Purdue’s home schedule brings a major test this weekend, and it comes in the form of No. 3 Notre Dame, a team that has done just about everything right through its first three games.
The Irish arrive at Ross-Ade Stadium at 3-0, with wins that have come in three different styles. They opened with a 41-13 victory over Wisconsin at Lambeau Field, then rolled past Rice 52-0 before taking care of Michigan State 27-10 last week in South Bend. Along the way, the defense has been especially punishing, limiting Wisconsin to 67 rushing yards and holding Rice to just 128 total yards.
That defense has been the backbone of the start. Notre Dame ranks third nationally in total defense, allowing only 193 yards per game.
Its run defense is giving up 58.33 yards per game, good for sixth in the country, while the pass defense sits tied for 14th at 134.7 yards allowed per game. The scoring numbers are just as sharp: 7.7 points per game, tied for fourth nationally.
Veteran linebacker Drayk Bowen leads the team with 19 tackles, including eight against Michigan State. Jaiden Ausberry is next with 14.
In the secondary, safeties Adon Shuler and Luke Talich have given Notre Dame another layer of disruption. Shuler has 12 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and an interception against the Spartans.
Talich has 11 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack and his first interception of the season last weekend.
Up front, Bryce Young leads the Irish with 3.5 tackles for loss, most of that production coming against Rice. Boubacar Traore has been a steady problem for opposing offenses as well, pacing Notre Dame with two sacks while adding three tackles for loss, three quarterback hurries, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
The back end has held up too. Sophomore Jayden Sanders leads the Irish with three pass breakups, while starting cornerback DJ McKinney has two pass breakups and an interception early in the season.
On offense, Notre Dame sits at No. 69 nationally with 407.7 yards per game. The passing game has carried more of the load, ranking 35th at 277.7 yards per game. The run game has been less explosive, averaging 130 yards per game and ranking tied for 106th.
Quarterback CJ Carr has been efficient from the start, throwing for 726 yards on 73% completions with six touchdowns and no interceptions. He has also shown he can run, though that part of his game has barely shown up yet with just three rushing yards.
The Irish have leaned on a two-back setup again this season. Nolan James Jr. turned in his best game yet against Michigan State, running for 121 yards and a touchdown.
He now has 169 rushing yards and three scores on the year. Aneyas Williams has been just as important, with 144 rushing yards and three touchdowns, highlighted by a 90-yard, two-touchdown opener against Wisconsin on 20 carries.
Both backs have also contributed in the passing game. James Jr. has seven receptions for 73 yards and a score, while Williams has three catches for 22 yards.
At receiver, Micah Gilbert and Jordan Faison have become the top targets. Gilbert erupted for eight catches and 170 yards against Michigan State and has 13 receptions for 251 yards and one touchdown, averaging 19.3 yards per catch. Faison also has 13 catches, totaling 173 yards and two touchdowns.
And there’s one more familiar name in the mix: kicker Spencer Porath, a former Purdue player. He has made 5 of 6 field goals and all 15 extra points, with his only miss coming from 39 yards against Michigan State last week.
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 🡒]