No. 3 Notre Dame rolls into West Lafayette on Saturday afternoon with an unblemished record and a defense of momentum that Purdue has to try to disrupt.
The Fighting Irish are 3-0 and have already handled a pair of Big Ten opponents in Wisconsin and Michigan State, along with a 52-0 win over Rice at home. The numbers have been lopsided, too: Notre Dame has outscored its opponents 120-23.
Purdue, meanwhile, is 1-2 and searching for traction under coach Barry Odom. He sees Saturday’s matchup as a chance to keep building, even against a team that has looked every bit like a top-three outfit.
"There's not anything really worthwhile in having that you don't have to go through hard," Odom said. "I'm just going to keep swinging, and eventually this wall's going to break down.
I owe it to this team, to these players to give every ounce I've got in my soul to get that done. It doesn't matter how close we are.
None of that matters. We've just got to keep fighting."
Notre Dame’s offense has been sharp from the jump. CJ Carr has completed 72.6% of his passes for 726 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions. Nolan James Jr. and Aneyas Williams have each run for three touchdowns, while Micah Gilbert leads the receiving group with 13 catches for 251 yards and a score.
Odom said he’s been impressed by how Notre Dame has kept humming even after losing major talent to the pros. Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price were selected in the first round of this year’s NFL Draft, but the Irish haven’t shown much sign of slowing down.
"They haven't missed a beat," Odom said. "Obviously, they lost two great runners last year, drafted in the first round.
Both running backs right now are playing at a high level. They're unbelievable up front, the quarterback play is elite and then they've got receivers that can blow the top off coverage and run really well after the catch.
"I don't see a lot of weaknesses in what they do."
Marcus Freeman is trying to keep his own team locked in as Notre Dame heads back on the road to face another Big Ten program. He said the tone set during practice in South Bend will matter once the Irish kick off in West Lafayette.
"The secret is the way you prepare," Freeman said. "That's the secret to success.
It's not you get lucky on Saturdays. It's the way you prepare Monday through Friday, the way you have a routine, you stay committed to the routine and you enhance your routine if you need to.
"So they've got to believe that, and you've got to remind them and show them examples."
Purdue’s offense has had some bright spots. Quarterback Ryan Browne has completed 73.3% of his passes for 1,024 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception. Fame Ijeboi has powered the run game with 248 yards and six scores, and Asaad Waseem leads the team with 20 receptions for 321 yards and a touchdown.
In Other News...
Purdues Guard Rotation Just Took A Brutal Preseason Hit
Aysia Proctors arrival was supposed to give Purdue another experienced option in the backcourt after a career-best scoring season at North Texas, but that plan is now off the table before the Boilermakers have even gotten into the heart of preseason work. Proctor announced on social media that a knee injury will end her season, a setback that comes as Purdue continues building toward the 2026-27 campaign and looking for answers in a guard group that needed depth.
For Katie Gearlds, the timing makes the blow sting even more. Purdues roster is now down to 13 available players, and losing a transfer guard who was expected to help immediately narrows the margin for a team trying to sort out its rotation and stay healthy through the grind of the year ahead. The Boilermakers still have time to adjust, but this is the kind of early loss that can change the shape of a season before it really starts. [Read more 🡒]
Purdues Biggest Early Breakout Is Raising The Stakes For Big Ten Play
Purdues early surge has had plenty to do with the steady play around its lineup, but freshman outside hitter Addy Tindall has quickly become the name that stands out most. In a 7-2 start, she has already taken on a major scoring role, leading the Boilermakers in kills while also sitting among the Big Tens most productive attackers per set. For a first-year player, the jump has been about more than raw talent, with Tindall showing the kind of shot selection and consistency that usually take longer to arrive.
What makes her start especially encouraging for Purdue is how well it has held up against better competition. Tindall has put together multiple matches with strong kill totals and has done it while keeping a strong hitting percentage, giving the Boilermakers a reliable edge as conference play approaches. The next test is whether that early breakout can keep traveling when the schedule tightens, because Purdues ambitions this season may hinge in part on how far its newest offensive weapon can carry it. [Read more 🡒]
No. 10 Purdue Opens Big Ten Play With Pressure Building Fast
Purdues volleyball team heads into Big Ten play carrying real momentum, but the conference schedule does not give the Boilermakers much time to settle in. Maryland is up first, and Wisconsin follows soon after, giving Purdue an early test against two opponents that arrive with strong records and winning streaks of their own. For a team that has already banked a successful non-conference slate, the opening stretch offers a chance to confirm that early form still holds when the competition tightens.
The match with Maryland is especially interesting because the Terrapins are trying to break through under coach Hughes, while Purdue is leaning on contributions from several freshmen who have helped fuel the start. Those younger players have given the Boilermakers energy and depth, but Big Ten play tends to expose everything quickly, from serve receive to late-set poise. With Wisconsin looming right behind Maryland, Purdues first weekend in the league is less about easing in and more about finding out how ready it really is. [Read more 🡒]