On Saturday evening, Notre Dame football found the win column for the first time in 2025, pummeling Purdue by a score of 56-30 at Notre Dame Stadium. The victory wasn’t always a comfortable one, as Purdue tallied 23 of its points in the first half, and a 114-minute lightning delay lengthened the halftime break. However, Notre Dame’s offensive stars easily overcame any and all defensive struggles, bringing the Irish to 1-2 for the year.
Here’s how Notre Dame got it done.
Both teams trade highlight house calls
Purdue took the football first and immediately ran into problems, punting after retreating into a third and 24 via an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Notre Dame instantly scored on its first offensive play, as senior wide receiver Malachi Fields breezed past Tony Grimes, his opposing No. 0, on a deep post route. Freshman quarterback CJ Carr delivered a brilliant ball down the middle to Fields, who trotted into the end zone for a 66-yard score, his first in a Notre Dame uniform.
Despite needing to call a timeout before the first play of their second drive, Purdue eventually settled into a game-tying march down the field. The Boilermakers got moving with a 22-yard pass in the flat to running back Devin Mockobee, later crossing midfield and converting a key third down. Purdue then entered a goal-to-go situation, as quarterback Ryan Browne connected with wideout Nitro Tuggle on a 33-yard deep ball.
On the next play, which followed a Purdue false start, Browne handed off to Mockobee. The running back stopped his feet in the backfield and threw a swing pass back to Browne, whom the Irish left alone out wide for a 14-yard touchdown.
Irish running backs widen the lead
After junior running back Jadarian Price set the tone for Notre Dame’s ensuing drive with a 42-yard kick return, his backfield partner in crime did the rest. Junior running back Jeremiyah Love received eight carries during the possession, converting a pair of third downs on the ground. He’d later punch in a one-yard touchdown with his legs, pushing the Irish lead to 14-7.
With the help of a fake punt and a third-and-11 conversion near midfield, Purdue advanced back down the field, kicking a 48-yard field goal to close within four points.
Notre Dame once again leaned on Love during the next drive, handing him the rock six times to reach the edge of the red zone. From 21 yards out, Price received his offensive touch of the contest, busting it around the right end for a touchdown run. Three drives into the game, Notre Dame had earned three touchdowns and a 21-10 lead while averaging 6.8 yards per carry.
Turnovers, points and a lightning delay
Both teams turned the football over in the second quarter, Purdue first losing possession on a Browne interception. Browne’s slant receiver was completely taken away by freshman linebacker Madden Faraimo and sophomore linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, but the quarterback made the throw anyway. Faraimo batted the pass up in the air, and junior cornerback Christian Gray picked it off to position the Irish on the plus side of midfield.
The takeaway quickly turned into a touchdown, as Price carried the ball five times and eventually scored from nine yards out, reaching the end zone for a second time in the quarter.
Purdue pushed back down the field and kicked a field goal, tightening the score to 28-13. Then, on the first play of Notre Dame’s next drive, a strip sack on Carr gave the Boilermakers the football inside the Irish 20. It also preceded a one-hour, 54-minute lightning delay that ate up about 30 percent of Notre Dame Stadium’s crowd.
Price channels his inner Estimé
After the long delay, which replaced the halftime break, Purdue still had the football. The Boilermakers ended up kicking another field goal, reducing the Irish lead to 28-16.
If you can remember the last time Notre Dame faced a weather delay in September, it was Audric Estimé who instantly rejuvenated the Irish after their long stoppage. On Sept. 9, 2023, at NC State, he ran Notre Dame’s first offensive play post-delay 80 yards to the house, helping the Irish to a 45-24 victory. Price accomplished a similar feat on Saturday, taking a kick return 100 yards for his third touchdown of the quarter within minutes of the weather break ending. On the play, Price bounced off a head-on collision at the 25-yard line, using his speed the rest of the way for his second career kick return touchdown.
Unfortunately for Notre Dame, Purdue did not cower in fear after Notre Dame’s electrifying return to play. The Boilermakers rolled right down the field on six plays in 53 seconds, covering 75 yards to earn a touchdown and take the game to halftime. Tuggle hauled in the scoring pass from Browne, bringing the margin to 35-23 at the midway point.
Irish touchdowns put game out of reach
Notre Dame seized full control of the game during the third quarter, outscoring Purdue 21-0 with a couple of long touchdowns. Love provided the first, paralleling the line of scrimmage for seemingly forever before turning the corner and bursting down the right sideline for a 46-yard strike. He’d go on to finish with a career-high 157 rushing yards on 19 carries.
Junior wideout Jordan Faison delivered the next big blow, beating his man down the left sideline for a 48-yard touchdown pass. Like he did with Fields on the opening play, Carr dropped a perfect ball into Faison’s stride, allowing his two-sport receiver to clear 100 yards for the first time since December 2023.
Price punched in one more score for good measure, barreling across the goal line from one yard out for his third rushing touchdown and fourth total touchdown of the day. Price rushed nine times for 74 yards and punctuated a rushing attack that ended with 254 yards and five touchdowns throughout the contest. With Notre Dame up 56-23, sophomore quarterback Kenny Minchey and the Irish backups played the remainder of the game on offense. The defense gave up one more garbage time touchdown to bring the final score to 56-30 and award the Irish a much needed dominant home victory.
