The next five days will define Purdue baseball's season. The Boilermakers enter the final week of the regular season squarely on the NCAA Tournament bubble, a position that's both thrilling and nerve-wracking for a program of this stature. Purdue has made the NCAA baseball tournament only three times in its history: 1987, 2012, and 2018. The 2012 team secured the Big Ten title and an automatic bid during the best season in program history. Overall, the tournament record stands at just 2-6, with wins over Valparaiso in 2012 and North Carolina A&T in 2018. Now, the team has a real opportunity to add another chapter to that story.
The field will be announced on Memorial Day, but here's a look at current bracket projections from across the college baseball landscape:
On3 – Last Four In: Purdue is listed as the absolute last team in the field, projected as a No. 3 seed at West Virginia. It's a tight squeeze, but the Boilers are still in the mix.
USA Today – First Four Out: This is the most bearish projection for Purdue right now, suggesting the team's work is far from finished.
Baseball America – Last Four In: This projection offers an excellent breakdown of Purdue's case. Notably, the Big Ten getting six teams into the field would be unprecedented. Getting five teams in has happened a few times in recent years, but six would mark a first for the conference. Like the basketball tournament, Purdue needs to watch for "bid thieves" – teams from smaller conferences that steal a spot by winning their conference tournaments. UC-Santa Barbara from the Big West is the primary threat, along with Mercer, a top-40 team from the SoCon.
The Tennessean – Last Four In: Purdue moves into the field this week and is projected to head to Southern Miss. The Boilers lost to the Golden Eagles by just one run back in February, so it's a place where this team can compete.
D1 Baseball – Not yet released. We'll update this space when the projection is posted later today.
The biggest negatives for Purdue's profile right now are its RPI and lack of quality wins. The current RPI of 47 is very borderline, but with three road games remaining – even against a team not in postseason contention – the Boilers can improve that number. Purdue also holds a disappointing 2-6 record in Tier 1 games, which will need to be addressed to solidify its case. Every game from here on out matters, and the next five days will determine whether this team makes history or watches the tournament from home.