Game Day Central: No. 18 Notre Dame vs. Purdue
A week after an embarrassing 16-14 loss against NIU, No. 18 Notre Dame (1-1) heads down to Purdue (1-0, 0-0 Big Ten) for a pivotal in-state matchup. Blue & Gold gets you ready with what you need to know before today’s tilt.
Join us live on YouTube after the game as we break down ND vs Purdue
GAME DAY INFORMATION
Date: Sept. 14, 2024
Site: Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.
Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. ET
Television: CBS
Radio: Notre Dame IMG affiliates
Series facts: Notre Dame leads the all-time series 59-26-2, which includes two vacated victories. The Irish won the last meeting in South Bend, 27-13, in 2021.
Head coaches: Purdue: Ryan Walters (5-8, second season); Notre Dame — Marcus Freeman (20-9, third season).
Noting Purdue: The Boilermakers were one of two teams to have four opponents ranked in the
top 10 of the preseason Associated Press Top 25 on its schedule, with Notre Dame obviously being one of those … The Boilermakers registered 35 sacks as a team in 2023, the third most in program history and most since 2004; for reference, Notre Dame had 31 sacks last season … Purdue has had four All-Americans in the last three seasons, the most for the program in a three-year stretch since
1967-69, but the only one of those still suiting up for the Boilermakers is defensive back Dillon
Thieneman … Purdue only has 1 turnover in its last three home games dating back to 2023, and the Boilermakers’ offense has racked up 1,640 yards of offense in that span.
Blue & Gold subscribers: Click here for the full game day package with depth charts, rosters, stats and more.
FIVE PURDUE PLAYERS TO KNOW
QB Hudson Card (#1): The former top-100 overall prospect played two seasons at Texas and completed 215-of-365 passes (58.9%) for 2,387 yards with 15 touchdowns and 8 interceptions in his first full season with the Boilermakers in 2023. To open the 2024 campaign, Card threw for 273 yards with 4 touchdowns on 24-of-25 passes, defeating Indiana State. The 6-3, 210-pounder will be crucial for the Boilermakers’ success today.
TE Max Klare (#86): The third-year player will be a favorite target of Card’s, and he’s coming off a strong Week 1 performance, catching 5 passes for 71 yards and a score. He was a key target for Purdue last fall before suffering an injury that ended his season.
RT Marcus Mbow (#63): He’s started 20 games in his collegiate career, and it would’ve been a lot more if he didn’t suffer an injury. The Notre Dame defensive line has struggled through the first two games of the season, and Mbow won’t make it easy on the Irish pass rushers.
LB Kydran Jenkins (#4): The former class of 2020 prospect is more than a seasoned veteran at this point, having played in 40 college football games. He’s recorded 128 stops, 33.5 tackles for loss, 17.5 sacks, 3 pass break ups, 2 forced fumbles and 1 blocked field goal.
S Dillon Thieneman (#31): He had a tremendous freshman in 2023 on his way to being named the FWAA Defensive Freshman of the Year, USA TODAY Big Ten Newcomer of the Year and AP Third Team All-America Team, among other honors. Thieneman posted 106 tackles and 6 interceptions last year.
GAME PREDICTIONS
Vegas line: Notre Dame -8 …. Over/under 47.5
Oddshark prediction: ND 41, Purdue 13
Tyler Horka: Notre Dame 31, Purdue 20
Jack Soble: Fighting Irish 31, Boilermakers 13
Todd D. Burlage: Notre Dame 27, Purdue 24
Steve Downey: Fighting Irish 31, Boilermakers 7
Kyle Kelly: Notre Dame 27, Purdue 16
Mike Singer: Fighting Irish 28, Boilermakers 16
