Big Ten Sets 2025 Purdue, Indiana Football Kickoffs Including Friday Rivalry

The 2025 Big Ten football schedule features several notable Friday night games, including the highly anticipated Old Oaken Bucket rivalry between Indiana and Purdue, which will be played on Black Friday, November 28, at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time and broadcast on NBC. This is a rare Friday kickoff for the Bucket Game, which has only occurred once before in 1995. Purdue's head coach Barry Odom will begin his tenure with a noon kickoff game against Ball State on August 30, followed by multiple primetime games including Southern Illinois and the Black Friday game against Indiana. Purdue's schedule also includes other nationally televised matchups against Notre Dame and USC. Similarly, Nebraska has adjusted its schedule to include multiple Friday night games, including a rescheduled October 17 game at Minnesota and the traditional Black Friday game against Iowa. These Friday night games are intended to increase exposure but may compete with other entertainment and high school football events, potentially affecting attendance.