The Zeitgeist List · Rivalries

Old Oaken Bucket

Purdue75-44-6Indiana
Regional Program II#95 of 138–Power Program II#17 of 138▲
See both programs’ full 91-year Zeitgeist History, side by side →
Next meeting: Sat Nov 28 · time TBA, 24 days away.

3 players crossed straight to the rival since 2021 — the turncoat ledger →

Purdue leads the all-time series 75-44-6. They've met 125 times since 1892. Purdue once took 10 straight.

Current season

Vegas win totals and transfer-portal swing right now, plus what fans are actually saying — not history, this year.

Purdue
Transfer portal
+0
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: +28
What fans are saying · player performance
One fan thinks Fame Ijeboi stands out in team matches
Positives * Fame Ijeboi continues to be a huge difference maker on the field and gave the Boilermakers the best chance possible to win the game. Right now he's the Boilermakers best player.
Verified verbatim
Indiana
Win total
10.5
Vegas over/under
Transfer portal
+11
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: +16
What fans are saying · player role
One fan thinks hoover should be replaced by another player
You gotta seriously start thinking about benching Hoover at this point.
Verified verbatim

Stature & the series, 1892–2025

Both programs’ standing over time, each line named at its end, with every meeting beneath — read down to see who was bigger and who won. (Stature is each program’s season-by-season standing on the Zeitgeist List, 1936–present — one score blending on-field performance, program achievement, and roster talent.)

program stature over timePurdueIndianaevery meeting (bar height = margin; dark: Purdue won, gray: Indiana won)1900192019401960198020002020

The identity war

Purdue has been the more pass-heavy program more often than not.

Across 23 seasons of real play-level data (2004–2026), Purdue led 18 and Indiana led 5.

more passmore runPurdueIndiana2004200620082010201220142016201820202022202420262014Purdue 15.2 ptsIndiana won 23-162010Indiana 15.1 ptsIndiana won 34-312004Purdue 14.5 ptsPurdue won 63-24
Source team_season_stats (CFBD season totals) · pass rate = passAttempts ÷ (passAttempts + rushingAttempts)

The biggest win was Purdue by 68 in 1892. The biggest crowd, 63,107, was in 2008.

The coaching duels

Jack Mollenkopf vs Phil Dickens5-1-1
Jim Colletto vs Bill Mallory2-4
Mal Elward vs Bo McMillin3-2
Jack Mollenkopf vs John Pont4-1
Jim Young vs Lee Corso3-2
Joe Tiller vs Cam Cameron4-1

The draft ledger

Every NFL Draft pick either program has produced since the modern era began, decade by decade.

Draft picks
119-65
Purdue leads
1st-rounders
16-7
Since
1967
First CFBD-carried draft class
PurdueIndiana
1960s7-3
1970s26-9
1980s17-4
1990s11-14
2000s32-7
2010s11-15
2020s15-13

Best picks, either side

2026Fernando Mendoza Quarterback · Las Vegas RaidersRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
1969Leroy Keyes Running Back · Philadelphia EaglesRd 1, pick 3#3 overall
1970Mike Phipps Quarterback · Cleveland BrownsRd 1, pick 3#3 overall
1986Jim Everett Quarterback · Houston OilersRd 1, pick 3#3 overall
1967Bob Griese Quarterback · Miami DolphinsRd 1, pick 4#4 overall
1973Dave Butz Defensive Tackle · St. Louis CardinalsRd 1, pick 5#5 overall
1974Carl Barzilauskas Defensive Tackle · New York JetsRd 1, pick 6#6 overall
1975Larry Burton Wide Receiver · New Orleans SaintsRd 1, pick 7#7 overall

Recent meetings

Gate premium

Purdue1.17×its own average home crowd
Indiana1.10×its own average home crowd
2025Indiana56-3
2024Indiana66-0
2023Purdue35-31
2022Purdue30-16
2021Purdue44-7
2019Indiana44-41Purdue — decided by 3
2018Purdue28-21
2017Purdue31-24
2016Indiana26-24Purdue — decided by 2
2015Indiana54-36
2014Indiana23-16
2013Indiana56-36
2012Purdue56-35
2011Purdue33-25

Every meeting since 2018, play by play

Each line is Purdue’s chance to win through that meeting. Purdue is 1-1 in the meetings since 2018 that were still close in the fourth quarter.

2025Indiana 56-3Purdue lost 3-56 vs Indiana. Chance to win started at 5%, low under 1%, high 6%.Steady
2024Indiana 66-0Purdue lost 0-66 at Indiana. Chance to win started at 4%, low under 1%, high 5%.
2023Purdue 35-31Purdue won 35-31 vs Indiana. Chance to win started at 68%, low 14%, high 86%.Quiet
2021Purdue 44-7Purdue won 44-7 vs Indiana. Chance to win started at 89%, low 72%, high better than 99%.
2019Indiana 44-41Purdue lost 41-44 vs Indiana. Chance to win started at 29%, low under 1%, high 70%.
2018Purdue 28-21Purdue won 28-21 at Indiana. Chance to win started at 62%, low 53%, high 99%.
Read a quote from each meeting
  • 2025
    “Cold might be getting to these receivers. They ain’t helping mendoza at all”
    An Indiana fan

Meetings with their own story page

10 meetings in our archive, 2015 to 2025.