Notre Dame’s offense has already flashed real firepower this season, but it still hasn’t put together the kind of complete showing Mike Denbrock wants to see. The Irish put 41 and 52 points on the board in their first two games, then dropped to 27 against Michigan State last time out. With quarterback CJ Carr giving the staff a major advantage and the run game still searching for traction, Saturday’s trip to Purdue feels like a chance to clean things up and make a statement.
The matchup sets up well for Notre Dame in a few obvious ways. Purdue’s defense is struggling, and the Boilermakers enter with the No. 125 ranked rush defense in the country.
That makes this a key chance for the Irish to get the ground game moving after a slow start. The offensive line is working together for its fourth straight start, and sophomore running back Nolan James Jr. showed real promise as the lead back last week.
For Notre Dame, this is the kind of game that should help the rushing attack finally find some momentum.
It also needs to be a game where the Irish keep pressing. Purdue’s offense looks different than it did in 2024 and 2025, and the 2025 version came out fast against Notre Dame last September, putting up 24 first-half points in Notre Dame Stadium.
Purdue has scored 44, 36 and 38 points in its first three games, so this isn’t just about the Irish offense piling up yards. It’s also about staying on schedule, protecting the defense, and making sure the game doesn’t stay close longer than it should.
One area that still begs for more is the tight end room in the passing game. Jordan Faison and Micah Gilbert have already shown what they can do, but the rest of the passing attack hasn’t produced much, tight ends included.
That’s notable because this group should create problems for defenses. Senior Cooper Flanagan and sophomore James Flanigan are both 6-6, 250-pound plus tight ends, and they have the size to be real mismatches.
So far, though, they’ve mostly been used as blockers. At some point, Notre Dame has to let them become more than that.
There are also a couple individual matchups that could shape how the Irish attack looks. Senior Jaden Greathouse has a chance to step forward against Purdue nickel corner Smiley Bradford, who has given up six catches on six targets and a touchdown.
Greathouse fits the profile of a player who could take advantage of that spot and give the passing game another dependable option. That matters, especially with the offense still leaning heavily on Faison.
Gilbert’s eight catches for 170 yards last week showed there are other playmakers available, and Greathouse has a chance to join that group in a meaningful way.
Up front, junior right tackle Guerby Lambert gets a chance to deliver the kind of performance that has been waiting to happen. He hasn’t been bad this season, but he also hasn’t fully broken through yet.
Against a mix of Purdue defensive ends - Keyshawn Burgos, Trey Smith, Jeremy Lewis and Breeon Ishmail - Lambert has the athletic edge. Now it has to show up on the field.
And then there’s Carr, who remains the biggest name in the room. This is Notre Dame’s first true road test, and it comes in a different setting with a different kickoff time against a Purdue team the Irish have controlled in the series since 2007.
Carr’s job is to keep everything steady. Last weekend was his first game as a starter without a passing touchdown, though he did rush for one.
The Saline, Michigan native also carved up Purdue last season, and Saturday afternoon gives him another chance to put up big numbers while leading the offense through its first road challenge.
In Other News...
Quincy Porter Could Give Notre Dame A Needed Boost Soon
Quincy Porter is moving in the right direction for Notre Dame, and the latest step in his recovery offers the kind of depth update the Irish have been waiting on. The wide receiver has been doing more individual work in practice as he continues to come back from a left knee injury, a sign that his return is inching closer after a long stretch of rehab and patience.
Porter had offseason surgery and then underwent a second procedure in August, which pushed back his timeline and kept him out of full-speed work. Marcus Freeman said Porter is getting closer to playing, but he still has not been cleared for full-team drills, leaving Notre Dame to keep waiting a little longer for the boost he could provide when he is finally ready. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Has A Growing O-Line Concern At The Worst Time
Notre Dames offensive line has already had to absorb an early-season hit at right guard, and Marcus Freemans latest update on Matty Augustine only reinforced that the situation remains unsettled. Augustine is making progress after suffering a foot injury before the opener, but there is still no specific timetable for his return, leaving the Irish to keep piecing together answers on the interior.
That uncertainty matters because the position has already required others to step in during recent games, and the shuffling comes at a time when stability up front is supposed to be a strength. For a team that wants to keep its offense on schedule, the longer Augustines absence stretches, the more attention this spot will draw each week. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dames 2027 Class Already Has Two Commits Turning Heads
Notre Dame already has two 2027 commits making early noise at the high school level, and both are backing up their lofty recruiting profiles. EDGE Jackson Vaughn, a four-star prospect, has been active in the backfield with tackles for loss and sacks, while running back Lathan Whisenton, also a four-star, has piled up rushing yards and found the end zone in bunches.
For the Irish, it is a promising sign this far out in the cycle, especially with both players already drawing attention as high-end names in the class. Early production does not guarantee anything in recruiting, but it does give Notre Dame another reminder that the future haul it has started to build is already showing up on Friday nights. [Read more 🡒]