A late fourth quarter push by the Indiana offense lifted them to a 26-24 win over rival Purdue, making them bowl eligible for second straight season – a feat that has not happened in over 25 years.
This game was also Indiana’s fourth straight win over Purdue – keeping the Old Oaken Bucket in Bloomington for at least another year.
Indiana is a much better team on paper, but talent seems to usually become irrelevant in these rivalry match-ups due to the other team’s extra desire to win. Purdue would have liked nothing better than to snatch away the Bucket, as well as the Hoosiers’ hopes of making a bowl game.