Notre Dame is rolling into another Big Ten matchup with a 3-0 record, and the betting line says Vegas doesn’t expect Purdue to slow the train down.
The Fighting Irish are 27.5-point favorites for Saturday afternoon’s game against the Boilermakers, according to DraftKings. The total sits at 57.5, which is the highest number attached to a Notre Dame game this season. That spread tells the story pretty clearly: oddsmakers expect Marcus Freeman’s team to win comfortably, and Purdue to put up enough offense to keep the scoreboard moving a little.
That expectation starts with the Boilermakers’ defense, or really, the lack of one. Purdue opened the season by beating FCS-level Indiana State 44-19, then immediately got dragged into shootouts, losing 38-36 to Wake Forest and 52-38 to UCLA last week. If there’s been a theme, it’s that Purdue has had trouble getting stops of any kind.
Notre Dame, on the other hand, has looked nothing like the vulnerable defense Purdue saw a year ago. The Irish haven’t given up more than one touchdown in any game this season, and no opponent has reached 13 points against them. Last season’s meeting was a different story, with Notre Dame’s defense struggling badly early before the Irish outscored Purdue 56-30 in a wild game.
There is one wrinkle that could help explain why the total is set so high. Notre Dame is dealing with some defensive injury uncertainty.
Safety Brauntae Johnson and defensive lineman Jason Onye have both missed a few games and could miss more. Against Michigan State, backup-turned-starter safety Luke Talich left early and appeared to be hurt.
Notre Dame hasn’t said Talich is definitely banged up, but if he can’t go against Purdue, true freshman Joey O’Brien could be the next man up at safety.
Whoever lines up in the Irish secondary will have to deal with Ryan Browne, who has been efficient and productive for Purdue. He’s thrown for more than 1,000 yards with 7 touchdowns and just 1 interception. His top two receivers are Asaad Waseem, who has 20 catches for 321 yards, and Xavier Townsend, who has 19 catches for 267 yards.
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Former Boston College QB Phil Jurkovec Is Back In The News Again
Phil Jurkovecs football path has already taken enough twists to keep him in the conversation around the sport, from his transfer to Pittsburgh in 2022 to his six-game stint in 2023 before going undrafted in 2024. The former Boston College and Pittsburgh quarterback, once a familiar name in the ACC, is now facing a very different kind of attention after being arrested on Sept. 18 in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
According to the facts available, Jurkovec was arrested after allegedly stealing a box truck from Allegheny Health Networks Wexford Hospital. He was charged with theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled later this month as the case moves forward. [Read more 🡒]
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Marcus Freeman's Sideline Moment Just Sparked A Bigger Notre Dame Debate
Marcus Freemans reaction to Aneyas Williams after the running back drew a 15-yard excessive-celebration penalty against Michigan State quickly became a sideline talking point, and the Notre Dame coach didnt try to downplay it afterward. Freeman said he was disappointed in how he handled the moment, and he made a point of apologizing to Williams while stressing his support for the player. The exchange landed in the middle of a game in which Williams had only limited opportunities, which only added to the scrutiny around how Freeman responded.
Freeman also connected the moment to a broader coaching lesson, noting the value of spontaneous celebrations as the Atlantic Coast Conference encourages them. For a program that pays close attention to discipline, emotion and public composure, it was a reminder that even a split-second reaction can become part of the larger message. Freeman said he can learn from the incident, and for Notre Dame, the real interest now is whether that lesson shows up the next time a young player finds himself in a similar spotlight. [Read more 🡒]