The Indiana vs. Purdue football rivalry is also known as the Old Oaken Bucket game. Dating back to 1891, this annual matchup features the Indiana Hoosiers and the Purdue Boilermakers, two of Indiana's oldest and most respected college football programs. The winner of each game receives the Old Oaken Bucket, a trophy that symbolizes the intense competition and pride both teams bring to the field.
As members of the Big Ten Conference, Indiana, and Purdue compete not only for the trophy but also for standings within their conference. The game has delivered memorable moments and thrilling finishes over the decades, with each school enjoying periods of dominance.
Indiana vs Purdue Football Rivalry History
The Indiana vs. Purdue football rivalry is one of the historic rivalries in college football, dating back to 1891. Known as the Old Oaken Bucket game, this annual matchup between the Indiana Hoosiers and the Purdue Boilermakers is steeped in tradition and state pride.
The rivalry began with Purdue's dominant victory over Indiana in their first meeting, a 60-0 win on November 14, 1891. Over the years, the series has seen many memorable moments, including Purdue's largest margin of victory of 68-0 in 1892.
The Old Oaken Bucket trophy, which is awarded to the winner of the game, has become a symbol of the fierce competition and pride that both teams bring to the field. The trophy itself is a unique piece, with a handle shaped like an oaken bucket, and it is passed from one team to the other each year based on the game's outcome. The idea for the trophy was conceived in 1925 by two alumni, Russell Gray of Purdue and Clarence Jones of Indiana. The trophy itself is a wooden bucket, originally found on a farm in southern Indiana, symbolizing the shared heritage and values of both universities. The bucket is adorned with a chain, to which bronze "I" and "P" letters are added for each Indiana and Purdue victory, respectively and the 'I-P' was added when the game between the teams ties.
Indiana vs Purdue Football Rivalry Head-to-Head Stats
As of the 2023 game, Purdue leads the all-time series with 77 wins, compared to Indiana's 42 victories, and there have been six ties. The rivalry’s intensity is heightened by the Old Oaken Bucket trophy, introduced in 1925, which adds an extra layer of significance to each game.
Here's a table summarizing the head-to-head stats for the Indiana vs. Purdue football rivalry:
| Statistic | Indiana Hoosiers | Purdue Boilermakers |
| Total Matches Played | 125 | 125 |
| Wins | 42 | 77 |
| Ties | 6 | 6 |
| Longest Win Streak | 4 (1944-1947) | 13 (1948-1961) |
Indiana vs Purdue Football Rivalry Winner Year By Year
The Old Oaken Bucket game has been contested annually since 1915. Here's a list showing the year-by-year winners and scores for the Indiana vs. Purdue football rivalry:
| Year | Winning Team | Score |
| 1891 | Purdue Boilermakers | 60–0 |
| 1892 | Purdue Boilermakers | 68–0 |
| 1893 | Purdue Boilermakers | 64–0 |
| 1894 | Purdue Boilermakers | 1–0 (forfeit) |
| 1897 | Purdue Boilermakers | 20–6 |
| 1898 | Purdue Boilermakers | 14–0 |
| 1899 | Indiana Hoosiers | 17–5 |
| 1900 | Indiana Hoosiers | 24–5 |
| 1901 | Indiana Hoosiers | 11–6 |
| 1902 | Purdue Boilermakers | 39–0 |
| 1904 | Purdue Boilermakers | 27–0 |
| 1905 | Tie | 11–11 |
| 1908 | Indiana Hoosiers | 10–4 |
| 1909 | Indiana Hoosiers | 36–3 |
| 1910 | Indiana Hoosiers | 15–0 |
| 1911 | Purdue Boilermakers | 12–5 |
| 1912 | Purdue Boilermakers | 34–7 |
| 1913 | Purdue Boilermakers | 42–7 |
| 1914 | Purdue Boilermakers | 23–13 |
| 1915 | Purdue Boilermakers | 7–0 |
| 1916 | Tie | 0–0 |
| 1917 | Indiana Hoosiers | 37–0 |
| 1920 | Indiana Hoosiers | 10–7 |
| 1921 | Indiana Hoosiers | 3–0 |
| 1922 | Tie | 7–7 |
| 1923 | Indiana Hoosiers | 3–0 |
| 1924 | Purdue Boilermakers | 26–7 |
| 1925 | Tie | 0–0 |
| 1926 | Purdue Boilermakers | 24–14 |
| 1927 | Purdue Boilermakers | 21–6 |
