Written by: TJ Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)

What: Indiana Hoosiers (3-8) at Purdue Boilermakers (3-8)

When: Saturday, November 25 at Noon

Where: Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, IN

How to Watch: The game will be broadcast on BTN and can be heard on the IU Radio Network.

Series History: The Purdue Boilermakers have had the better of this series, beating IU 76 times to only 42 wins for the Hoosiers. The longest winning streak in this series came way back in the 1940s and 1950s as Purdue won ten in a row but the Boilermakers are working on a current two-game win streak and neither contest was particularly close. IU’s last win came in 2019 as Tom Allen’s Hoosiers won a classic, 44-41 in West Lafayette. The Hoosiers lost last year in Bloomington by a score of 30-16.

What’s at Stake: The Old Oaken Bucket is on the line. Both programs know exactly how much that means. Beyond that, neither team will be going to a bowl game and both will finish with disappointing records. Ryan Walters is looking for some traction after a disappointing first season. Walters is certainly not on the “hot seat” but a win over IU would help salvage his first campaign and buy him some goodwill with the fans. Is this the final game of the Tom Allen era? If so, beating Purdue would be a sweet sendoff after a very difficult couple of seasons in Bloomington.

A FEW THINGS TO LOOK FOR

1. Who Wants It?

This should not be sugarcoated, both teams are limping into this game and beyond the pride of winning the rivalry game, there is not much to play for. Which team cares enough to be focused during the week of practice? Which team wants to stay engaged and be locked in on both ends of the field? Finding motivation to battle and be the more physical team two days after Thanksgiving is a challenge and one that we will have a clear answer to once the game begins. Which team is ready to compete and wants to win?

2. Can IU’s Defense Respond?

Indiana’s defense was ripped to shreds by Illinois’ backup quarterback and then faced freshman Katin Houser and a dreadful Spartans offense. The Hoosiers were better against Michigan State but they were far from what anyone would describe as “good”. Katin Houser entered the game with yardage totals since the beginning of October of: 133, 101, 117, 165 and 92. The Indiana Hoosiers allowed 245 yards to Houser with three touchdowns. Despite holding MSU’s running game completely in check and forcing two turnovers, IU still found a way to lose thanks to early and late-game defensive collapses. The Hoosiers will be going against a Purdue offense that is better than MSU’s but still not a consistently good unit and they’ll need to play much better than they have the past two weeks.

3. Continued Growth of Brendan Sorsby

Trent Howland, Brendan Sorsby and Donaven McCulley are three of the bright spots in a mostly dark season for the Indiana Hoosiers. Running back Trent Howland has really emerged as the number one option for the Hoosiers in the backfield. The big back has looked good dragging defenders and he seems like a good option for the program moving into 2024. Donaven McCulley has become IU’s best receiver and he is proving to become a true number one option and tough cover for opposing defenses. Quarterback Brendan Sorsby continues to grow and he uses his legs effectively to keep IU’s offense on the field. Sorsby missed some throws against Michigan State and he needs to be more consistent with his accuracy but he does appear to have a very bright future. Keeping those three in Bloomington for the 2024 season should be a priority and it will be fun to watch how they perform with the Old Oaken Bucket on the line.

The Huddle

Hoosier Huddle's Week 13 Game Day Primer: Indiana Hoosiers at Purdue Boilermakers

Hoosier Huddle