Purdue gets a brutal reset on Saturday.
After back-to-back losses to Wake Forest and UCLA, the Boilermakers are back at Ross-Ade Stadium for a visit from No. 3 Notre Dame, and the margin for error is thin. Barry Odom’s team is still chasing its first win over a power conference opponent since 2023, and this is easily its biggest test yet.
The first thing everyone will be watching is the defense, because last week’s outing against UCLA was rough in every sense. Odom looked frustrated after the 52-38 loss, when Purdue gave up 645 yards and let the Bruins convert 11 of 14 third downs.
That kind of number doesn’t survive long in the Big Ten, and the bigger question now is whether anything looks different against the Irish. Odom was asked after the game about changing play-calling duties, and it doesn’t sound like he’s ready to take that away from defensive coordinator Kevin Kane.
Still, something has to give.
Health is another major piece of the puzzle, even if Purdue won’t be handing out an injury report this week because it’s out of conference play. Last week, the Boilers were without left tackle Joey Tanona, defensive back Mister Clark and defensive end Elo Modozie.
Tanona has not played yet this season, Clark has missed the last two weeks, and it remains to be seen whether either of them - or Modozie - will be back on Saturday. Odom also said running back Fame Ijeboi was a little dinged up going into the UCLA game, so his status is worth tracking as well.
On the other side, Purdue’s offense has given the team a real chance early this season. Ryan Browne has been humming through three games, averaging a Big Ten-best 341.3 passing yards per game with seven touchdown throws and just one interception.
As a team, Purdue is putting up 39.3 points per game. The challenge now is whether that production can carry over against a Notre Dame defense that has barely given anything away.
Marcus Freeman’s group has allowed only two touchdowns, has won each game by at least 17 points and still hasn’t given up more than 13 points in a game.
There is at least some recent evidence Purdue can move the ball against the Irish. Last year, the Boilers scored 30 points in South Bend, even though they came away with a loss. The question now is whether Josh Henson can find similar success with an offense that looks improved, or whether Notre Dame arrives prepared to shut that door.
Turnovers may end up swinging things, too. Purdue gave the ball away twice on fumbles and once on an interception in last week’s loss to UCLA after opening the year clean in the first two games.
The bigger concern, though, is the other side of the equation: the Boilers have forced only one takeaway all season, Don Saunders’ pick-six in Week 1 against Indiana State. That has been a problem for Purdue for years, and it still hasn’t gone away.
Notre Dame, meanwhile, has been taking the ball away at a steady clip. The Irish are plus-eight in turnover margin, have forced eight turnovers overall and have recorded at least two in every game. Their offense hasn’t turned it over once.
And then there’s the history. Purdue hasn’t beaten Notre Dame since a 33-19 win at Ross-Ade Stadium in 2007.
The Irish have won 10 straight in the series, and most of those games haven’t been close. Only three of the last 10 meetings - in 2009, 2012 and 2013 - were decided by one score.
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 🡒]
Notre Dame Puts Its Unbeaten Start To The Test At Purdue
Notre Dame heads into West Lafayette with an unbeaten start and a resume that already includes wins over Wisconsin, Michigan State and Rice, which has only sharpened the attention on a road trip to Purdue. The matchup gives the Boilermakers a chance to test themselves against a No. 3 team that has looked sharp early, while also giving Purdue another measuring stick under Barry Odom as it tries to find its footing.
For Purdue, the timing makes the game feel especially important. A meeting with one of the nations hottest early teams is the kind of assignment that can reveal where a roster stands and how much progress has been made, even if the record still needs work. Notre Dame, meanwhile, gets an in-state challenge that should tell a little more about how real its start is once the environment turns less comfortable. [Read more 🡒]