Football fans raved about the latest installment of the Old Oaken Bucket Game

On By Littum

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Football fans head to Bloomington on Saturday for the 99th edition of the Old Oaken Bucket Game.

The excitement of Indiana and Purdue fans has been growing all week. Friends and families have been arguing at dinner tables, wondering if 10-1 Indiana will make a push for the College Football Playoff or if Purdue will play spoiler.

“That’s what makes the bucket game so much fun,” said longtime Indiana fan Johnny Jager.

IU fans are happy to be on their home court, especially considering their team hasn’t lost a game in Bloomington all year.

“I grew up going to these games and this year I’ve never seen the stadium like this, the tailgate like this, it’s just another 10 levels,” Jager said.

“The atmosphere is unbelievable,” Hoosier fan Brandon Hunt added. “Every game is amazing. Just, you know, watching coach Cig and what Scott Dolson has done is just amazing.”

Purdue has won the Old Oaken Bucket in each of the last three seasons, but recent history hasn’t boosted the confidence of Boilermaker fans.

“I love Purdue for a lot of reasons, but this year is just, I just want to keep it light, it’s not our year,” said Purdue graduate and fan, Zach Melloh. “… My head says in plain common sense that IU is going to steamroll Purdue. My heart, and if you’re going to ask me for a prediction, I’m going to say Purdue by a field goal.”

As is tradition, Saturday’s game will serve as a regular season finale for both teams. For Purdue, which has 1-10 overall and 0-8 conference records this season, the game will be the last of the year.

If Indiana wins Saturday’s contest, it would be in good position to earn a spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff. The Hoosiers were No. 10 in this week’s rankings.

“It would be tough to leave an 11-1 team from the Big Ten out of the college football playoff,” Hunt said.

“There’s a lot of meaning behind it,” Melloh added. “You win and you’re more than likely in the playoffs, which would be huge for IU as a school and for just IU football fans in general.”

This year’s Old Oaken Bucket Game starts at 19 at Memorial Stadium. It also airs live on FS1.