Purdue's Ryan Walters: 'I would be lying to you if I didn't say this game was circled on my calendar'

This Saturday’s visit from Notre Dame is a prove-it game for Ryan Walters. He gets it. The Purdue coach knows the stakes when the ball kicks off at 3:30 pm ET on CBS.

“Yeah, I definitely think there is an element of proving it or earning respect,” said Walters on Monday. “You know, I would be lying to you if I didn’t say this game was circled on my calendar. You know, so we’re excited.”

The Boilermakers (1-0) had last week off, giving them two weeks of prep time for a big early-season clash with the Fighting Irish, which last visited Ross-Ade Stadium in 2013.

“We’re glad that we had a bye week to get some guys healthy,” said Walters. “To get some extra prep in. We had a really good practice on Sunday.”

While Purdue was off last weekend, Notre Dame (1-1) suffered a Titanic loss in its home opener to 28.5-point underdog Northern Illinois a week after notching an impressive victory to open the 2024 season at Texas A&M. The 16-14 defeat to NIU saw the Irish tumble from No. 5 to No. 18 in this week’s AP poll.

Will Notre Dame arrive madder than a wet hen? Or will it get to West Lafayette wrapped in doubt with shaken confidence?

“You know, we’re going to err on the side of thinking they’re going to be an angry football team,” said Walters. “Any time you’re Top 5 in the country and lose the home opener, that’s going to leave a bad taste in your mouth. I know Coach Freeman will have those guys fired up and ready to play.

“We are fully anticipating getting their best shot.”

No doubt, Notre Dame’s path to a hope-for College Football Playoff bid has gotten narrower. Margin for error? Minimal. A loss to Purdue could make the hole too deep for Notre Dame to crawl out of to reach the CFP, no matter how many wins it finishes with.

Walters has his own concerns as he looks for a signature win in his young career and for Purdue’s first victory vs. Notre Dame since 2007, as the Irish have won the last eight meetings. The last Boilermaker coach to beat Notre Dame in his first try? Joe Tiller, whose unranked Boilers knocked off No. 12 ND 28-17 in Ross-Ade.

“Just you get back to like basics on fundamentals, technique, a lot of good on good just to maintain speed of the game,” said Walters when asked what the squad accomplished in its off week after debuting with a 49-0 win vs. Indiana State. “You also get a jump on early downs. We introduced third downs a little bit earlier than we usually do. Introduced red area a little bit earlier than we usually do.

“Get a chance to get your legs back fresh coming off fall camp and that first game. So just you’re continually improving. That’s got to be the goal throughout the course of the year.”

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Purdue anticipates having three key players back on Saturday who missed the opener: WR Kam Brown, DL Joe Anderson and OL Corey Stewart, the No. 1 left tackle. Anderson also is slated to start.

But if Purdue is going to knock off Notre Dame as a double-digit underdog, it looks like it will have to do so without CB Nyland Green (foot) and WR CJ Smith (hamstring), Georgia transfers who also missed the opener. Each was projected to be a starter in the preseason.

“Yeah, I wouldn’t anticipate them being out there this week,” said Walters. “They’re close, really close. You watch them, I got to like not watch them work out in rehab. It’s making me more excited wanting them to be out there.

“But they’re doing a great job just attacking every day, trying to get back healthy, champing at the bit to get out there. Our training staff and strength and conditioning program have collabed very well to put them in a position to get back as early as possible.”

Until then, Walters and Co., will march on knowing the opportunity that looms. A victory would be a big step to a successful September, as a trip to Oregon State on Sept. 21 is next followed by a homecoming game vs. Nebraska on Sept. 28.

“I’m anticipating having a really good week of practice this week and we’ll line it up and go compete on Saturday,” said Walters.

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