The 24th-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish (0-2) will look to pickup their first win of the season this weekend when they take on the Purdue Boilermakers (2-1). It's the 89th meeting in this long time rival and the winner takes home the Shillelagh Trophy. Irish Breakdown has previewed the game and now it's time for our staff predictions.
Location: Notre Dame Stadium (Notre Dame, Ind.)
Date: Saturday, September 20
Time: 3:30 PM ET
TV: NBC/Peacock
Line: Notre Dame -25.5, O/U: 51.5
Here are the IB predictions for this matchup:
BRYAN DRISKELL, OWNER
Prediction: Notre Dame 35, Purdue 24
Notre Dame has won nine straight meetings in this rivalry and I expect that streak to extend to double digits. The Irish are struggling, but their three and one-point losses to end the season came against arguably the two best teams they will face this season. Purdue is not on that level, so even if the Irish aren't able to fix the things that caused their struggles in the first two games this should still be a victory for the Irish.
That doesn't mean it will be pretty, nor does it mean that a win will ease everyone's concerns about this team. Notre Dame has the better roster top to bottom, and it's not all that close. Purdue is certainly improved from last season, but the gap between them and Notre Dame is still pretty large. I think the offense is capable of scoring well over 40 points, but this unit still has to prove it can steadily improve. Can the Irish build on their performance against Texas A&M? If they can then my prediction will likely be too low for points for the Irish, but I need to see the offensive line play much better and the run game needs to perform better. Until I see that this unit play with more efficiency and consistency I'll be a little hesitant to predict a big blowout.
I'm also a bit concerned about the Notre Dame defense. Purdue's wide receiving corps is much improved from last season and quarterback Ryan Browne is a talented young passer. In his five career starts, Browne has passed for at least 297 yards three times, including a pair of 300-plus yard games this season. Purdue's offensive line is problematic, so the Irish defensive line should be able to finally get on track. The pass defense is a mess right now and will need to make major improvement in a hurry.
If the offense continues building and the defense figures out the mess it has put itself in this could be a 48-17 type of game, but I need to see this team start to put things together.
VINCE DEDARIO, FOOTBALL ANALYST
Prediction: Notre Dame 49, Purdue 28
It feels like the week Notre Dame finally takes that zero out of the win column. If there’s one clear takeaway from the first two games, it’s that the offense can move the ball and put up points. CJ Carr has already shown poise in late-game situations, leading drives to tie or take the lead, only to see the defense give it right back. The Irish will score, no question.
Look for Malachi Fields and Carr to have big days, and don’t be shy about taking the over on points. Purdue will get theirs too. Notre Dame hasn’t shown they can consistently stop the passing game, and the Boilers will be throwing often as they play from behind. In the end, it should be a comfortable Irish win, though defensive concerns will still linger.
TREVOR TROWBRIDGE, STAFF WRITER
Prediction: Notre Dame 45, Purdue 24
Look, at the end of the day this offense shouldn’t have any issues putting points in the board against this defense. They have things they have to clean up operationally, but this is a unit that put up 33 offensive points against Texas A&M. Realistically, this defense, on paper, shouldn’t have any issues stopping Purdue. This game comes down to the Irish and what adjustments they’re willing to make moving forward.
Ryan Browne is a good quarterback; I think Notre Dame will have a ridicule time trying to stop him. This will be a back and fourth game throughout the first half, but I think the Irish start to pull away coming out of halftime. As long as this offense continues to progress and these defense makes some essential changes, this should be a relatively easy win for Notre Dame.
ANDREW McDONOUGH, IB CONTRIBUTOR
Prediction: Notre Dame 45, Purdue 24
Marcus Freeman may have said many of the right things about the need to improve the defense at his press conference, but the issues that have plagued Notre Dame on that side of the ball are not ones that can be fixed in a week. The good news for the Fighting Irish is that for the second straight season, a game with an overmatched Purdue squad comes at the right time. Last year, the Irish blasted the Boilermakers 66-7 after the shocking loss to Northern Illinois, and it will be interesting to see the focus and fire that Notre Dame comes out with after the heartbreaking loss to Texas A&M.
The other good news for the Fighting Irish is that the offense is finding a groove. After a sloppy first half against Miami, CJ Carr and company have strung three straight good halves of football together and against a Purdue team that is coming off giving up 460 yards to USC, Notre Dame will be able to move the ball. And, after both Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price averaged over 10 YPC against the Boilermakers last year, expect the Irish to find some explosive plays on the ground to take some of the pressure off Carr. On the defensive side, some early struggles against QB Ryan Browne and WR Nitro Tuggle give way to a solid second half as Marcus Freeman's increased influence leads to meaningful halftime adjustments, allowing the Irish to pull away and secure their first win of the season.
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