- Notre Dame looks to bounce back after a crushing 41–40 loss to Texas A&M, its second straight defeat to open the season.
- Quarterback CJ Carr has been one of the few bright spots, throwing for nearly 300 yards and a touchdown last week.
- Chris Ash’s defense continues to be a liability, ranking among the worst in the nation in both passing yards allowed and sacks.
- Purdue comes in with momentum, averaging close to 400 yards of offense per game behind quarterback Ryan Browne.
Only in Notre Dame fashion did the Irish lose their second game of the season in consecutive weeks. After taking a 41–40 lead with just under three minutes to play, including a muffed PAT, Notre Dame’s defense allowed the Texas A&M offense to drive 74 yards down the field and score the game-winning touchdown on a 4th-and-goal from the Notre Dame 11-yard line. This week the Irish will look to right some of their wrongs that occurred during their first two games of the season.
Below are some of the key matchups to look out for on Saturday afternoon:
QB CJ Carr vs. Purdue Secondary
After two games, CJ Carr has been one of the few bright spots for the Notre Dame offense as well as the team in general. During week one at Miami, he led the Irish on a 17–3 second-half comeback to tie the game before the Hurricanes won it on a last-second field goal. Then last week, the redshirt freshman completed 20 of 32 passes (80.3 QBR) for 293 yards and one touchdown, including one interception. With the game tied at 34 points, Carr led the Irish on a 74-yard drive to take the lead 40–34. Unfortunately, the Notre Dame defense surrendered the game-winning drive on A&M’s next possession.
This week Carr will be facing a Purdue Boilermakers defense that allowed 33 points, including 282 passing yards, against USC. Purdue also allowed two Trojans receivers to average over 20 yards per reception. Carr should be able to slice and dice the Boilermakers secondary. Edge: Notre Dame
DC Chris Ash vs. Purdue Offense
The difference a defensive coordinator makes is what many Notre Dame fans are now realizing with the departure of Al Golden and the arrival of Chris Ash. Last year under Golden, Notre Dame had one of the premier defenses in all of college football. This season, not so much, as the Irish rank 108th in total defense. Notre Dame is 124th in passing yards allowed per game and 131st in team sacks. The lone bright spot is rushing yards allowed at a mediocre 68th.
Purdue enters this week’s game averaging nearly 400 yards of total offense per game. Last week, Boilermakers quarterback Ryan Browne threw for 305 yards. That does not bode well for Notre Dame, as Ash’s play calling and scheme have yet to prove they can put the Irish defense in position to stop anyone. Edge: Purdue
Notre Dame Running Backs vs. Purdue Defense
Heading into Texas A&M, coach Marcus Freeman said Notre Dame would make an intentional effort to run the ball more — and they did. Running back Jeremiyah Love carried the ball 23 times for 94 yards and a score. Running back Jadarian Price carried the ball 12 times for 68 yards and two touchdowns.
This week the dynamic duo will be facing a Purdue defense that ranks 63rd in the country at stopping the run. Last week against USC, the Boilermakers surrendered 178 yards on the ground. Love and Price will likely showcase their speed in this one. Edge: Notre Dame
Marcus Freeman vs. Himself
In 2022, coach Freeman found himself in the same position as Notre Dame opened the season 0–2 after losing to Ohio State and Marshall. The Irish finished that season 9–4. With the talent on this year’s roster, 9–4 will not be good enough. Somehow Freeman must find a way to motivate his players to respond in a winning way. Furthermore, he must have a heavy hand with his coaching staff, primarily with his defensive coordinator, as the defense Ash inherited from a season ago is no longer recognizable. To put it in perspective, Notre Dame allowed 37 points after the first four games last season, whereas the Irish allowed 41 points against Texas A&M alone on Saturday night.
Everyone must be held accountable from here on out and no one’s job is safe. Anything less than that is unacceptable at this point.
“What am I, as the head coach, willing to tolerate,” Freeman said of his coaching staff. “I have to demand that everything we set as our standards are met. That’s what I need to continue to do. If I need to be involved more in a certain area I will and I am.” Edge: Tie
Notre Dame Wide Receivers vs. Purdue Secondary
Against Texas A&M, the Notre Dame pass catchers had a field day, averaging 14.7 yards per catch. Irish tight end Eli Raridon led the team in receiving yards with 85 yards on four catches. What appears to be Carr’s favorite receiving target, Malachi Fields, led the team in receptions with five for 77 yards.
Last week the Purdue secondary surrendered 16.6 yards per catch, including a long of 59 yards to Trojans receiver Ja’Kobi Lane. They also gave up three other receptions of over 20 yards. There should be plenty of open space this week for the Notre Dame receivers. Edge: Notre Dame
