Gold and Black Radio: Purdue-Indiana preview

The staff of GoldandBlack.com breaks down Friday’s Purdue-IU Old Oaken Bucket matchup and much more in our last preview show of the 2025 football season. Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Audio only

Two Key matchups

(excerpt from Jordan Jones’ Matchup Preview)

Date/Time: Friday, November 28, 7:30 p.m. EST

Location: Ross-Ade Stadium

Surface: Bermuda Grass

Capacity: 61,441 (tickets)

2025 schedules/records: Purdue 2-9 (0-8 Big Ten) | Indiana 11-0 (8-0 Big Ten)

Series notes: Purdue and Indiana will square off for the 127th time on Saturday, marking the 100th meeting where the winner will take home the Old Oaken Bucket. Purdue holds a significant advantage, leading the series 77-43-6. But, the trophy resides in Bloomington currently. Last season, Indiana’s 66-0 victory over Purdue came as the largest defeat in Purdue football history. In games played in West Lafayette, Purdue leads 42-23-4, and it’s won the last two meetings on Rohrman Field.

TV: NBC (PxP Paul Burmeister, Analyst Yogi Roth, Sidelines Zora Stephenson)

Radio: Purdue Sports Properties (PxP Tim Newton, Analyst Mark Herrmann, Sidelines Kelly Kitchel)

Line: Indiana -28.5, O/U 52.5

Weather: The forecast shows a high of 37, low of 32 with cloudy skies

Purdue Roster | Purdue Game Notes

Indiana Roster | Indiana Game Notes

Pregame: First Look: Indiana | First and 10: Indiana | Purdue, Barry Odom brace for Bucket battle vs. No. 2 Indiana | The 3-2-1: As Bucket hits 100, three Purdue-IU games that still echo |

https://youtube.com/watch?v=edD8ShSB5QI%3Ffeature%3Doembed

Indiana running game versus Purdue against the run

Indiana boasts a top-15 running game nationally, ranking third in the Big Ten with an average of 218 yards per game on the ground. Maryland transfer Roman Hemby leads the Hoosier backfield, but it’s a balanced attack. Hemby gets tough yards, while Kaelon Black and Khobie Martin offer more pop.

Quarterback Fernando Mendoza will use his legs, too. He’s scored five touchdowns on the ground and will threaten defense with both designed runs and scrambles. Part of Indiana’s success in the run game comes from the strength of the offensive line, which was named a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award, given to the nation’s top offensive line unit.

Purdue’s run defense ranks 14th in the conference, allowing 166 yards per game on the ground. Missed tackles remain a major issue for the Boilermakers. The last time Purdue missed fewer than 13 tackles in a game? All the way back in the loss at Minnesota. Purdue’s interior of the defensive line looks promising for the future, though. Chops Harkless and Ian Jeffries continue to play well, and TJ Lindsey looked solid before an early-season injury. The linebacking corps must clean things up when tackling, but it’s been one of Purdue’s better groups of linebackers in recent memory.

Indiana passing game versus Purdue against the pass

Entering the final week of the regular season, Bet MGM lists Mendoza as the odds-on favorite (-105) to win the Heisman Trophy. He’s turned in a spectacular season since transferring from Cal, highlighted by a game-winning touchdown pass to avoid an upset at Penn State. His 73% completion percentage ranks third nationally, and he’s tossed 30 touchdowns to just five interceptions. Mendoza has dominated interior defenses, and when given ample opportunity to throw, he will pick defenses apart.

Mendoza’s performance gets boosted by a dangerous duo at wide receiver. Elijah Sarratt, who missed the last two games with an injury, will return on Friday. He earned All-Big Ten honors last season and looks primed for the same again this year. In his absence, Omar Cooper Jr. made the “catch of the year” to win the game at Penn State. Charlie Becker has emerged recently as a target, and EJ Williams Jr. presents another weapon. The Hoosiers deploy a well-rounded passing attack.

Purdue enters the season’s final week sitting last in the Big Ten in pass defense, allowing nearly 250 yards per game. Six of Purdue’s 11 opponents reached the 275-yard mark through the air, taking advantage of a vulnerable Purdue secondary. While Purdue’s 24 sacks rank eighth in the conference, those come at a cost. Purdue often needs to bring extra rushers to get home, making the back end of the defense vulnerable to big plays. It’s a “can’t win” situation for Purdue.