One year removed from a 66-7 beatdown of the Boilermakers, Notre Dame faces another get-back game against Purdue following a devastating home-opening loss. Like last season, the Irish have no margin for error if they wish to keep their College Football Playoff hopes alive. Starting the season 0-2 with narrow losses to Miami and Texas A&M, every game is a must-win from here on out. Here’s how the Irish can get back on track this Saturday.
Get pressure on the quarterback
The Irish defense has collapsed under new defensive coordinator Chris Ash in 2025. While many issues with the unit exist, none are more glaring than the inability to create pressure. Head coach Marcus Freeman has deployed a defense of his hire in press conferences, emphasizing the need for the four-man rush to get home. He believes the talent is there, as many did preseason. The numbers say that it isn’t. Notre Dame has brought four a total of 40 times in two games. They have gotten pressure on three of those plays.
At some point, the defensive staff has to be brutally honest about the capabilities of its personnel. It cannot continue to build a defense around something it cannot do. Yes, the rush needs to do a better job of getting home. Until they prove that they can do that consistently, Ash needs to find other ways to create havoc. Al Golden made his name calling blitzes that opposing coordinators rarely saw coming. However, it does not take a defensive guru like Golden to understand that sending four may not be enough.
Through three weeks, Notre Dame’s defense is one of the worst in the country at generating negative plays, ranking 134th in overall havoc rate and 118th in stuff rate. They have a single sack in two games. But against a Purdue offensive line that ranks 114th in pressures allowed, they should finally produce, both in the four-man rush and with the blitz.
Shore up the secondary
Notre Dame led the nation in pass efficiency defense in 2024. They also created the most turnovers. Through three games this season, they rank No. 103 in the former and No. 125 in the latter. Sophomore cornerback Leonard Moore, a lone bright spot in the struggling secondary, has the team’s only interception and is hobbled by a bad ankle. Beside him, the rotation of junior Christian Gray, senior DeVonta Smith and sophomore Karson Hobbs has not been good enough. However, a gaping hole exists between that starting group and freshmen prospects Mark Zackery, Dallas Golden and Cree Thomas. The starters are here to stay, but they have the talent to reverse this trend.
Purdue boasts a moderately efficient passing game with a 49.5% success rate (31st) and 7.9 yards per dropback (35th). However, the unit has been limited by turnovers, with quarterback Ryan Browne throwing four interceptions in his first three starts. The matchup presents a bounce-back opportunity for an Irish secondary that desperately needs it.
It starts with the play call. Ash needs to dial up more man coverage, to start, but also must coach his players to be more aggressive in their zones. Countless plays against Texas A&M left gaping space for wide receivers crossing the field. Without having to face any pressure in the pocket, quarterback Marcel Reed had several seconds to pick Notre Dame apart, which he did to the tune of 360 yards and two touchdowns through the air.
Even during the moments they were in position, the secondary failed to execute. A paralyzed Adon Shuler watching CJ Daniels leap in front of him for a one-handed touchdown grab comes to mind. A dropped pick from Karson Hobbs in the back of the end zone to ice the game does too. Ash and his players need to be much better on Saturday if the Irish want to get their first win of 2025, and importantly, nine more wins after.
Stay committed to the run
For as terrible as the Texas A&M loss was a week ago, offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock seemed to be finding the formula. Freshman quarterback CJ Carr has proven his coaching staff right, putting more high-level throws on display against the Aggies. However, there was no mistaking the game plan on Saturday. Freeman said after the Miami loss that he had to remove Carr’s read more often and get the ball in his best player’s hands. Junior running back Jeremiyah Love carried it 23 times. His backfield partner, junior Jadarian Price, had 12 of his own. It’s safe to say that Freeman and company fulfilled that promise.
While 162 yards on 35 carries is far from an efficient number, the Irish no longer have misconceptions about their strengths. Carr had his chances and took them, managing 293 yards through the air on 20/32 attempts. But much of his production was unlocked by the threat of the run, which was established early and often.
Posting a 44.1% rushing success rate (95th) and allowing 4.5 yards per carry (76th), the Boilermaker defense is vulnerable against the ground game. This is more reason for Notre Dame to continue leaning into it. Giving Love over 20 touches per game is not sustainable for an entire season, but he should need half as many in this game to surpass his 94-yard output against the Aggies.
At least a month of winning will be required before Notre Dame can re-enter the national conversation. That journey has to start somewhere. Like last season, Freeman and his team will hope it starts with a dominant victory over their in-state rivals.
