Eric Boggs 
Notre Dame blows out Purdue.
Notre Dame bounced back in dominant fashion on Saturday with a 66-7 blowout win over Purdue, erasing the sting of last week’s upset loss to Northern Illinois. Heading into the game, the Irish offense ranked a lowly 110th nationally in scoring, but they completely flipped the script against their intrastate rivals. Notre Dame’s offense exploded, scoring on 10 of 14 drives and racking up 578 total yards — 362 rushing and 216 passing — while Purdue’s offense struggled, punting 10 times and managing just 162 total yards.
Riley Leonard was the star for Notre Dame, making history in the first half by becoming the first FBS player since Lamar Jackson in 2016 to pass for over 100 yards, rush for over 100 yards, and score three rushing touchdowns in a single half. He finished the first half 11 of 16 for 112 yards and ran for 100 yards and three touchdowns, propelling the Irish to a 42-0 halftime lead. The only blemish on an otherwise perfect day for Notre Dame was the loss of three key players — offensive linemen Billy Schrauth and Ashton Craig, as well as defensive end Jordan Botelho — to injury.
Notre Dame wasted no time setting the tone, scoring on their opening drive when Jeremiyah Love broke free for a 48-yard touchdown run. Leonard followed that with a pair of rushing touchdowns, including a highlight-reel 34-yard scamper where he eluded defenders and powered into the end zone. The Irish defense was equally dominant, with Jason Onye and Boubacar Traore combining to force an interception that Traore returned for a 34-yard touchdown.
The second half saw backups get valuable playing time, with Notre Dame continuing to pile on. Steve Angeli entered the game at quarterback and threw a pair of touchdown passes, while freshman Kenny Minchey added a rushing score of his own. Notre Dame’s 66 points marked their highest scoring output since 1977, a remarkable offensive display against a Purdue team that came into the game with hopes of competing but was clearly outmatched.
Purdue, coming off a win over Indiana State, was overwhelmed from the start. The Boilermakers’ defense struggled to contain the Irish’s ground game, while their offense never found its rhythm. Despite having two weeks to prepare, Purdue’s performance raised serious questions about the team’s preparedness and execution, particularly on the offensive line and defense.
For Notre Dame, this win represented a major bounce-back performance, while Purdue is left searching for answers as they move forward. As one Purdue fan noted, “Simply the most embarrassing loss Purdue has ever had in the 100 years of Ross-Ade Stadium.”
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