The Battle for the Old Brass Spittoon is an American college football rivalry between the Indiana Hoosiers and Michigan State Spartans.

[2] This tradition was started by class president, Eugene McDermott of Allentown, PA.[citation needed] Prior to the expansion of the Big Ten in 2011, there were stoppages in the series because the schools were not protected rivals in the rotating conference schedule (note no game in 1971 and 1972, 1979 and 1980, 1999 and 2000, and again in 2009 and 2010).

With the split of the Big Ten into divisions starting in 2011, Indiana and Michigan State were placed in separate divisions but were assigned as "cross-over" rivals, meaning they played each other every year.

After the addition of Maryland and Rutgers into the Big Ten starting in 2014, the subsequent geographical realignment of the divisions placed both Indiana and Michigan State in the Big Ten East, assuring that the rivalry will be renewed annually.

With the additions of Oregon, UCLA, USC, and Washington in 2023, the Big Ten announced league football opponents for the 2024 to 2028 seasons.