You’ve probably seen the memes. One side of the state is wearing cream and crimson, the other is decked out in old gold and black, and everyone is suddenly an expert on the history of farm equipment. It’s the battle for the Old Oaken Bucket. If you’re looking for the IU Purdue football game time, you’re usually looking at a late-November showdown, but the 2025 season actually threw us a bit of a curveball with a Friday night lights special.
Last season, the Hoosiers and Boilermakers met on Friday, November 28, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. ET. It wasn't your typical Saturday afternoon affair. The game aired nationally on NBC and Peacock, taking over the prime-time slot usually reserved for the pros. Why the Friday move? Basically, the Big Ten loves that post-Thanksgiving TV window. It gets eyes on the screen while everyone is still full of turkey and looking for a reason to ignore their relatives.
Why the IU Purdue Football Game Time Always Shifts
Timing is everything in college football, but for this rivalry, it’s mostly about the networks. Historically, this was a 1:00 p.m. or 3:30 p.m. kickoff. Then came the Big Ten’s massive media deals. Now? You’re just as likely to be tailgating in the dark.
For the most recent clash at Ross-Ade Stadium, the 7:30 p.m. start meant fans were dealing with temperatures that dropped into the mid-20s. Honestly, that’s just Indiana football for you. If you aren't shivering while holding a plastic cup, are you even at a Bucket game?
A Quick Look at the 2025 Results
Indiana came into that game as a massive 28.5-point favorite. That sounds like a lot for a rivalry game, right? Well, they covered. And then some.
- Final Score: Indiana 56, Purdue 3
- The Vibe: IU was chasing a perfect 12-0 season.
- The Outcome: The Hoosiers secured their first-ever perfect regular season and a trip to the Big Ten Championship.
The discrepancy was wild. IU’s defense was a brick wall, holding Purdue to almost nothing, while the Hoosiers' offense, led by the likes of Elijah Sarratt and Kaelon Black, basically did whatever they wanted. It was the largest margin of victory in the series since Indiana’s 52-7 win back in 1988.
Navigating Ross-Ade Stadium and Memorial Stadium
If you’re planning for the next one, you’ve got to get the logistics right. Whether the IU Purdue football game time is at noon or night, parking in West Lafayette or Bloomington is a nightmare.
At Purdue, the Intramural (IM) Fields are the legendary spot for tailgating. They open eight hours before kickoff, but if the game is at 7:30 p.m., they don't open earlier than 8:00 a.m. usually. You have to buy these passes in advance because they sell out months ahead of time. I’m serious. If you show up on game day thinking you’ll just "find a spot," you’re going to end up parking in a random yard three miles away and paying 50 bucks for the privilege.
Tailgating Survival Guide
- Propane only: Purdue doesn't allow charcoal grills on university property.
- The "Breakfast Club" factor: If the game is in West Lafayette, people dress up in costumes and hit the bars at 5:00 a.m. It doesn't matter if the game is at night. The drinking starts when the sun comes up.
- Shuttles: Both schools run free shuttles from the farther lots. Use them. Your legs will thank you after four hours of standing on concrete.
The Trophy Nobody Wants to Lose
We call it the Old Oaken Bucket, but it’s actually a moss-covered bucket found on a farm in 1925. It came from the Bruner farm between Kent and Hanover, Indiana. There’s some family lore that Confederate General John Hunt Morgan even drank from it during the Civil War.
Every year, the winner adds a brass link to the chain—either an "I" or a "P." If they tie (which hasn't happened since 1925, 1916, and a few other rare spots), they add an "I-P" link. Right now, the chain is incredibly long and heavy.
Purdue still leads the all-time series significantly—we’re talking 76-44-6—but the last decade has been much more of a back-and-forth. Indiana had a nice four-game win streak from 2013 to 2016, and lately, the Hoosiers have been the ones holding the hardware more often than not.
What to Watch for in the Future
As we look toward the 2026 season and beyond, the IU Purdue football game time will likely stay in that Thanksgiving weekend slot. With the Big Ten expanding to 18 teams (hello, USC and Oregon), the conference schedule is a bit of a jigsaw puzzle. However, the Bucket game is a protected rivalry. It’s not going anywhere.
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If you’re a fan, you need to keep an eye on the TV designations about 12 days before the game. That’s when the "6-day or 12-day window" kicks in, and the networks decide if they want the game at Noon, 3:30, or in prime time.
Actionable Steps for Fans
- Download the Apps: Get the official IU Hoosiers or Purdue Boilermakers app. They push the kickoff time alerts the second they are finalized.
- Book Hotels in June: Seriously. If you wait until the season starts to find a room in Bloomington or West Lafayette for Bucket weekend, you’re staying in a Motel 6 an hour away.
- Layer Up: November in Indiana is bipolar. It might be 55 degrees at kickoff and 22 by the fourth quarter.
- Check the Clear Bag Policy: Both stadiums are strict. If your bag isn't clear and small, it's going back to the car.
The rivalry is about more than just a score. It's about bragging rights in the office on Monday. It’s about that heavy, old bucket that smells like history. Whether the game is at noon or midnight, make sure you’re there for the kickoff.
Next Steps for Your Game Day:
Check the official Big Ten schedule updates in early November. This is when the flexible scheduling for the final week of the season is usually locked in. If you haven't secured a parking pass yet, look for secondary market sites like StubHub or SeatGeek, as university-allotted passes for the rivalry game are typically gone by mid-October.