The 1971 Purdue Boilermakers football team represented Purdue University during the 1971 Big Ten Conference football season. Led by second-year head coach Bob DeMoss, the Boilermakers compiled an overall record of 3âÂÂ7 with a mark of 3âÂÂ5 in conference play, placing in a three-way tie for sixth in the Big Ten. Purdue played home games at RossâÂÂAde Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana.
The Boilermakers were one of two Big Ten teams which did not play 11 regular season games, along with Ohio State, who played 10 regular season games for the first time in 1971. The NCAA approved an 11th regular season game effective for the 1970 season, but Big Ten faculty representatives and athletic directors did not allow the 11th game until this season.