For Indiana, it would mean assuring bowl eligibility.
For Purdue, it would mean ending an otherwise dismal season on a high note.
By nature, the annual Old Oaken Bucket game always has meaning. But this season’s edition between the Hoosiers (5-6, 1-6 Big Ten) and Boilermakers (2-9, 1-6) on Saturday at Ross-Ade Stadium could have a little extra.
“This could take away a lot of the sting that we’re all feeling,” Purdue coach Darrell Hazell said. “This is a huge game for our players, and we want to make sure we do it the right way, and go out in the right fashion.
“It’s a huge game for us as a program. Not only our seniors and our guys coming back, but as a program, it’s a gigantic game for us. This’ll help springboard us into a great offseason, and give us some energy, some reinforcement.”
Looking ahead to next season is all Purdue has left.
Indiana, meanwhile, needs one win to reach the plateau of six, after beating Maryland on the road to end a six-game losing streak. Depending on scenarios, even at 5-7, the Hoosiers still could reach the postseason for the first time since 2007 and second since 1993.
But they clearly would prefer to remove any doubt.
Still, the Hoosiers have been attempting to remain focused, not deviating from their typical routine.
“We’re not going to play a game with a lot of pressure,” Indiana coach Kevin Wilson said. “Our pressure is going to be to prepare, and then go up there and play hard.
“This should be the best week we’ve had because it’s the next one, and that’s all. Not because it’s the rival or any other records or implication, this should be our best week because it’s the next. That way our kids can approach it with some confidence and not have stress, not have worry, and same with coaches.”
Still, Wilson has an appreciation for the matchup.
“We’re very fortunate to have a great rival, and have a lot of respect for their team,” he said. “Through my years from high school as a player through college and where I’ve coached, I’ve been lucky to be able to be at a place with good rivals. Not everyone has that blessing.
“It’s nice that we have fan bases from both sides, there’s a lot of talk, and we have a great rival. And we embrace that.”
Indiana has won the last two Bucket games, each of Hazell’s first two seasons. The Hoosiers have not won three straight in the series since they won four in a row from 1944-47.
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“It’s about winning the football game and getting that Bucket back, more so than anything else,” Hazell said.
“This means something to everybody in this state. So it’s a very significant moment, those 31/2 hours on Saturday.”
The Boilermakers likely will be without quarterback David Blough, with Austin Appleby getting the start. Blough suffered a concussion at Iowa, and Hazell termed him “probably doubtful,” though he will be evaluated “day to day.”
Appleby, who started the season’s first three games, played well against the Hawkeyes in relief of Blough, who has started eight straight games. If Appleby gets the call, he will be the first Purdue quarterback to start back-to-back Bucket games since Curtis Painter in 2007 and ’08.
The status of Hoosiers running back Jordan Howard was uncertain, after he left their game against the Terrapins with a knee injury.
“They’re a different team with him in the backfield,” Hazell said.
Twitter: @MichaelOsipoff