Memorable Bucket Games for Purdue
1892
Purdue scored the most points in a Big Ten Game when they defeated Indiana 68 to 0.
1938
Jack Brown completed the longest kickoff return (100 yards) against Indiana.
1946
Ned Maloney had the longest run with a recovered fumble (90 yards) against Indiana.
1948
After a four year drought, Purdue won back the bucket with a 39-0 win over Indiana. Purdue had the most rushes (85) against Indiana and the most yards gained rushing (454 yards). In this game Purdue also had the most plays in total offense (96) and gained the most yards (534 yards), and had the most first downs (29).
1950
Purdue won 14-0 in one of the coldest games to date (4 degrees above 0 at game time and 15 degrees below zero later that night).
1952
Purdue won a hard fought rainy game 21 to 16. Many fans stated that it was one of the best games in the series.
Memorable IU Wins or Ties
November 21, 1925 – 1st battle for the Old Oaken Bucket
Both teams came into the game winless in the Big Ten conference. In the first quarter of the game Purdue had the best scoring chance but failed to score inside the Indiana 20-yard line. In the second quarter IU got close enough to the Purdue goal to attempt a field goal, but the kick was short and the half ended 0-0. In the second half, both teams had opportunities to score. Purdue had several scoring chances, including great field position after a long run after a fake punt. Indiana had three chances to win, but the IU field goal kicker missed three field goal attempts, the last from 45 yards as time ran out. The game ended a 0-0 tie, and a combined "IP" link formed the first link in the chain on the Old Oaken Bucket.
November 22, 1930 – IU claims sole possession of the Bucket for the first time
IU came into the game a decided underdog having lost six games to Purdue’s one loss (to Big Ten Co-Champion Michigan). Purdue dominated the first half of the game, but only managed to score one touchdown. Following that score the Purdue kicker missed the extra point, and the Purdue squad led IU at halftime by a score of 7-6. In the second half the only score was made by IU when quarterback Gene Opaski completed a pass in the end zone to Vic Dauer. The IU kicker completed the day’s scoring by kicking the extra point. Final score: IU 7, Purdue 6. The IU yearbook, The Arbutus, describes the celebration after the game in the following terms: "All Bloomington enjoys the celebration…bonfires on all corners of the square…crowds at the Monan station welcome the victorious Hoosiers."
November 21, 1936 – One of the greatest games ever in the history of Bucket rivalry
Coming into this game, IU and Purdue had the exact same record: 5-2 overall and 3-1 in conference play. The game attracted 32,000 fans, the largest crowd ever at Ross-Ade Stadium. IU’s Vern Huffman returned the opening kickoff 89 yard to the Purdue 10 yard line, but IU could not score, and the first quarter ended 0-0. Neither team scored in the second quarter, and the half ended with a score of 0-0. In the second half, Purdue scored the first two touchdowns (but missed the one of the extra points) to lead 13-0 in the third quarter. IU quarterback Vern Huffman’s touchdown passed closed the gap to 13-7 at the end of the third quarter. In the fourth quarter the Hoosiers’ struck first with a touchdown pass from Huffman to R. L. Kenderline, but the IU kicker missed the extra point. After a Purdue fumble, IU scored again and after a successful extra point led 20-13. However, near the end of the game Purdue responded by driving down the field and scoring with less than a minute left on a pass from quarterback Cecil Isbell to Jim Zachary. Isbell successfully kicked the extra point, and the game ended in a 20-20 tie. Purdue gained 501 yards that day, and Indiana 455. The teams finished in a tie for third place in the Big Ten Conference behind Minnesota and Ohio State.
November 24, 1945 – Undefeated season and champions of the Big Ten
IU came into this game undefeated at 9-0-1, having played Northwestern to a tie. With a victory over Purdue, IU would win its first Big Ten Conference title. Purdue entered the game 6-3. In the first quarter, neither team could mount a consistent drive, and the quarter ended 0-0. Purdue had the best scoring chance in the second quarter after an IU fumble, but IU’s Bob Ravensburg intercepted a Purdue pass at the goal line, and the first half ended in a 0-0 tie. IU dominated the second half of the game. IU scored twice in the third quarter to lead 13-0. In the fourth quarter IU added two more touchdowns on passes by IU quarterback Ben Raimondi. The Hoosier defense held the Purdue scoreless and limited the Purdue passing game to one completion for negative yardage. Final score: Indiana 26, Purdue 0. Many analysts consider the 1945 team as IU’s greatest football team. Eight IU players went on to play professional football. Pete Philos wound up in the Pro Hall of Fame, and George Taliferro and Coach Bo McMillin were inducted into the College Hall of Fame. Ted Kluszewski had an illustrious career as a professional baseball player with the Cincinnati Reds. IU Coach Bo McMillin earned National Coach of the Year and "Man of the Year" honors.
