Notre Dame football will get another chance to get its first win of the 2025 season, as it will host the Purdue Boilermakers this afternoon (all your viewing info here).
The Irish haven’t started off the season like they would have liked, dropping games to Miami and Texas A&M, although both were narrow losses. It still doesn’t make it any better, as Notre Dame hasn’t had any luck this fall.
That could be changing, as the Boilermakers don’t pose nearly the same threat as the first two opponents, but that doesn’t mean they’ll roll over. For Notre Dame to come away with a victory, in my eyes, they’ll have to accomplish these five aspects of the game.
Run the ball effectively
It’s been a bit of a struggle for Notre Dame this fall running the ball, especially for Jeremiyah Love. He’s averaging just 3.8 yards-per-carry, as he hasn’t gotten loose for a big run yet. Love’s longest rush has been 16-yards, which isn’t what anyone expected. Jadarian Price has played extremely well, but just hasn’t gotten enough opportunities. The offense has to feed the backs to give quarterback CJ Carr more options in the passing game, and this game would be a great jumping point for that to happen.
The secondary grows up quickly
Starting safety Adon Shuler will missed the first half after getting ejected for targeting against Texas A&M, safety DeVonta Smith missed last game as a late scratch, and star cornerback Leonard Moore is questionable with an ankle injury. Tae Johnson will step in for Shuler and won’t miss a beat, but the younger corners just haven’t played well this fall. This week in practice it was reported by Tyler Horka that multiple players have been getting looks. It’s not an ideal situation, but we’ve seen Notre Dame defensive backs grow up in a hurry. Someone needs to emerge.
Pressuring Purdue’s quarterback
A familiar face will be protecting Boilermakers quarterback Ryan Browne in Joey Tanona, who started his career with the Irish, but never played due to a car injury that forced him to step away from the game. It’s not a great front, and Notre Dame should have some opportunities to get to Browne. He was a bit careless with the football against USC last weekend, throwing three interceptions, so there should be a few chances for some turnovers. The defensive line has to be set free, it seems like they’re thinking too much. They should be unleashed, and could have a big impact.
Get the ball to the wide receivers
Malachi Field and Carr seem like they’re building a solid rapport, but he’s really the only one. Tight end Eli Raridon is leading the team in receiving yards, which is not a great sign. Someone else needs to make an impact from this position, and there are plenty of options. Jordan Faison has looked great as a possession receiver, but there needs to be a deep threat, and that could be Jaden Greathouse. Consistency has plagued his career, showing flashes of elite play, only to disappear in games. This should be a good opportunity for him to get it going, along with the rest of the unit.
Focus on today, not the past
Notre Dame can right its previous wrongs today, they just have to focus on playing their best against Purdue. It’s a mental aspect that really doesn’t get talked about much, but you have to think that there is some pressing in the locker room. All the Irish need to do is they their game, and they should come out with a victory. Not all of their problems will get fixed, but it’ll be a start. Focus on the task at hand, and there’s a chance another double-digit run could come after.
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This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: Five keys to a Notre Dame football victory over the Purdue Boilermakers
Reporting by Michael Chen , Fighting Irish Wire / Fighting Irish Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
