It’s Bucket game time, and unlike the last few years, a bowl game is not on the line. For four straight years before this one Indiana needed to win in order to reach a bowl game, but the Hoosiers are already bowl eligible at 7-4. For Purdue, the Boilers needed a win the last two seasons to reach a bowl game, but injuries and a week 1 collapse at Nevada means only pride and the Old Oaken Bucket are on the line for Purdue.
Indiana has not gone to a bowl game without winning the Old Oaken Bucket since 1986, when Purdue won 17-15 to finish 3-8, but Indiana was still 6-5 and went to the All-American Bowl in Birmingham.