November 17, 1962 – A win after 14 years of futility
The 1962 game was played at Ross-Ade Stadium before 50,462, which was the largest crowd in the history of the series. Purdue came into the game 4-3-1; IU entered 2-6 and winless in the Big Ten. Not surprisingly, the Boilermakers were favored by two touchdowns in the game. Purdue scored first, but IU countered with two field goals. At the end of the first quarter Purdue led 7-6. Near the of the second quarter, IU’s All-Big Ten half-back Marv Woodson intercepted an Purdue pass at the IU seven yard line and returned it 93 yards for a touchdown. At the half IU led 12-7. In the third quarter each team had scoring chances, but turnovers and a missed field goal by IU kept the score at 12-7. Purdue’s best chance to score in the second half came with only two minutes left in the game. The Boilers drove from their own 45 yard line to the Hoosier’s seven yard line, but could not score. The game ended with a final score of IU 12, Purdue 7. For the first time in 15 years, IU had beaten Purdue.
November 25, 1967 – The Rose Bowl year
Purdue entered the 1967 with high expectations. They had just won the Rose Bowl and returned starting quarterback Bob Griese and All-American halfback Leroy Keyes. IU on the other hand had plenty of question marks, including who would start at quarterback (eventually Harry Gonso was selected). Purdue entered the 1967 Bucket game with only one loss (to Oregon State in an upset) and with no losses in the Conference. With a win over IU, Purdue would win the Big Ten title. IU also entered the game with only one loss (to Minnesota), but many of the wins were so close that the media began calling the IU team the "Cardiac Kids." A win by IU in the Bucket game meant a tie for the Big Ten title and a trip to the Rose Bowl. Purdue entered the game in Bloomington as a two touchdown favorite. The Hoosiers scored first on a touchdown pass from Harry Gonso to Jade Butcher. However, the Boilers responded immediately with a touchdown, and at the end of the first quarter the game was tied at 7-7. In the second quarter a Purdue fumble resulted in another IU touchdown, but the Hoosiers missed the extra point. Just before halftime, IU scored again, but failed on a two-point play. At the half, the score was IU 19, Purdue 7. Although Purdue dominated the second half, the Boilers could only manage one additional score, a touchdown and extra point at the mid-way point in the third quarter. In the last two minutes of the game Purdue mounted one last drive, but it stalled on IU’s 22 yard line. Final score IU 19, Purdue 14.
IU went on to play USC in the Rose Bowl. The game was a defensive battle, in which the Hoosier’s defense held the Trojans to their lowest point total of the season, and their star running back, O.J. Simpson, to his third –lowest total yardage for the year. However, in the end USC prevailed in the game by a score of 14-3.
November 19, 1988 – A record setting IU win
Purdue entered the game 4-6, and Indiana 6-3-1. The Hoosiers entered the game at Ross-Ade Stadium as 17 point favorites. In the first quarter both teams scored touchdowns, but the second quarter belonged to IU. The Hoosiers scored three touchdowns and a field goal while holding Purdue scoreless. At the half IU lead 31-7. The Hoosiers continued to add points in the second half, while the IU defense continued to hold Purdue’s offense in check. Final score IU 52, Purdue 7. It was the Hoosier’s largest margin of victory in any Bucket game, and in the game several IU football records were broken: Anthony Thompson, still only an IU junior, established an IU career rushing mark of 3,366 yards; Pete Stoyanovich, IU’s place kicker, set an IU season record for field goals and extended his Big Ten record of consecutive points to 103; and as a team, IU scored 362 points, eclipsing the 1979 team’s previous high of 314.
IU went on to play South Carolina in the Liberty Bowl on December 28, 1988. IU beat the Gamecocks by a score of 34-10.
November 19, 1994 – High scoring, back-and-forth win for IU
Both teams entered the Bucket game that year with mediocre records, Purdue 4-4-2 and IU 5-5. IU came into the game having lost four consecutive Big Ten games. In the first half, the two teams traded scores. IU’s most exciting touchdown resulted from a 66 yard run by star tailback Alex Smith. At halftime, IU led 20-14. Purdue scored first in the second half to briefly take the lead at 21-20. However the Hoosiers struck back quickly when quarterback John Paci scored from the three yard line. IU missed the extra point to take a 26-21 lead. Purdue responded by scoring again and adding a two point conversion for a 29-26 lead. After a Purdue fumble and IU recovery at the Boilers’ 24 yard line, IU took three plays to score a touchdown. After the extra point, IU led 33-29. The IU defense stiffened and held the Boilers scoreless the rest of the game. Final score: IU 33, Purdue 29. This game is considered one of the most exciting back-and-forth contests in Bucket history.
November 17, 2007 – A Bucket win and a bowl game
Both teams entered the game with the same 7-5 overall record and 3-5 in the Big Ten. In the first half, IU scored the only the only touchdowns of the half on a 9 yard run by quarterback Kellen Lewis, and an 8 yard pass from Lewis to James Hardy. Meanwhile, the IU defense held the Purdue offense to only one field goal in the first half. At the half IU led by a score of 17-3. In the third quarter IU scored first and extended the lead to 24-3. However, Purdue rallied with two 1-yard TD runs from Kory Sheets, and finally tied the score at 24 on a 5-yard pass quarterback Curtis Painter to Jake Standeford with 3:39 to go. IU responded with a drive into Purdue territory. When the drive stalled in the waning seconds of the game, IU place kicker Austin Starr lined up for a 49 yard field goal. With only 30 seconds remaining in the game, Starr’s kick sailed through the crossbar. Final score: IU 27, Purdue 24.
The win catapulted IU into their first bowl game in 14 years. The Hoosiers met Oklahoma State in the Insight Bowl, where the Hoosiers were defeated 49-33.