BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – November 30, 2024:
The Old Oaken Bucket will spend another long, cold year in Bloomington after the Purdue Boilermakers endured a season-ending 66-0 dismantling at the hands of the No. 10 Indiana Hoosiers. In a rivalry game where the final score is the only thing that matters, the scoreboard at Memorial Stadium told a brutal and historic tale. For a Boilermaker team and its faithful, it was the most painful conclusion imaginable to a trying 1-11 campaign, marking the most lopsided loss in the 126-game history of the storied rivalry.
BLOOMINGTON, IN - NOVEMBER 30, 2024: Purdue University Senior Wide Receiver Andrew Sowinski (26)races passed a diving Indiana University Redshirt Senior K Derek McCormick (43) as Indiana University Redshirt 5th Year Senior DB Cedarius Doss (13) looks to cut him off during the Purdue University Boilermakers at Indiana University Hoosiers Football game at Memorial Stadium. (Photo by Steve Bowen / Bowen Arrow Photography / Northern Indiana Sports Report)
From the opening possession, the night felt destined for despair. A methodical Indiana offense, led by quarterback Kurtis Rourke, moved with an unnerving ease that the Boilermakers simply had no answer for. The Hoosiers’ initial touchdown was a sign of the deluge to come, as they would find the end zone nine times, compiling a staggering 582 yards of offense and leaving the Purdue defense grasping at air.
Rourke played with surgical precision, carving up the Boilermaker secondary for 349 yards and a record-tying six touchdowns. Every attempt by the Purdue defense to gain a foothold was met with another big play, most notably an 84-yard touchdown strike in the second quarter that silenced any remaining flicker of hope on the visitor's sideline.
While the Hoosiers celebrated, the Purdue offense looked completely lost at sea. The final stat line was a gut punch: a mere 67 yards of total offense, just one more yard than the points Indiana hung on the scoreboard. The Boilermakers managed only five first downs all night and failed on all 11 of their third-down attempts, an exercise in utter futility against a swarming Hoosier defense.
BLOOMINGTON, IN - NOVEMBER 30, 2024: Purdue University Senior Fullback Ben Furtney (41) during the Purdue University Boilermakers at Indiana University Hoosiers Football game at Memorial Stadium(Photo by Steve Bowen / Bowen Arrow Photography / Northern Indiana Sports Report)
BLOOMINGTON, IN - NOVEMBER 30, 2024: Purdue University Boilermakers at Indiana University Hoosiers Football game at Memorial Stadium(Photo by Steve Bowen / Bowen Arrow Photography / Northern Indiana Sports Report)
BLOOMINGTON, IN - NOVEMBER 30, 2024: Purdue University Senior Kicker Ben Freehill (39) during the Purdue University Boilermakers at Indiana University Hoosiers Football game at Memorial Stadium(Photo by Steve Bowen / Bowen Arrow Photography / Northern Indiana Sports Report)
BLOOMINGTON, IN - NOVEMBER 30, 2024: Purdue University Junior Defensive Back Nyland Green (2), Purdue University Sophomore Rush End Will Heldt (15), Purdue University Freshman Defensive Back Hudauri Hines (16) during the Purdue University Boilermakers at Indiana University Hoosiers Football game at Memorial Stadium(Photo by Steve Bowen / Bowen Arrow Photography / Northern Indiana Sports Report)
BLOOMINGTON, IN - NOVEMBER 30, 2024: Purdue University Redshirt Freshman Wide Receiver Arhmad Branch (6), Purdue University Sophomore Defensive Back Dillon Thieneman (31) during the Purdue University Boilermakers at Indiana University Hoosiers Football game at Memorial Stadium(Photo by Steve Bowen / Bowen Arrow Photography / Northern Indiana Sports Report)
BLOOMINGTON, IN - NOVEMBER 30, 2024: Purdue University Junior Defensive Back Nyland Green (2), Indiana University 5th Year Senior WR Myles Price (4) during the Purdue University Boilermakers at Indiana University Hoosiers Football game at Memorial Stadium(Photo by Steve Bowen / Bowen Arrow Photography / Northern Indiana Sports Report)
BLOOMINGTON, IN - NOVEMBER 30, 2024: Indiana University Redshirt 5th Year Senior QB Kurtis Rourke (9) during the Purdue University Boilermakers at Indiana University Hoosiers Football game at Memorial Stadium(Photo by Steve Bowen / Bowen Arrow Photography / Northern Indiana Sports Report)
