Noah Cahill
Irish fans may have déjà vu from 2024, as their team prepares for a Purdue matchup following a devastating home-opener loss. This time, however, the situation feels a bit more dire, as Notre Dame sits at 0-2 without any margin for error. A 10-game win streak is their only path to the College Football Playoff, but more pressing questions must be answered before that idea even seems fathomable.
Most of them come on defense. New defensive coordinator Chris Ash has inherited one of the best defenses in the nation and overseen its collapse. The Irish defense ranks 103rd in pass efficiency and has only one sack and one interception through three games. They have stubbornly relied on a four-man rush that generated only three pressures in 40 attempts. Behind them, a tentative zone coverage scheme has been picked apart by both the Miami and Texas A&M offenses. The play call has to be more aggressive. The execution across the board has to improve. Considering the talent this unit possesses, those numbers are unacceptable regardless of the opponents.
On the other side of the ball, offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock seems to have unlocked the right balance between the pass and the rush, or at least got closer to doing so. Establishing the run early and often with a combined 35 carries handed out to Love and Price, Carr was unleashed to attack downfield, which he did effectively for most of the game.
Notre Dame will not need their A-game to beat in-state rival Purdue. They may not even need their B or C-game with a talent difference this stark. However, head coach Marcus Freeman will look for his team to reverse these troubling trends and win in dominant fashion, just as they did in 2024. I see them doing just that on Saturday.
Prediction: Notre Dame: 49, Purdue: 17
Chris Dailey
Notre Dame went on a run to the national championship after losing to Northern Illinois just a season ago. With their backs against the wall, Marcus Freeman’s group did something nobody thought they could do. Placed in a terrifyingly similar spot, the Irish have a chance to become mold-breakers once again. Judging from their weekly press conferences, the Irish understand the mission.
On the field, there is a lot to like. CJ Carr has shown that he can compete at a high level. Jeremiyah Love finally got touches on the ball and demonstrated why he’s a Heisman candidate. Jadarian Price was back in the fold.
Defensively, the issues are clear. However, Freeman has a defensive mind, and the team is filled with leaders who will steer the ship back on track. Notre Dame beat Purdue 66-7 on the road last year. With more fire in their stomach, the Irish will produce a similar result once more. Expect a three-touchdown spectacle from Love and a much sharper game defensively.
Prediction: Notre Dame: 48, Purdue: 17
Ben Hicks
Hindsight is always 20/20, but I thought 0-2 could be a very likely outcome for Notre Dame football after breaking in a first-time starting quarterback and a new defensive coordinator against two top-20 opponents. Regardless, the Irish now find themselves in an eerily similar predicament to the 2024 season. Early-season embarrassment has brought about an opportunity for rivalry redemption against in-state Purdue. Last year, Marcus Freeman’s bunch responded to the catastrophic Northern Illinois loss with a 66-7 bludgeoning of the Boilermakers. This year’s rematch in South Bend won’t be as simple.
For starters, the Boilers are much improved under first-year head coach Barry Odom. Purdue has already surpassed its win total from a year ago, with Odom and staff reinvigorating the defensive unit. Turning the page to Notre Dame, it became clear that the NIU debacle was a byproduct of the Irish lacking focus and competitiveness, which would eventually become the engines powering the team’s national championship run. On the contrary, this season’s 0-2 start can be attributed to legitimate on-field concerns. It remains to be seen whether the Notre Dame defense could even stop a nosebleed. The Irish will win on Saturday because, at the very least, CJ Carr and the offense can outscore Purdue. But with a road test in Fayetteville on the docket, and no room for error on the quest for another College Football Playoff appearance, Chris Ash’s unit has to be better. Much better.
Prediction: Notre Dame: 52, Purdue: 23
Tyler Reidy
I’m still in “I’ll believe it when I see it” mode with the Notre Dame defense, even in a matchup against lowly Purdue. I also need to catch myself before making too many comparisons between this team and 2016, but that Irish squad, like this one, featured an offense that could run with the big dogs and a defense that gave up just enough for Notre Dame to lose every one of those big games and ultimately go 4-8. No, the Irish aren’t going to finish below .500 this year, but I have no reason to give their defense any benefit of the doubt right now. The 2016 defense allowed almost 40 points at home to a 4-8 Duke team right after losing a primetime shootout to Michigan State. I’m not at all saying that such a fiasco will happen again this weekend, but we have to be wary of it.
The good news is that Purdue’s offense shouldn’t throw too much at the Irish. The Boilermakers couldn’t reach 35 points in either of their pushover matchups with Ball State and Southern Illinois before totaling a measly 17 against USC at home last weekend. I expect that the Irish defense will still have some uncomfortable moments, but thanks to continued effectiveness from their offense, Notre Dame wins this one quite handily.
Prediction: Notre Dame: 42, Purdue: 20
Claire Watson
After their 10th-ever 0-2 start, many people question whether or not the Irish are going to make it to the College Football Playoff. A win against Purdue likely will not change their minds, but it’s a start.
Notre Dame’s defense is what is bringing the team down. Failing to generate pressure and leaving wide receivers open against the Miami and Texas A&M offenses was the formula for defeat in both games. This presents an important learning opportunity for the Irish. New defensive coordinator Chris Ash will need to bounce back this weekend as they face off against Purdue for the second home game of the season. In addition to this, leaning on the strength of CJ Carr and getting Jeremiyah Love the ball in space will be vital for victory.
Even though last year, Notre Dame came out and destroyed Purdue following the Northern Illinois loss, I feel that the team is still gathering its bearings after the rough start. In the end, though, talent is the talent. After learning from the past two games, Notre Dame will come out on top.
Prediction: Notre Dame: 35, Purdue: 17
