The year is 1925, and alumni associations from all over the Big Ten Conference were meeting in the “Windy City” of Chicago. As the night commenced, two neighboring programs, Purdue University and Indiana University, discussed their already rich history and how they wanted the future to unfold. With this, the organizations decided to erect a prize for the victor when the two schools faced off on the gridiron. The growing sport of football was making its roots within the Midwest, and the Hoosier state wanted to make its mark. Two representatives from these respective Indiana institutions, hired to search for the perfect trophy to grant to the victor between these bitter programs, would search far and wide around the Hoosier state. With many visits to homesteads and farms, the two would stumble upon a gem along the Ohio River in Hanover, Indiana. An oak bucket, sitting in the bottom of a well, collected water from the underground systems that connect this utility to the rural lands across the Midwest. This particular bucket is different, however, as the Bruner family farm would give up their source of water for the greater good, rivalry.
The bucket was not just a plain old contraption, however. The Bruner family, the owners of the property, informed the representatives that the well was vital during the Civil War. With their farm being founded in 1840, generals and soldiers would stop through during key battles along the Ohio River. The bucket was brought back to Chicago and dressed for its inception. The committee agreed on the prize, which would consist of adding links to each school’s respective chains held to the bucket. The links would each consist of either an iron “P” or “I” and would contain information like the score, date, and home stadium engraved into it. Each year, the winner would add a link and keep the bucket until the next matchup. With the trophy created, the battle for the “Oaken Bucket” had commenced.
On the chilling day of November 21, 1925, the first war for the trophy had kicked off. With a defensive battle in the trenches, the first matchup would end in a draw, to much surprise. To respect this outcome, the first link would be added to the bucket, “I-P”. This first link was added to the center of the handle to signify the joint fight between the two programs. Over the decades of play, the rivalry has consisted of a hundred and twenty-five games, with the hundred and twenty-sixth taking place in Bloomington on the 30 of November per OldOakenBucket.com. With this, Purdue has been victorious in seventy-seven of these contests, outperforming Indiana’s forty-two. Purdue’s dominance in this rivalry is surprising to many college football fans, but this superiority will likely not last for much longer.
As the rivalry enters its one-hundred and twenty-sixth showing, the landscape of the two programs has seen a drastic change. In 2023, the two teams combined for four conference wins and both sat in the bottom half of their respective divisions. The thirty-five to thirty-one victory for Purdue was the final straw for Tom Allen, who was fired days after the loss. With new hire Curt Cignetti, the Hoosiers are off to a rolling start with a solid undefeated record through ten weeks of play. On the other hand, Purdue’s rough start is highlighted by their blowout win over FCS (Football Championship Series) opponent, Indiana State. After that victory, the Boilermakers have lost eight straight and are winless in the Big Ten.
Looking into this year’s Oaken Bucket game, ESPN has IU’s odds at a ninety-eight percent chance for a victory in Bloomington. The tone for this game will be based on the prior week’s performance, as IU’s stellar undefeated season could be in jeopardy with the Hoosiers heading into Columbus. They need a victory in order to punch a ticket into the Big Ten Championship and eventually the College Football Playoff. If the Hoosiers cannot come away with a victory, the Boilers could be in for a long sixty minutes, as a loss would greatly impact their chances for a run in December. To add to the motivation, IU has blown multiple leads to Purdue in recent years, including a ten-point third-quarter lead blown in West Lafayette. No matter the statistics, rivalries are rivalries and even the slightest edge can turn a lackluster team into something special. Nonetheless, the battle in Bloomington will be a hard-fought fight for both programs.
The Hoosier State might be known for basketball, but football is becoming a strong force as well. The rivalry is a sight for everyone, stemming from childhood cheers to grown roars. From the Indiana orchards, meadows, and deep-tangled wild-woods, Hoosiers love watching it from any view. The rude bucket that hung from a wall has become a symbol of victory for Hoosiers and Boilers alike. The old oaken, iron-bound, mossy bucket still hangs from the arms of triumph.
