Indiana vs. Purdue (Crossroads of America) Preview: Head-to-Head, PFSN Grades, and Prediction for College Football Week 14

Purdue (2-9, 0-8) hosts No. 2 Indiana (11-0, 8-0) in a Black Friday Big Ten rivalry match-up with the Old Oaken Bucket at stake.

Indiana enters the game undefeated, led by Heisman Trophy candidate Fernando Mendoza, while Purdue looks to avoid finishing winless in conference play.

Indiana vs. Purdue Details

• Date: Friday, November 28, 2025
• Game time: 7:30 p.m. ET
• Location: Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana
• Predicted weather at kick: 27 degrees, 50% chance of snow
• How to watch: NBC

Indiana vs. Purdue Head-to-Head Record

Friday night marks the 127th meeting between the Indiana Hoosiers and the Purdue Boilermakers. The rivalry began on November 14, 1891, when Purdue hosted and shut out Indiana 60-0.

This head-to-head series gained more significance on November 21, 1925, when the schools first introduced the Old Oaken Bucket, which is awarded annually to the game winner of this rivalry. The game this was introduced ended in a tie, keeping the trophy in Indiana, where the game was played. The Bolimakers earned their first Old Oaken Bucket victory the following year on November 20, 1926.

Purdue holds a 77-43 lead in the all-time series, with the teams tying six times. Over the past decade, excluding the canceled 2020 season, the teams are tied at 5-5. Last year, on November 30, 2024, the Hoosiers dominated with a 66-0 shutout, and they enter this matchup looking to retain the Old Oaken Bucket once again.

Indiana vs. Purdue Grades

PFSN College OFFi

• Indiana (93.4, A)
• Purdue (77.5, C+)

PFSN College DEFi

• Indiana (97.8, A+)
• Purdue (71.2, C-)

PFSN College OLi

• Indiana (82.6, B-)
• Purdue (71.1, C-)

PFSN College QBi

• Fernando Mendoza, Indiana (96.1, A)
• Ryan Browne, Purdue (78.3, C+)

PFSN College RBi

• Roman Hemby, Indiana (76.5, C)
• Devin Mockobee, Purdue (78.4, C+)

PFSN College WRi

• Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana (82.5, B-)
• Michael Jackson III, Purdue (75.6, C)

PFSN College TEi

• Holden Staes, Indiana (72.3, C-)
• Christian Earls, Purdue (68.3, D+)

PFSN College EDGEi

• Stephen Daley, Indiana (81.4, B-)
• CJ Nunnally IV, Purdue (77.3, C+)

PFSN College DTi

• Mario Landino, Indiana (79.3, C+)
• Ian Jeffries Purdue (75.5, C)

PFSN College LBi

• Aiden Fisher, Indiana (79.8, C+)
• Mani Powell, Purdue (78.8, C+)

PFSN College CBi

• D’Angelo Ponds, Indiana (90.5, A-)
• Smiley Bradford, Purdue (82.2, B-)

PFSN College SAFi

• Louis Moore, Indiana (92.2, A-)
• Myles Slusher, Purdue (81.8, B-)

Indiana vs. Purdue Prediction

Indiana’s head coach, Curt Cignetti, has helped turn the Hoosiers into National Championship contenders, backed up by excellent play on both sides of the ball. The Hoosiers are highly ranked in PFSN Impact Metrics, holding the No. 1 position in both OFFi and DEFi.

Quarterback Mendoza has been the center of their success, throwing for 2,641 yards and 30 touchdowns, while also adding three rushing touchdowns. Mendoza is ranked No. 2 in PFSN College QBi.

Purdue and head coach Barry Odom enter the rivalry game fighting for a late-season win. The Bolimakers’ season has been defined by inconstancy and offensive struggles. They have yet to win a Big Ten game. Even with home-field advantage and the intensity of a rivalry, Purdue faces a top team with National Championship aspirations.

Indiana’s consistency and explosive offense should enable the Hoosiers to control the game early on and maintain momentum throughout.

Prediction: Indiana 42, Purdue 10