BLOOMINGTON, IN - NOVEMBER 30, 2024: Indiana University 5th Year Senior WR Ke'Shawn Williams (5), Indiana University Junior WR Elijah Sarratt (13), Indiana University 5th Year Senior OL Tyler Stephens (77), Indiana University Redshirt Senior OL Trey Wedig (75), Indiana University 5th Year Senior RB Justice Ellison (6) during the Purdue University Boilermakers at Indiana University Hoosiers Football game at Memorial Stadium(Photo by Steve Bowen / Bowen Arrow Photography / Northern Indiana Sports Report)
BLOOMINGTON, IN - NOVEMBER 30, 2024: Indiana Hoosier Kris Kringle (Santa Claus) during the Purdue University Boilermakers at Indiana University Hoosiers Football game at Memorial Stadium(Photo by Steve Bowen / Bowen Arrow Photography / Northern Indiana Sports Report)
BLOOMINGTON, IN - NOVEMBER 30, 2024: Purdue University Boilermakers at Indiana University Hoosiers Football game at Memorial Stadium(Photo by Steve Bowen / Bowen Arrow Photography / Northern Indiana Sports Report)
BLOOMINGTON, IN - NOVEMBER 30, 2024: Purdue University Sophomore Tight End Max Klare (86), Indiana University Redshirt Senior DB Terry Jones Jr. (12) during the Purdue University Boilermakers at Indiana University Hoosiers Football game at Memorial Stadium(Photo by Steve Bowen / Bowen Arrow Photography / Northern Indiana Sports Report)
BLOOMINGTON, IN - NOVEMBER 30, 2024: Indiana University 5th Year Senior WR Myles Price (4) during the Purdue University Boilermakers at Indiana University Hoosiers Football game at Memorial Stadium(Photo by Steve Bowen / Bowen Arrow Photography / Northern Indiana Sports Report)
BLOOMINGTON, IN - NOVEMBER 30, 2024: Indiana University Head Coach Curt Cignetti during the Purdue University Boilermakers at Indiana University Hoosiers Football game at Memorial Stadium(Photo by Steve Bowen / Bowen Arrow Photography / Northern Indiana Sports Report)
BLOOMINGTON, IN - NOVEMBER 30, 2024: Purdue University Senior Quaterback Hudson Card (1) during the Purdue University Boilermakers at Indiana University Hoosiers Football game at Memorial Stadium(Photo by Steve Bowen / Bowen Arrow Photography / Northern Indiana Sports Report)
BLOOMINGTON, IN - NOVEMBER 30, 2024: Purdue University Spirit Squad Cheerleading during the Purdue University Boilermakers at Indiana University Hoosiers Football game at Memorial Stadium(Photo by Steve Bowen / Bowen Arrow Photography / Northern Indiana Sports Report)
BLOOMINGTON, IN - NOVEMBER 30, 2024: Purdue University Junior Running Back Devin Mockobee (45) during the Purdue University Boilermakers at Indiana University Hoosiers Football game at Memorial Stadium(Photo by Steve Bowen / Bowen Arrow Photography / Northern Indiana Sports Report)
BLOOMINGTON, IN - NOVEMBER 30, 2024: Purdue University Junior Running Back Devin Mockobee (45), Indiana University Senior DB Shawn Asbury II (1) during the Purdue University Boilermakers at Indiana University Hoosiers Football game at Memorial Stadium(Photo by Steve Bowen / Bowen Arrow Photography / Northern Indiana Sports Report)
BLOOMINGTON, IN - NOVEMBER 30, 2024: Indiana University Redshirt Senior DL CJ West (8), Indiana University Senior DB Shawn Asbury II (1) during the Purdue University Boilermakers at Indiana University Hoosiers Football game at Memorial Stadium(Photo by Steve Bowen / Bowen Arrow Photography / Northern Indiana Sports Report)
BLOOMINGTON, IN - NOVEMBER 30, 2024: Indiana University Redshirt 5th Year Senior QB Kurtis Rourke (9), Indiana University Redshirt 5th Year Senior RB Ty Son Lawton (17) during the Purdue University Boilermakers at Indiana University Hoosiers Football game at Memorial Stadium(Photo by Steve Bowen / Bowen Arrow Photography / Northern Indiana Sports Report)
BLOOMINGTON, IN - NOVEMBER 30, 2024: Purdue University Senior Linebacker Kydran Jenkins (4) during the Purdue University Boilermakers at Indiana University Hoosiers Football game at Memorial Stadium(Photo by Steve Bowen / Bowen Arrow Photography / Northern Indiana Sports Report)
BLOOMINGTON, IN - NOVEMBER 30, 2024: Purdue University Senior Defensive Lineman Joe Anderson (95), Indiana University Redshirt Sophomore OL Carter Smith (65) during the Purdue University Boilermakers at Indiana University Hoosiers Football game at Memorial Stadium(Photo by Steve Bowen / Bowen Arrow Photography / Northern Indiana Sports Report)
BLOOMINGTON, IN - NOVEMBER 30, 2024: Indiana University Junior WR Elijah Sarratt (13), Indiana University 5th Year Senior WR Ke'Shawn Williams (5) during the Purdue University Boilermakers at Indiana University Hoosiers Football game at Memorial Stadium(Photo by Steve Bowen / Bowen Arrow Photography / Northern Indiana Sports Report)
