Minnesota 35, Indiana 14, Nov. 20, 2021
The last meeting: Indiana 44, Purdue 41 (2 OT)--Nov. 30, 2019
Here's an early look at Purdue's 12th opponent in 2021, the Indiana Hoosiers:
Time: Saturday, 3:30 p.m.
Location: Ross-Ade Stadium
Surface: Bermuda Grass
Capacity: 57,236 (Tickets Available)
Schedule/records: Indiana 2-9 overall, 0-8 Big Ten, Purdue 7-4, 5-3
Series notes: Purdue leads the all-time series 74-42-6 and is 38-23-4 in games played at Purdue. Purdue leads the Old Oaken Bucket battle (since 1925) 60-32-3, winning 15 of the last 23. The Hoosiers have won five of the last seven games in the series. Due to last year's game cancellation, this will mark the first time that Purdue has played back-to-back games against its rival in West Lafayette since before Ross-Ade Stadium was built (1920).
TV: FS1
Early line: Purdue -15
Could this be a battle of walk-on quarterbacks?
The injury bug has hit the quarterback position hard for Indiana. The Hoosiers were down to their third string quarterback, as Donaven McCulley has been starting of late. He lead the Hoosiers to their first quarter touchdown in Saturday's 21-point loss to Minnesota, but was replaced in the fourth quarter by walk-on Grant Gremel. He directed the Hoosiers to their final score in the fourth quarter.
McCulley was recruited hard by Purdue, and has struggled to get the Hoosiers offense going. The Hoosiers have managed just 24 points in three games in November and had only 218 yards total offense in Saturday's loss to the Gophers.
Things have gone south for the IU program in the last 12 months
Indiana's 2020 team was one of its best in decades, winning six of eight games and finished ranked No. 12 nationally. The Hoosiers beat three ranked foes (No. 8 Penn State, No. 23 Michigan and No. 16 Wisconsin). Indiana was ranked No. 17 in the AP preseason poll but has been in free-fall since.
Indiana's defense is ranked No. 68 nationally, giving up 378 yards per contest, but rank 122 of 127 in offense, averaging just 297.5 yards per contest.
Coach Tom Allen started the season as one of the most-talked about success stories in college football. But as the 2021 season comes to a close, the Hoosiers need a big upset to salvage one of the most disappointing seasons in college football.
Brohm on the Hoosiers
"They have 10 senior starters on defense, so they know what they are doing there. We are excited at the opportunity to win back the Bucket, but know that we will have to play well to do so.
"This game means a lot to us and for the fans, especially in the state of Indiana. (Coach) Tom Allen is a friendly rival and we have respect for him and the IU program. We expect their best game on Saturday."
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