Indiana vs Purdue Prediction: Can the Boilermakers Make This a Game?

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The Old Oaken Bucket game took a strange turn.

Purdue had won three straight in the series, and everything seemed right with the Boilermaker world.

And then Curt Cignetti showed up in Bloomington. Indiana became a superpower, and last year’s rivalry game was a 66-0 wipeout.

This time around, the Hoosiers are trying to stay healthy and ready for the games ahead that truly matter, at least at a national level. Indiana is destined to be in the Big Ten Championship next week, and it should be rested after getting two weeks off.

Purdue hasn’t hit a wall. It wasn’t awful in Big Ten play in the first year under Barry Odom, but it got wiped out by Ohio State and Washington, it’s on a nine-game losing streak, and no one will car if it can pull off the impossible.

Indiana vs Purdue Preview

Nov 15, 2025; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) motions to his team during the second half against the Wisconsin Badgers at Memorial Stadium. © Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images

How To Watch Indiana vs Purdue

Date: Saturday, November 29, 2025
Game Time: 7:30 PM ET
TV: NBC
Location: Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, IN
@PeteFiutak

Why Indiana Will Win

Purdue’s defense won’t get off the field.

Indiana cares about every game – the mindset under Cignetti is to win everything – but if it gets the chance to piledrive the rival, it’ll do it. That will come from owning third downs.

Last year’s Hoosier team wasn’t nearly as sharp offensively on third downs. It converted half of its tries against Purdue and won 66-0. On the other side, the Boilermaker offense went 0-for-11.

IU is No. 1 in the nation in third down conversions, producing at a 57% clip, and the defense is No. 2 behind Texas A&M. However …

Oct 18, 2025; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Purdue Boilermakers head coach Barry Odom takes the field with his team in a game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium. © David Banks-Imagn Images

Why Purdue Will Win

If the Indiana offense isn’t thrown off its rhythm, forget it.

Okay, Barry Odom and the Purdue coaching staff. Time to do that defensive coaching thing you’re so great at.

It’s been a grind this year defensively. The Boilermakers don’t have much of a pass rush, and they’re not taking the ball away, but they have to dial up everything in the playbook to generate pressure on Fernando Mendoza.

As it turns out, getting to the quarterback is one of the things Purdue does relatively well. It’s not amazing at it, but it has enough to pop to be a bother.

Indiana vs Purdue Prediction, Betting Lines

Forgetting the rivalry matchup, the mismatch in styles, production, and fortunes, this is an awful matchup for Purdue.

Indiana is way too efficient and effective, and Purdue’s biggest problem – conversions and big stops – will be magnified.

It’ll be a good first ten minutes, and then … uh oh.

Indiana 52, Purdue 10
Line: Indiana -28.5, o/u: 54.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3.5
Must See Rating: 2.5

Consensus Line from BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, and FanDuel. Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.

– CFN Top 25 Rankings

This story was originally reported by College Football News on Nov 25, 2025, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add College Football News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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