There's no denying that the Purdue Boilermakers are the biggest rivals of the Indiana Hoosiers. The Battle for the Old Oaken Bucket is among the most historic rivalries in college football, and bringing that bucket home to Bloomington is a top goal every year.
At the same time, Indiana also owns strong rivalries with several other Big Ten programs. Beating those rivals is always a thrill, and every victory adds another memorable chapter to Indiana's football tradition.
Here is a look back at 5 of Indiana's biggest rivalry wins over the last decade.
5. 2016: Indiana 26 Purdue 24
Indiana's 26-24 win over Purdue in the Battle for the Old Oaken Bucket was a great day to be a Hoosier. Indiana entered the contest looking to gain bowl eligibility, and trailed 22-17 entering the 4th quarter.
After kicking a field goal early in the 4th, the Hoosiers orchestrated an 11-play, 61-yard drive that resulted in a Devine Redding touchdown with 5 minutes to go. The win not only gave IU bowl eligibility, but gave the Hoosiers their fourth consecutive Old Oaken Bucket.
4. 2025: No. 19 Indiana 63 No. 9 Illinois 10
Despite coming off a College Football Playoff appearance in Cignetti's first season, the Hoosiers were still being heavily doubted as National Championship contenders in Year 2 of the Cignetti era. That all changed on September 20 when the 9th-ranked Illinois Fighting Illini came to Bloomington. Illinois was receiving plenty of hype at the time, but Cignetti and company made sure to put that to an end.
The Hoosiers orchestrated an overwhelmingly dominant performance from start to finish. Winning by a score of 63-10, Indiana's emphatic victory forced everybody to acknowledge the Hoosiers as serious title contenders.
3. 2019: Indiana 44 Purdue 41 (2OT)
This was simply one of the best games in the history of the Old Oaken Bucket. In a hard fought back-and-forth contest, the Hoosiers prevailed in a double overtime thriller by a score of 44-41. Hoosier QB Peyton Ramsey was fantastic, as he completed 23 of his 39 pass attempts for 337 yards and 3 touchdowns while also rushing 19 times for 42 yards and the game-winning touchdown in double overtime.
Curt Cignetti's domination of Purdue has Indiana fans smiling from ear to ear
It was the kind of emotional roller coaster that fans will remember for decades to come. The rivalry win also gave Indiana its first 8-win season since 1993, and its first winning record in Big Ten play since 1993.
2. 2020: Indiana 36 No. 8 Penn State 35 (OT)
The Hoosiers began the 2020 season by hosting No. 8 Penn State. The Nittany Lions were viewed as National Championship contenders, while Indiana was not given much attention despite coming off an 8-win season the year before. The Hoosiers then went on to shock the college football world in one of the most memorable upsets in recent memory.
Trailing 28-20 late in the 4th quarter, Indiana ran a perfect 2-minute drill and went on a 7-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that lasted just a minute and 20 seconds. Needing 2 points to send the game to overtime, QB Michael Penix Jr. came through in the clutch with a 1-yard rush to send the game to overtime.
After Penn State scored a touchdown in overtime, the Hoosiers answered with a touchdown of their own. Instead of kicking the extra point and heading to a second overtime, the Hoosiers went for 2. Penix then made one of the most iconic plays in Indiana football history to lead Indiana to a momentous victory.
Michael Penix stuns No. 8 Penn State in OT 💥#OTD in 2020, @IndianaFootball took down the Nittany Lions off this diving 2-point conversion 😱#TBT x #B1GFootball pic.twitter.com/rC2sR9fNlT
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) October 24, 2024
1. 2025: No. 2 Indiana 13 No. 1 Ohio State 10
Last year's Big Ten Championship Game was one for the ages. The Hoosiers had rolled to a perfect 12-0 regular season and were now looking to de-throne the defending National Championship under the bright lights. In a battle between No. 1 Ohio State and No. 2 Indiana, a wildly physical, intense, and defensive game ensued. The Hoosiers prevailed by a score of 13-10, and the win carried an immense amount of significance.
The victory gave Indiana its first Big Ten title since 1967 and locked up the the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff. Furthermore, the monumental win over the Buckeyes signaled a shift in the college football landscape. The win showed that Indiana can beat anyone in the country –– even though IU fans already knew that –– but now that fact could no longer be ignored by the national media and general public. It also spring-boarded IU's run to a national title.
The Hoosiers and Buckeyes are in the midst of a contentious rivalry that is sure to deliver more fireworks when they meet on October 17 in Bloomington.
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