Purdue Week! Rhett Lewis on the Old Oaken Bucket Rivalry, Purdue Scouting Report & Mike Katic Joins

It’s Purdue Week on The Big Red Carpet! Rhett Lewis dives deep into what the Old Oaken Bucket means to Indiana players, coaches, and fans — past and present. He shares his own rivalry memories, looks back at legendary IU–Purdue moments, and previews this year’s matchup with a full Purdue scouting report.

Plus: Rhett gives an exclusive preview of his Substack interview with IU football alumnus Mike Katic, captain of last year’s 66–0 win over Purdue, reflecting on what it felt like to raise the Bucket in the snow.

💬 Drop your predictions below — how does Indiana finish the regular season?

⏱️ Timestamps:

0:00 – Opening montage: “Roll out the Big Red Carpet!”
0:30 – It’s Purdue Week! Emotions, tradition, and rivalry intensity
1:00 – Why IU–Purdue is one of the greatest rivalries in college sports
1:45 – “What have you done to beat Purdue today?” — IU’s daily mantra
2:10 – The legacy and symbolism of the Old Oaken Bucket
2:30 – Rhett’s personal memories as a player during Bucket Week
3:00 – 2001 game recollection: cold weather, goal-line stand, and fan rush
4:00 – Winning moments, goalpost celebration, and campus stories
5:00 – Historic photo reel: IU–Purdue moments through the decades
6:00 – The 66–0 snow game in Bloomington: dominance revisited
6:45 – Introducing IU alumnus Mike Katic (Big Red Carpet Substack guest)
7:15 – Mike Katic clip: what the Bucket means to Indiana players
8:00 – Mike on raising the Bucket, the snow, and IU tradition
9:00 – Rhett reflects on Katic’s leadership and IU’s culture shift
10:00 – Transition: Purdue scouting report
10:45 – Respect for Barry Odom and why rivalry games matter most
11:15 – Purdue’s record and recent close calls vs top competition
12:00 – QB situation: Ryan Browne vs. Malachi Singleton
13:00 – What makes Singleton dangerous and how IU will prepare
14:00 – Purdue’s RB room: injuries to Mockobee, depth behind him
15:00 – Key offensive playmakers: Harris, Thomas, Tuggle, and Jackson
16:00 – O-line rotation and strengths in run blocking
17:00 – Defensive leaders: Manny Powell, Charles Correia, and CJ Nunley
18:00 – Schemes that mirror Indiana’s “havoc” defense
18:45 – Secondary standouts: Tony Grimes and Taj Reale
19:00 – IU injury updates: Sarratt, Kamara, and Drew Evans
20:00 – Emotional balance in rivalry games: composure and discipline
21:00 – How Purdue’s desperation makes them dangerous
22:00 – Big picture: Indiana’s playoff push & Bucket motivation
22:40 – Series history: IU closing the gap in recent years
23:00 – Purdue’s struggles vs ranked teams
23:15 – Rhett’s closing thoughts & Substack chat info