The Old Oaken Bucket & Bowl game are on the line for Purdue

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Purdue Football will try to close out the regular season with a three-game winning streak and become bowl eligible for the second straight season when the Boilermakers host Indiana Saturday.

After back to back road wins for the first time since 2009, the Boilermakers return home with one thing on their mind, the Old Oaken Bucket.

“It's very clear that you don't care what the records are, you don't lose to IU. It was awesome just being here and seeing this rivalry. It's something I'm happy to be a part of especially since I'm starting now and I really want to get the W for Purdue,” said senior quarterback Robert Marve.

“You want to kill these guys just as bad as they want to kill us. We know these guys are going to come out with a bang just like they normally do. As far as us, we need to take it up a couple of notches,” said senior defensive tackle Kawann Short.

It's a rivalry game that dates back to 1891. For Purdue and head coach Danny Hope. It's one game with more than a traveling trophy on the line.

“I've been a Boilermaker now for ten years as a coach. I know the magnitude of this game and it's one that I look forward to every year. Our approach over the last two or three weeks is to be lose and be wide open and have a lot of fun. That will be the approach that we take into this game,” said Purdue head coach Danny Hope.

After a blowout loss at Minnesota, the Boilermakers had a team meeting and came to the conclusion that it was now or never. It's only fitting that a win over Indiana would propel Purdue to a 6-6 record and a bowl game appearance.