Ranking the top 10 best Big Ten football rivalries

8. Indiana vs. Purdue

Another rivalry on this list that fails to register on the national radar, but it is very meaningful to the teams. State pride, bragging rights and the Old Oaken Bucket are on the line when Indiana and Purdue meet.

Indiana and Purdue first met on the football field in 1891 and have met annually since 1920. The Old Oaken Bucket has been contested since 1925. It is tradition for the winner of the game to have a bronze “I” or “P” added to the bucket’s chain. The date, score, and city where the game is played is engraved on the link. When Maryland and Rutgers joined the conference in 2014, the Bucket game was the only cross-division rivalry preserved for an annual meeting.

Purdue leads the all-time series 74-41-6. The last three years have been close battles, with Indiana winning to close out the 2016 season and Purdue winning the last two. All those contests were decided by seven points or less. Last year’s win was particularly emotional with Purdue superfan Tyler Trent on hand for the post-game celebration.

Purdue head coach Jeff Brohm seems to be turning the Boilermakers around and the Hoosiers always seem on the cusp of breaking out. The rivalry could be even bigger if the teams can keep improving.