Dateline NBC November 28 2025 Episode Update

Saturday night television takes a turn from true crime to college football on November 28, 2025, as Dateline NBC will not air in its usual primetime slot. Instead, NBC is broadcasting a major Big Ten rivalry matchup between the Indiana Hoosiers and the Purdue Boilermakers. This annual showdown, known as the battle for the Old Oaken Bucket, kicks off from Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette.

Indiana enters the game undefeated at 11-0 overall and 8-0 in conference play. First-year head coach Curt Cignetti has quickly turned the program into a title contender. A win against Purdue would send the Hoosiers to the Big Ten Championship Game for the first time in school history. On the other side of the field, Purdue is reeling with a 2-9 record and no conference wins, hoping to end the season on a high note with a victory over their biggest rival.

Quarterback Fernando Mendoza leads an Indiana offense averaging nearly 480 yards per game. His command of the field and ability to keep drives alive have been central to the Hoosiers’ success. Purdue’s defense, currently ranked 17th in the Big Ten, faces a tall task trying to slow down one of the most efficient attacks in the conference.

Last year’s contest ended in a 66-0 rout, the largest margin of victory in the history of this rivalry. That loss still looms large for Purdue, which is looking to bounce back with pride and pull off an upset that could reshape the narrative of a disappointing season. Although Indiana has all the momentum, rivalry games often bring unexpected results.

For fans of Dateline NBC, the episode originally scheduled for this date will be rescheduled. In the meantime, the network is giving viewers a chance to witness a defining moment in college football. Whether Indiana can make history or Purdue can pull off a shocking reversal, this Old Oaken Bucket clash promises high stakes and intense emotion under the lights.