BLOOMINGTON, IN - NOVEMBER 30, 2024: Purdue University Mascot Purdue Pete during the Purdue University Boilermakers at Indiana University Hoosiers Football game at Memorial Stadium(Photo by Steve Bowen / Bowen Arrow Photography / Northern Indiana Sports Report)
BLOOMINGTON, IN - NOVEMBER 30, 2024: Indiana University 5th Year Senior WR Ke'Shawn Williams (5), Purdue University Junior Defensive Back Kyndrich Breedlove (10) during the Purdue University Boilermakers at Indiana University Hoosiers Football game at Memorial Stadium(Photo by Steve Bowen / Bowen Arrow Photography / Northern Indiana Sports Report)
BLOOMINGTON, IN - NOVEMBER 30, 2024: Indiana University Redshirt 5th Year Senior QB Kurtis Rourke (9) during the Purdue University Boilermakers at Indiana University Hoosiers Football game at Memorial Stadium(Photo by Steve Bowen / Bowen Arrow Photography / Northern Indiana Sports Report)
BLOOMINGTON, IN - NOVEMBER 30, 2024: Purdue University Redshirt Freshman Quaterback Ryan Browne (15) during the Purdue University Boilermakers at Indiana University Hoosiers Football game at Memorial Stadium(Photo by Steve Bowen / Bowen Arrow Photography / Northern Indiana Sports Report)
BLOOMINGTON, IN - NOVEMBER 30, 2024: Purdue University Senior Wide Receiver Andrew Sowinski (26) during the Purdue University Boilermakers at Indiana University Hoosiers Football game at Memorial Stadium(Photo by Steve Bowen / Bowen Arrow Photography / Northern Indiana Sports Report)
BLOOMINGTON, IN - NOVEMBER 30, 2024: Purdue University Redshirt Freshman Wide Receiver Arhmad Branch (6) during the Purdue University Boilermakers at Indiana University Hoosiers Football game at Memorial Stadium(Photo by Steve Bowen / Bowen Arrow Photography / Northern Indiana Sports Report)
BLOOMINGTON, IN - NOVEMBER 30, 2024: Purdue University Senior Quaterback Hudson Card (1), Indiana University Senior LB Jailin Walker (2) during the Purdue University Boilermakers at Indiana University Hoosiers Football game at Memorial Stadium(Photo by Steve Bowen / Bowen Arrow Photography / Northern Indiana Sports Report)
BLOOMINGTON, IN - NOVEMBER 30, 2024: Indiana University Senior TE Zach Horton (44), Purdue University Senior Defensive Back Antonio Stevens (11) during the Purdue University Boilermakers at Indiana University Hoosiers Football game at Memorial Stadium(Photo by Steve Bowen / Bowen Arrow Photography / Northern Indiana Sports Report)
BLOOMINGTON, IN - NOVEMBER 30, 2024: Indiana University Junior WR Elijah Sarratt (13) during the Purdue University Boilermakers at Indiana University Hoosiers Football game at Memorial Stadium(Photo by Steve Bowen / Bowen Arrow Photography / Northern Indiana Sports Report)
Quarterback Hudson Card, who fought through a difficult season, was overwhelmed in the first half, leading to Ryan Browne taking over in the third quarter. But no change under center could solve the fundamental issues, as the offensive line collapsed under the pressure, providing no time to throw and no lanes for a running game that was held to a paltry 13 yards. The offense was plagued by five turnovers, each one seeming to pour more salt in the wound as Indiana efficiently turned them into more points.
For a program that prides itself on grit and resilience, the performance was a hard pill to swallow. Even as the deficit ballooned, the Hoosiers kept their foot on the gas, executing a fake punt while up 38-0 in the third quarter, a move that felt less like strategy and more like a final, emphatic statement in a one-sided affair.
“There's not a lot to say,” a visibly defeated Head Coach Ryan Walters stated. “We were outcoached and outplayed in every facet of the game. It's a completely unacceptable performance, and it's on me to get it fixed. This will be a long offseason of evaluation for our program.”
If there was a single beacon of light in the darkness of the 2024 season, it was sophomore tight end Max Klare. He once again led the team with five catches, capping a breakout year where he became the team’s leading receiver. His effort, even as the game was hopelessly out of reach, stood as a small testament to the fight that will be required to climb out of this hole.
As Indiana paraded the Old Oaken Bucket around their home turf, with sights set on the College Football Playoff, the Boilermakers were left with the bitter taste of a historic rivalry loss. The long road back to respectability, and to bringing the Bucket back home to West Lafayette, begins now.
