Hoosiers, Boilermakers close out disappointing seasons by battling for the Old Oaken Bucket
Indiana (3-8, 1-7 Big Ten) at Purdue (3-8, 2-6), Saturday, 12 p.m. ET (Big Ten Network)
Line: Purdue by 2 1/2, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
Series record: Purdue leads 76-42-6.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
Neither team is bowl eligible, so these longtime rivals will play for something else that matters — the Old Oaken Bucket. Purdue has won the Bucket 30 more times than Indiana, including four of the last five. The 2020 meeting was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Saturday’s winner will add the first letter of their school to the Bucket’s chain. Both coaches think a win will give them momentum heading on the recruiting trail and in the offseason.
KEY MATCHUP
Indiana scoring defense vs. Purdue QB. When the Hoosiers offense sputtered, the defense kept them in games. Lately, though, that’s been reversed. As the offense scored points, the defense gave them up. Five of Indiana’s last seven opponents have scored 30 or more points and the defense couldn’t protect late leads over the last two weeks. Can Purdue take advantage? Starting QB Hudson Card missed last week’s game with an injury, so the Boilermakers went with Bennett Meredith and Ryan Browne. Coach Ryan Walters said Monday that he’s hopeful Card will start Saturday.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Indiana: Brendan Sorsby. Since taking over as the starting QB, Sorsby has shown steady progress. It’s given the Hoosiers a boost — and hope for the future. He’s completed more than 60% of his throws three of the last four weeks and has 10 TD passes and two interceptions over the last five games. Sorsby topped 50 yards rushing each of the past two weeks, too, and he has four TD runs this year.
Purdue: Tyrone Tracy Jr. The sixth year running back has rushed for 282 yards and three scores and caught five passes for 90 yards and another TD over the last two games. Tracy attended high school near Indianapolis and understands this rivalry well, too, so he’ll be motivated to close out his college career properly. With the QB uncertainty, Purdue needs Tracy to excel to keep the Bucket.
FACTS & FIGURES
Purdue has lost five of its last six and is 2-4 at home this season. But the Boilermakers have won three of the last four against Indiana in West Lafayette, Indiana. … The Hoosiers have lost six of seven and are 0-4 on the road this season. … Purdue has rushed for 300 yards each of the past two weeks and is the Big Ten’s only team to achieve the feat twice this season. … Hoosiers LB Aaron Casey needs two tackles to become the first player with 100 in a single season since Tegray Scales in 2016. … Boilermakers S Dillon Thieneman needs two solo tackles to break the school’s single-season freshman record held by Pro Football Hall of Famer Rod Woodson (67 in 1983). … Indiana has seven takeaways in its last four games, four of those thanks to DB Josh Sanguinetti. … Tracy is the Big Ten’s leader in yards per carry (6.8) in conference play.
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