Hoosiers Square off Against Boilermakers in 90th Bucket Battle

Written By Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

The Indiana Hoosiers (3-8, 0-7) and Purdue Boilermakers (3-8, 1-6) have clashed on the gridiron for the Old Oaken Bucket since 1925, they have met a total of 116 times since 1891. This year’s meeting is in Bloomington for the second year in a row and will kick off at noon on the Big Ten Network. The Hoosiers trail the all-time series 38-72 with three ties and have only possessed the Bucket 28 times. The Old Oaken Bucket represents “the most typical Hoosier form of trophy” said a committee formed to find a suitable trophy for this heated rivalry, “the bucket should be taken from some well in Indiana, and that a chain to be made of broke block “I” and “P” letters should be provided for the bucket”.  Fritz Ernst of Purdue and Wiley J. Huddle of Indiana found the bucket on a farm in southern Indiana. This is by far the most meaningful game of the season for both schools, especially in 2014 when the two 3-8 squads battle for in-state supremacy. For the Hoosiers putting a second consecutive “I” on the chain would salvage a disappointing season that started off with plenty of promise. It would also give them a leg up in in-state recruiting. Indiana defeated Purdue 56-36 in 2013 and has not won two games in a row in this series since Bill Mallory roamed the sidelines in 1993-94. For the Boilermakers this game represents a chance to jump the Hoosiers program both on the field and on the recruiting trail and reassert them as the Big Ten program in the state of Indiana.

While the game may not jump off the page to the casual college football fan this season, the Bucket Game is one of the most heated and best rivalries in all of college sports.