025 season in which he accounted for 93 tackles and three sacks. He is undoubtedly the top linebacker in the program and could be an All-Big Ten player with a strong season.Nearly a month until kickoffPurdue Boilermakers head coach Barry Odom. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectBig Ten Football Media Days is the unofficial start of the college football season. After the trip to Chicago, the next step is to begin fall camp. Then, on Sept. 4, Purdue will play its first game of the 2026 season.Purdue welcomes in Indiana State for a Friday night game to open the season. The Boilermakers then have 11 straight games against Power Four teams. Their first major test comes on Saturday, Sept. 12 when Wake Forest comes to Ross-Ade Stadium.The first Big Ten game comes on Saturday, Sept. 19, as Purdue travels to the Rose Bowl for a showdown with UCLA. Can the Boilers end their Big Ten drought in their league opener this year?Get top Boilermakers stories, expert analysis, and can't-miss moments straight to your inbox for free by signing up for the Purdue Boilermakers on SI newsletter!Add us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow