Purdue football would be held back for grades in loss to Notre Dame

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Purdue football would be held back for grades in loss to Notre Dame

Purdue football would be held back for grades in loss to Notre Dame

Sam King, Lafayette Journal & Courier · Indianapolis Star

Sat, Sep 26, 2026 ·

3 min read

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WEST LAFAYETTE − Purdue football was outmatched by Notre Dame on Saturday.

The Boilermakers knew it, evidenced by attempting a fake punt in the first quarter at midfield.

Sixty minutes of football verified just how lopsided it was.

The third-ranked Irish beat Purdue so bad, the Boilermakers likely will be held back based on its report card from Ross-Ade Stadium.

Let the grades tell the story of Notre Dame's 49-10 win .

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Sep 26, 2026; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Purdue Boilermakers head coach Barry Odom before the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images
(Marc Lebryk, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Sep 26, 2026; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman before the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images
(Marc Lebryk, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Sep 26, 2026; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Purdue interim president Mitch Daniels talks with students before the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images
(Marc Lebryk, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Sep 26, 2026; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Purdue Boilermakers athletic director Tommy McClelland and former NFL player and Purdue alumni Drew Brees before the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images
(Marc Lebryk, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Sep 26, 2026; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman leads his team onto the field before the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images
(Marc Lebryk, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Sep 26, 2026; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback CJ Carr (13) looks to pass in the first quarter against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images
(Marc Lebryk, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Sep 26, 2026; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; at Ross-Ade Stadium.Purdue Boilermakers wide receiver Asaad Waseem (19) is pulled out of bounds by Notre Dame Fighting Irish cornerback DJ McKinney (2) ahead of wide receiver Chauncey Magwood (5) and safety Joey O'Brien (20) in the first quarter at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images
(Marc Lebryk, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Sep 26, 2026; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; at Ross-Ade Stadium.Purdue Boilermakers wide receiver Asaad Waseem (19) is pulled down by Notre Dame Fighting Irish cornerback DJ McKinney (2) ahead of wide receiver Chauncey Magwood (5) and safety Joey O'Brien (20) in the first quarter at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images
(Marc Lebryk, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Sep 26, 2026; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Purdue Boilermakers quarterback Ryan Browne (15) runs the ball as Notre Dame Fighting Irish safety Adon Shuler (8) defends in the first quarter at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images
(Marc Lebryk, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Sep 26, 2026; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Purdue Boilermakers running back Fame Ijeboi (2) runs the ball against Notre Dame Fighting Irish cornerback Leonard Moore (15) and safety Adon Shuler (8) in the first quarter at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images
(Marc Lebryk, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Sep 26, 2026; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish wide receiver Jordan Faison (6) makes a catch ahead of Purdue Boilermakers defensive back Hudauri Hines (4) in the first quarter at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images
(Marc Lebryk, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Sep 26, 2026; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Purdue Boilermakers running back Fame Ijeboi (2) is tackled by Notre Dame Fighting Irish safety Adon Shuler (8) and cornerback Leonard Moore (15) in the first quarter at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images
(Marc Lebryk, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Sep 26, 2026; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Purdue Boilermakers cheerleaders in the second quarter against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images
(Marc Lebryk, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Sep 26, 2026; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Purdue Boilermakers quarterback Ryan Browne (15) attempts a pass in the second quarter against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images
(Marc Lebryk, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Sep 26, 2026; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Aneyas Williams (22) runs for a touchdown in the second quarter against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images
(Marc Lebryk, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Purdue offense tanks against stout Notre Dame defense

OFFENSE GRADE: F

Purdue's much-improved offense got humbled by the best defense it's faced.

Ryan Browne completed 64.3% of his passes but his 18 completions only accounted for 111 yards. The Boilermakers joined Wisconsin , Rice and Michigan State as teams that could muster nothing in the run game versus Notre Dame's defense. After some garbage time yards by Purdue's second unit and Bisi Owens' touchdown with six seconds remaining, the offense still left averaging just 3.2 yards per play.

Firepower missing: Several Purdue football starters missing vs Notre Dame. What we know

Purdue defense allows more explosive plays

DEFENSE GRADE: F

By halftime, Notre Dame had eight plays of 10 or more yards, five of those going for more than 20. It seems the issues that plagued Purdue at Rose Bowl Stadium a week earlier carried over.

After forcing a quick punt on Notre Dame's first drive, the Boilermakers didn't see the Irish punt team again until the third quarter. The Irish had so little respect for Purdue's defense, they went for it on fourth-and-1 from their own 24. Naturally, the Irish picked up the first down. Charles Correa 's interception in the third quarter was a rare sign of positivity on an otherwise dismal day. The Irish finished with 11 explosive plays.

Rewind: Notre Dame football rolls Purdue for ninth straight Shillelagh Trophy win

Specialists lift special teams to average grade

SPECIAL TEAMS GRADE: C

The fake punt didn't work. Xavier Townsend returned a kickoff out of the end zone that picked up 16 yards before a block in the back penalty started Purdue's drive inside the 10. Jordan Faison gained 16 yards on a return where Purdue's punt team didn't contain the outside.

The placekicker and punter remain quality pieces. Jacobo Echeverria Lozano's 47-yard field goal in the third quarter assured the Boilermakers wouldn't be shut out. Dylan Drennan missiled a 78-yard punt and averaged 52.2 yards per on six boots.

Judging results doesn't favor Purdue football coaches

COACHING GRADE: F

It looked promising early. With the game still scoreless, Purdue put together a 12-play drive that stalled on the direct snap to Antonio Harris with the punt team on the field. Four plays later, Notre Dame was in the end zone. The Boilermakers were coaching with a talent disadvantage, but after that drive that fizzled out at midfield, the Boilermakers played mostly uninspired football. Barry Odom continues to say you're judged on results. Well, Purdue is 1-3 and ends its nonconference portion of the schedule with a 39-point loss.

Insider: Should Purdue stop playing Notre Dame football? Barry Odom will do 'best for building' program

Notre Dame's Bryce Young changes game against Purdue

GAME MVP: Bryce Young

Bryce Young was a big reason Purdue couldn't move the ball on the ground and also delivered the hit on Ryan Browne that led to Notre Dame's defensive touchdown after Drayk Bowen scooped up the fumble and rumbled 34 yards. That was one of two sacks for Notre Dame's junior defensive tackle.

Nathan Baird and Sam King have the best Purdue sports coverage, and sign up for IndyStar's Boilermakers newsletter .

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Purdue football would be held back for grades in loss to Notre Dame

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Purdue football would be held back for grades in loss to Notre Dame

Notre Dame dominates Purdue football in first half, CJ Carr, Aneyas Williams lead way

Notre Dame dominates Purdue football in first half, CJ Carr, Aneyas Williams lead way

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Notre Dame dominates Purdue football in first half, CJ Carr, Aneyas Williams lead way

Notre Dame dominates Purdue football in first half, CJ Carr, Aneyas Williams lead way

Notre Dame dominates Purdue football in first half, CJ Carr, Aneyas Williams lead way

Notre Dame dominates Purdue football in first half, CJ Carr, Aneyas Williams lead way

Notre Dame dominates Purdue football in first half, CJ Carr, Aneyas Williams lead way

Purdue offense tanks against stout Notre Dame defense

Purdue defense allows more explosive plays

Specialists lift special teams to average grade

Judging results doesn't favor Purdue football coaches

Notre Dame's Bryce Young changes game against Purdue