Notre Dame enters Saturday’s matchup with Purdue as a heavy favorite, but the Boilermakers still present some challenges, particularly on offense.
To get a closer look at Purdue, Fighting Irish Wire spoke with Locked On Boilermakers host Nick Arvin about what Notre Dame should expect.
The biggest concern for Purdue remains its defense. The Boilermakers have allowed 90 points and 1,056 yards over their past two games, including 370 rushing yards against UCLA.
“Defensively, it’s unfortunately been a little bit of everything,” Arvin said. “Tackling in space has also been a massive concern, but ultimately, the buck stops with the defensive scheme.”
Defensive coordinator Kevin Kane returned to Purdue after previously being fired following the 2024 season,
but Arvin said the unit has shown few meaningful changes. Head coach Barry Odom, who has a defensive background, has also become more involved.
Arvin expects Purdue to emphasize its pass rush against Notre Dame quarterback C.J. Carr, particularly because the Boilermakers have struggled when forced to defend both the run and a legitimate passing threat.
Offensively, Purdue has been more encouraging.
Quarterback Ryan Browne has benefited from the addition of running back Fame Ijeboi and slot receivers Asaad Waseem and Xavier Townsend. Arvin expects Purdue to attack Notre Dame down the seams and use play-action to create favorable matchups.
For a Purdue program that has lost 19 consecutive Big Ten games, Saturday will also be another measuring stick under Odom.
Arvin said keeping Notre Dame near the point total Purdue allowed against Michigan State would represent some progress, even if the Boilermakers are unable to pull off the upset.
With Illinois awaiting Purdue next, simply showing defensive improvement against one of the nation’s top teams could provide the Boilermakers with some badly needed momentum.
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This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: Notre Dame at Purdue: Insider on what to expect from the Boilermakers
