BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – During Saturday’s Old Oaken Bucket Game between intrastate rivals Purdue and Indiana, the Crimson & Gold Cup was renamed the Indiana National Guard Governor’s Cup. Learfield Sports manages the athletic multimedia rights for IU and Purdue through its locally based entities, Indiana University Sports Properties and Purdue Sports Properties, respectively.
Since 2001-02, the two schools have conducted an all-sports competition. It originally was known as the Titan Series until the fall of 2004, when it was renamed the Crimson & Gold Cup.
Points are awarded to the winning team in each of the schools’ 20 shared sports. If the two teams do not meet during the regular season, the higher finisher at the Big Ten Championships is the point winner. In the case of ties, both teams get one-half point.
“The Governor’s Cup aligns itself with Gov. Mike Pence’s focus on improving education and workforce development,” said Maj. Gen. R. Martin Umbarger, Indiana Adjutant General of the Indiana National Guard. “The primary objective of the cup initiative is to educate university students and the potential student population on the benefits of becoming a commissioned officer in the Indiana Army National Guard. These benefits include: student loan repayment, tuition assistance, prestige and world-class leadership development. The Governor’s Cup will also promote friendly competition between these two rivals.”
For more than a century, Purdue and Indiana have squared off in intercollegiate athletic competition. As the rivalry flourished and the stakes outgrew mere bragging rights, traveling trophies emerged. The Old Oaken Bucket is at stake each fall on the gridiron. In women’s basketball, the Barn Burner Trophy is on the line. In volleyball, the Monon Spike is in play. And in women’s soccer, it’s the Golden Boot.
Through the first 12 years of the all-sports competition, Indiana has captured the title seven times and Purdue three times. Two years have ended in a tie.