Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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40 SEPT. 26, 2026 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED GAME PREVIEW: PURDUE of the talent gap that exists between them and the Boilermakers. Advantage: Notre Dame INTANGIBLES Even in a win, one of Notre Dame's most embar- rassing moments of the 2025 season was the first half of the Purdue game. Specifically, Purdue scored 23 points on the Irish, which should never happen in a game, let alone in a half. Knowing Freeman, he's probably still angry about the Boilermakers' 6-play, 75-yard, 53-sec- ond touchdown drive to end the first half out of a lightning delay. It was unacceptable in every sense of the word, and it served as a kick in the pants for a Notre Dame defense that finally got its act together from the second half onward. A year later, it will serve as all the motivation Notre Dame needs to stomp Purdue once again. The Boilermakers are at home, but that did not help them in 2024 when the Irish won 66-7. Intan- gibles played a major factor back then — in Notre Dame's first post-NIU game, they took no chances and no prisoners — so it won't look quite that bad. But the Irish should have no problem cruising to a comfortable win in West Lafayette. Advantage: Notre Dame Staff Predictions Todd D. Burlage: Notre Dame 48, Purdue 7 For the second straight game, Notre Dame resumes a series against a longtime Big Ten rival. And for the second straight week, it's a game between two programs going in different directions. After head coach Jeff Brohm left Purdue for Louisville in 2022, the Boilers went only 7-29 overall and 3-24 in the Big Ten from 2023-25. Notre Dame has won 10 straight in this series, four straight in West Lafay- ette, Ind., and the last two meetings in 2024 and 2025 by an average score of 61.0-18.5. Perhaps second-year Purdue head coach Barry Odom can get the Boilers rolling again, but not this week. Steve Downey: Notre Dame 45, Purdue 10 The Boilermakers have enough skill-position talent to produce some ex- plosive plays, but moving the ball on the Fighting Irish defense has proven to be a tall task for opponents so far in 2026. In fact, the Irish defense scored more touchdowns than it allowed (2 to 1) while limiting Wisconsin and Rice to less than 300 yards of total offense. It was just the third time since 1996 the program achieved the latter stat to open a season. On the other side of the ball, the Purdue defense has yet to show it can consistently stop an opponent of Notre Dame's caliber. The Irish have yet to get their rushing attack going, failing to produce a 20-yard run in their first two games and averaging just 3.6 yards per carry, but this could be the spot that changes. The bottom line is Notre Dame possesses a substantial advantage along both lines and should gradually overwhelm a Purdue roster that remains in the early stages of Barry Odom's rebuild. Eric Hansen: Notre Dame 45, Purdue 6 The offensive pyrotechnics that the Boilermakers put up at Notre Dame Stadium last September — 23 points and 286 total yards in the first half alone — were mild in comparison to the fireworks at an Irish coaches meeting the day after that changed everything. Notre Dame eventually pulled away for a 56-30 victory, but head coach Marcus Freeman and then-first-year defensive coordinator Chris Ash, in the encounter that Freeman described as intentionally uncomfortable, retooled a defense that has been dominant ever since. Now it's opposing offenses paying the price, and Saturday in West Lafay- ette, it's Purdue's turn. The Irish offense won't have any issues with Purdue's defense, its weaker suit. And former Boilermaker kicker Spencer Porath, who accounted for 12 of Purdue's 30 points in South Bend last season, will be adding to Notre Dame's point total instead. Tyler James: Notre Dame 56, Purdue 17 There aren't many reasons to expect Notre Dame to struggle against Pur- due. However, the Boilermakers have actually put together an offense with an intriguing set of weapons led by quarterback Ryan Browne. It seems un- likely Purdue will be able to replicate its offensive performance from the first half of last season's 56-30 loss to Notre Dame, but it wouldn't be shocking if Purdue outscores either of Notre Dame's first two opponents. Purdue's biggest problem will be its inability to slow down the Irish offense. It struggles to defend both the run and the pass, which should allow Notre Dame to do whatever it wants offensively. Kyle Kelly: Notre Dame 55, Purdue 13 The last time a Marcus Freeman-led team went to West Lafayette, it pum- meled the Boilermakers 66-7 on Sept. 14, 2024. That ended up being head coach Ryan Walters' last season at Purdue. Even though last year's score between Notre Dame and Barry Odom's Boil- ermakers was more respectable, 56-30, the Irish have their defense figured out this time around. With that, I like Notre Dame to win big again. Mike Singer: Notre Dame 48, Purdue 7 The Irish bested the Boilermakers by 26 points a year ago, but it wasn't pretty defensively, with the Irish allowing 23 first-half points. You better believe Marcus Freeman will motivate his team to take total control of this game, and I don't see it being remotely close. I like Notre Dame big in this contest. Jack Soble: Notre Dame 41, Purdue 3 No disrespect meant to the Boilermakers, who are better this year than they were last year. But Notre Dame's defense will remember what hap- pened last year, and Chris Ash's unit will be looking to make a point. Fifth-year defensive back Don Saunders scored on a 35-yard interception return in his Purdue debut Sept. 5, marking the program first pick six since 2022. PHOTO COURTESY PURDUE ATHLETICS