Notre Dame senior defender ruled out against Purdue testing depth
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Notre Dame senior defender ruled out against Purdue testing depth
Notre Dame safety Luke Talich (28) returns a blocked punt for a touchdown in the first half of a NCAA football game against Syracuse at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in South Bend.
Kevin L. Smith, Fighting Irish Wire·Fighting Irish Wire
Talich is the sixth Notre Dame defender and second safety, the other being Brauntae Johnson, to be unavailable for Saturday's game. In three games so far this season, Talich has 11 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, an interception, a pass breakup and two deflections.
Notre Dame safety Luke Talich (28) intercepts a pass during a NCAA football game against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Notre Dame running back Nolan James Jr. (2) rushes the ball during a NCAA football game against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman, left, hugs quarterback CJ Carr before a NCAA football game against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
Michigan State basketball head coach Tom Izzo walks on the sidelines during a NCAA football game between Notre Dame and Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
General view of fireworks before the game between Michigan State Spartans and Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium, Sept. 19, 2026.
(Michael Caterina, IMAGN IMAGES)
Notre Dame running back Aneyas Williams stretches out to score a touchdown against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback CJ Carr looks to pass against the Michigan State Spartans during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium, Sept. 19, 2026.
(Michael Caterina, IMAGN IMAGES)
Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Aneyas Williams runs against the Michigan State Spartans during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium, Sept. 19, 2026.
(Michael Caterina, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
The Notre Dame leprechaun leads the team onto the field before a NCAA football game against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr warms up before a NCAA football game against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman looks on before a NCAA football game against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
Notre Dame wide receiver Micah Gilbert rushes the ball during a game against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend, Indiana.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
Notre Dame defensive lineman Tionne Gray celebrates after getting a sack against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend, Indiana.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr (13) warms up before a NCAA football game against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Nolan James Jr. scores a touchdown against the Michigan State Spartans during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium, Sept. 19, 2026.
(Michael Caterina, IMAGN IMAGES)
Fans cover up as rain starts to fall during a NCAA football game between Notre Dame and Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
Fans crowd to watch the Notre Dame football team enter Notre Dame Stadium before a NCAA football game against Michigan State on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
Notre Dame Fighting Irish wide receiver Micah Gilbert runs against Michigan State Spartans cornerback Tyran Chappell during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium, Sept. 19, 2026.
(Michael Caterina, IMAGN IMAGES)
Notre Dame running back Aneyas Williams (22) rushes the ball during a NCAA football game against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
Notre Dame Fighting Irish wide receiver Jordan Faison makes a catch against Michigan State Spartans cornerback Tre Bell during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium, Sept. 19, 2026.
(Michael Caterina, IMAGN IMAGES)
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See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
Notre Dame safety Luke Talich (28) intercepts a pass during a NCAA football game against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
1/20
See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
Notre Dame safety Luke Talich (28) intercepts a pass during a NCAA football game against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
2/20
See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
Notre Dame running back Nolan James Jr. (2) rushes the ball during a NCAA football game against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
3/20
See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman, left, hugs quarterback CJ Carr before a NCAA football game against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
4/20
See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
Michigan State basketball head coach Tom Izzo walks on the sidelines during a NCAA football game between Notre Dame and Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
5/20
See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
General view of fireworks before the game between Michigan State Spartans and Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium, Sept. 19, 2026.
(Michael Caterina, IMAGN IMAGES)
6/20
See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
Notre Dame running back Aneyas Williams stretches out to score a touchdown against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
7/20
See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback CJ Carr looks to pass against the Michigan State Spartans during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium, Sept. 19, 2026.
(Michael Caterina, IMAGN IMAGES)
8/20
See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Aneyas Williams runs against the Michigan State Spartans during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium, Sept. 19, 2026.
(Michael Caterina, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
9/20
See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
The Notre Dame leprechaun leads the team onto the field before a NCAA football game against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
10/20
See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr warms up before a NCAA football game against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
11/20
See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman looks on before a NCAA football game against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
12/20
See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
Notre Dame wide receiver Micah Gilbert rushes the ball during a game against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend, Indiana.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
13/20
See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
Notre Dame defensive lineman Tionne Gray celebrates after getting a sack against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend, Indiana.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
14/20
See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr (13) warms up before a NCAA football game against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
15/20
See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Nolan James Jr. scores a touchdown against the Michigan State Spartans during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium, Sept. 19, 2026.
(Michael Caterina, IMAGN IMAGES)
16/20
See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
Fans cover up as rain starts to fall during a NCAA football game between Notre Dame and Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
17/20
See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
Fans crowd to watch the Notre Dame football team enter Notre Dame Stadium before a NCAA football game against Michigan State on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
18/20
See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
Notre Dame Fighting Irish wide receiver Micah Gilbert runs against Michigan State Spartans cornerback Tyran Chappell during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium, Sept. 19, 2026.
(Michael Caterina, IMAGN IMAGES)
19/20
See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
Notre Dame running back Aneyas Williams (22) rushes the ball during a NCAA football game against Michigan State at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in South Bend.
(Michael Clubb/South Bend Tribune)
20/20
See photos from Notre Dame's win over the Michigan State Spartans
Notre Dame Fighting Irish wide receiver Jordan Faison makes a catch against Michigan State Spartans cornerback Tre Bell during the first half at Notre Dame Stadium, Sept. 19, 2026.
(Michael Caterina, IMAGN IMAGES)
The senior safety had three tackles, a sack, a pass breakup, an interception and two deflections in Notre Dame's 27-10 win overMichigan Statelast weekend.
Freshman Joey O'Brien will make his first career start for the Irish in place of Talich's absence, according toJake Soble of BlueandGold.com.
Saturday's game between the Irish and theBoilermakerswill start at 2 p.m. ET and stream exclusively on Peacock.
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