Old Brass Spittoon Game Becoming a Hotly Contested Rivalry as Games Get Tighter
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Michigan State and Indiana have played in some closely contested games over the last decade. Image: Sarah Miller Hoosier Huddle
Written By Rylie Kyhn
Since 1950, the Hoosiers and the Spartans have battled it out on the football field to make for a rivalry matchup. The Old Brass Spittoon is awarded to the team that can seal the victory. The two teams have met 64 times and Michigan State leads the all-time series record 46-16-2. The Hoosiers defeated the Spartans for the first time since 2006 two seasons ago in a nail biter overtime victory in Bloomington. Last season, they traveled to East Lansing and lost 17-9 so this year after a 3-0 start, they are looking to avenge that loss on Saturday.
The Hoosiers come in on a high-note as they have won all their non-conference games to kick off a potentially turning point season and they are heading into Big Ten playing solid football.
After the young defense was a bit shaky in the season opener in Miami, they stepped up to face a talented Virginia offense and they held Ball State to ten points last weekend. The offense has shown that they have taken steps forward from last season and they seem to be putting all the pieces together after an impressive showing against Ball State last weekend. The Hoosiers are definitely gelling at the right time and this matchup could give us a look at how the rest of the season will go.
Tom Allen said of Michigan State on Monday, “it's the same team we played last year. One of the youngest teams in the country, in the Big Ten last year. Pretty much all the same guys that we played last year are back. Bigger, faster, stronger. They're a year older.”
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Despite the returning talent the Spartans have struggled out of the gate. They kicked off their season in East Lansing and won by just a touchdown over Utah State (38-31). In week two, they fell to Arizona State 16-13 in the heat of the desert after only putting up 13 points. They only scored one touchdown in the third quarter after they had a couple opportunity drives but ASU held them to only a field goal in the first half. They struggled to convert once they got the ball into Sun Devil territory and in the red zone which is where Indiana had a strong defensive showing last weekend..
The Spartans have had two weeks to prepare for the road trip after a bye week this past Saturday which means they will come in ready to play. This will give them an advantage over the Hoosiers but with the momentum that Indiana has gained over the last three games will make for a solid and interesting matchup.
Allen gave some hints at what IU will have to do to come out victorious on Saturday night. “We got to play great defense,” Allen said. “We're still developing and growing. They have big old backs, big receivers, really good quarterback, big old offensive line. They're a bona fide, legit Big Ten football team that's contending for the Big Ten championship.”
Trophy games are a staple to college football, especially the Big Ten, and while not as well known amongst fans as the Oaken Bucket, the Brass Spittoon would be an important get for the Hoosiers.