| 1928 | Purdue Boilermakers | 14–0 |
| 1929 | Purdue Boilermakers | 32–0 |
| 1930 | Indiana Hoosiers | 7–6 |
| 1931 | Purdue Boilermakers | 19–0 |
| 1932 | Purdue Boilermakers | 25–7 |
| 1933 | Purdue Boilermakers | 19–3 |
| 1934 | Indiana Hoosiers | 17–6 |
| 1935 | Indiana Hoosiers | 7–0 |
| 1936 | Tie | 20–20 |
| 1937 | Purdue Boilermakers | 13–7 |
| 1938 | Purdue Boilermakers | 13–6 |
| 1939 | Purdue Boilermakers | 7–6 |
| 1940 | Indiana Hoosiers | 3–0 |
| 1941 | Indiana Hoosiers | 7–0 |
| 1942 | Indiana Hoosiers | 20–0 |
| 1943 | Purdue Boilermakers | 7–0 |
| 1944 | Indiana Hoosiers | 14–6 |
| 1945 | Indiana Hoosiers | 26–0 |
| 1946 | Indiana Hoosiers | 34–20 |
| 1947 | Indiana Hoosiers | 16–14 |
| 1948 | Purdue Boilermakers | 39–0 |
| 1949 | Purdue Boilermakers | 14–6 |
| 1950 | Purdue Boilermakers | 13–0 |
| 1951 | Purdue Boilermakers | 21–13 |
| 1952 | Purdue Boilermakers | 21–16 |
| 1953 | Purdue Boilermakers | 30–0 |
| 1954 | Purdue Boilermakers | 13–7 |
| 1955 | Purdue Boilermakers | 6–4 |
| 1956 | Purdue Boilermakers | 39–20 |
| 1957 | Purdue Boilermakers | 35–13 |
| 1958 | Tie | 15–15 |
| 1959 | Purdue Boilermakers | 10–7 |
| 1960 | Purdue Boilermakers | 35–6 |
| 1961 | Purdue Boilermakers | 34–12 |
| 1962 | Indiana Hoosiers | 12–7 |
| 1963 | Purdue Boilermakers | 21–15 |
| 1964 | Purdue Boilermakers | 28–22 |
| 1965 | Purdue Boilermakers | 26–21 |
| 1966 | Purdue Boilermakers | 51–6 |
| 1967 | Indiana Hoosiers | 19–14 |
| 1968 | Purdue Boilermakers | 38–35 |
| 1969 | Purdue Boilermakers | 44–21 |
| 1970 | Purdue Boilermakers | 40–0 |
| 1971 | Indiana Hoosiers | 38–31 |
| 1972 | Purdue Boilermakers | 42–7 |
| 1973 | Purdue Boilermakers | 28–23 |
| 1974 | Purdue Boilermakers | 38–17 |
| 1975 | Purdue Boilermakers | 9–7 |
| 1976 | Indiana Hoosiers | 20–14 |
| 1977 | Indiana Hoosiers | 21–10 |
| 1978 | Purdue Boilermakers | 20–7 |
| 1979 | Purdue Boilermakers | 37–21 |
| 1980 | Purdue Boilermakers | 24–23 |
| 1981 | Indiana Hoosiers | 20–17 |
| 1982 | Indiana Hoosiers | 13–7 |
| 1983 | Purdue Boilermakers | 31–30 |
| 1984 | Purdue Boilermakers | 31–24 |
| 1985 | Purdue Boilermakers | 34–21 |
| 1986 | Purdue Boilermakers | 17–15 |
| 1987 | Indiana Hoosiers | 35–14 |
| 1988 | Indiana Hoosiers | 52–7 |
| 1989 | Purdue Boilermakers | 15–14 |
| 1990 | Indiana Hoosiers | 28–14 |
| 1991 | Indiana Hoosiers | 24–22 |
| 1992 | Purdue Boilermakers | 13–10 |
| 1993 | Indiana Hoosiers | 24–17 |
| 1994 | Indiana Hoosiers | 33–29 |
| 1995 | Purdue Boilermakers | 51–14 |
| 1996 | Indiana Hoosiers | 33–16 |
| 1997 | Purdue Boilermakers | 56–7 |
| 1998 | Purdue Boilermakers | 52–7 |
| 1999 | Purdue Boilermakers | 30–24 |
| 2000 | Purdue Boilermakers | 41–13 |
| 2001 | Indiana Hoosiers | 13–7 |
| 2002 | Purdue Boilermakers | 34–10 |
| 2003 | Purdue Boilermakers | 24–16 |
| 2004 | Purdue Boilermakers | 63–24 |
| 2005 | Purdue Boilermakers | 41–14 |
| 2006 | Purdue Boilermakers | 28–19 |
| 2007 | Indiana Hoosiers | 27–24 |
| 2008 | Purdue Boilermakers | 62–10 |
| 2009 | Purdue Boilermakers | 38–21 |
| 2010 | Indiana Hoosiers | 34–31 |
| 2011 | Purdue Boilermakers | 33–25 |
| 2012 | Purdue Boilermakers | 56–35 |
| 2013 | Indiana Hoosiers | 56–36 |
| 2014 | Indiana Hoosiers | 23–16 |
| 2015 | Indiana Hoosiers | 54–36 |
| 2016 | Indiana Hoosiers | 26–24 |
| 2017 | Purdue Boilermakers | 31–24 |
| 2018 | Purdue Boilermakers | 28–21 |
| 2019 | Indiana Hoosiers | 44–41 |
| 2021 | Purdue Boilermakers | 44–7 |
| 2022 | Purdue Boilermakers | 30–16 |
| 2023 | Purdue Boilermakers | 35–31 |
FAQs on Indiana vs Purdue Football Rivalry
A. The rivalry is known as the "Old Oaken Bucket" game.
A. The Indiana vs. Purdue football rivalry began in 1891, with Purdue winning the first matchup.
A. The Old Oaken Bucket is the trophy awarded to the winner of the annual Indiana vs. Purdue football game, introduced in 1925.
A. As of 2023, Purdue leads the all-time series with 77 wins to Indiana’s 42, and there have been 6 ties.
