Written by Amanda Pavelka (@amandapavelka3)

In Tom Allen’s nearly three-year stint as head coach at Indiana, he has yet to win the most prized college football trophy in the state. The last two battles for the Old Oaken Bucket have ended in heartbreak for the Hoosiers.

Last year it was a 28-21 loss that let Purdue steal the show, and the Bucket from the seniors in Bloomington. Coming up just short was the story of the 2018 season— in games and overall, as the loss of the Old Oaken Bucket game put them just short of the six wins they needed for a bowl bid.

“Absolutely something that has really bothered me these last two years,” Allen told the media on Monday, “Obviously there were a lot of things that happened when we lost that game, lost the opportunity to go to a bowl game the last two years. It was a very, very difficult off-season to have to sit there and kind of have that over your head, in your heart.”

This Saturday’s matchup gives the Hoosiers a chance to drop that heavy weight Allen’s been carrying and bring the prized Bucket back to Bloomington for the first time in three years.

“It's personal. It's a rivalry game that epitomizes the state. (I) was raised in this state. I understand it. Watched many of them over the years. (I) know how important it is to our university. Our fan base, our former players, everybody that is part of IU, means a lot to them,” Allen said. “It's been something that we obviously have been setting aside. When the time is right, now is the time. Our entire focus is on the Purdue Boilermakers.”

At the head of offense for the Boilers is redshirt sophomore walk-on Aiden O’Connell who has completed 75-of-115 passes (65.2 percent) for 693 yards in five games this season, O’Connell’s original third spot in the lineup shouldn’t be overlooked.

Paired with Purdue’s most productive wide receiver David Bell and senior tight end Brycen Hopkins, Purdue pass offense, which ranks second in the Big Ten, has the ability to hit and run with IU’s weak spot— defense.

Lackluster defense lost the game for the Hoosiers against Michigan. Even against Purdue’s third-string quarterback, defense will be the key to getting the job done in West Lafayette.

“(We) Need to tackle well on Saturday,” Allen said, “they got a couple bigger backs. Need to do a great job with that, running our feet, being fundamentally sound. Just still made some mistakes that we got to eliminate, even on Saturday.”

West Lafayette’s own George Karlaftis gave nationally-ranked Wisconsin a run for their money last week with three tackles, one for loss, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a two quarterback hurries.

This season the Hoosiers face a very different Purdue team, one that has been devastated with injuries the entire season. Jeff Brohm and the Boilermakers look to end their season the best way possible, being that their 45-24 loss to Wisconsin ended any hopes for a bid.

In a contest of pure emotion, the Hoosiers go to battle with the Boilermakers, who want nothing more than to stun Indiana on their senior day. A win over Indiana would arguably be Purdue’s highlight win of the season.

The Boilermakers will be out for blood.

“Finishing with a victory to get the bucket back, get momentum going into our bowl game, it's huge for our program, for our future, and for what we're building here,” Allen said.

The battle for the Old Oaken Bucket kicks off at 12ET at Ross-Ade Stadium.

The Huddle

After Two Heartbreakers Against Purdue, Indiana is Primed to Take the Bucket Back

Hoosier Huddle