Purdue enters year two of the Ryan Walters era looking for growth following a 4-8 debut campaign. The Boilermakers will again face one of the nation’s most demanding schedules, a daunting proposition as they hope to return to postseason play.
Throughout the summer, GoldandBlack.com will preview each of Purdue’s 2024 opponents. Today, we begin with a look at the Notre Dame Fighting Irish with the help of Tyler Horka from On3.com’s Blue and Gold.
The overview:
Though the rivalry lost some of its luster when the series paused following the 2014 meeting, the Shillelagh will be on the line for the first time since 2021. The Fighting Irish last came to Ross-Ade Stadium in 2013, a game where Darrell Hazell’s Boilermakers battled hard in a 31-24 defeat under the temporary lights. Notre Dame leads the all-time series 57-26-2. In year three of the Marcus Freeman era, Fighting Irish fans have their eyes set on reaching the College Football Playoff for the first time since 2020.
Name to know: offense
Jeremiyah Love – Everything about the Fighting Irish true sophomore who’s billed to be the fastest player on the roster, offense or defense, screamed “heir to Audric Estimé” … until he spent significant portions of spring practice lining up as a wide receiver. He ranked second behind Estimé in total carries in 2023. It remains unclear if he’ll take over as Notre Dame’s lead back or if that duty will go to redshirt sophomore Jadarian Price, but it seems clear as day that Love is going to be a prominent fixture in Notre Dame’s offense whether he’s lining up out wide or in the backfield. He ran 71 times for 385 yards and 1 touchdown and added 8 catches for 77 yards and another score through the air as a freshman.
Name to know: defense
Xavier Watts – Any time you record more interceptions than anyone else in college football in any given season, you’re going to be a big part of an opposing team’s game plan the next year. Watts had 7 last year to tie for the FBS lead. He won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy as the best defensive player in the country. He’s everywhere on the back end for the Irish defense.
Biggest question:
Is the offensive line going to hold up? It sounds weird asking that at a place like Notre Dame; the program has produced more offensive linemen than any other. But two were added to that total from last year’s Irish’s roster, and that’s a cause for concern for this year’s. What does Notre Dame look like up front without Joe Alt and Blake Fisher as bookend tackles?
Key newcomer:
It’s Duke transfer quarterback Riley Leonard, of course. Notre Dame has made a pattern of turning to transfer quarterbacks. The Irish have done it in three of the last four seasons. Is it possible Leonard has the highest upside of the trio following in the footsteps of Jack Coan from Wisconsin and Sam Hartman from Wake Forest? Certainly. He’s the purest pro prospect of the three, and he adds an element of versatility in the running game that his predecessors could not compete with. It’ll all come down to Leonard’s accuracy, which was suspect at times in 21 starts at Duke, and decision making.
Early outlook on Purdue vs. Notre Dame
Notre Dame enters the matchup on a six-game win streak in the series, though just one of those comes since 2014. Known for their physicality, Purdue will need to survive in the trenches to
2024 expectations
It’s 12-team playoff or bust for Marcus Freeman in year three. Period. The schedule is a favorable one. Freeman is flanked by two experienced coordinators in Al Golden on defense and Mike Denbrock on offense. Leonard is a veteran quarterback. There are NFL prospects all over the field on defense. The time is now for the Irish to get back to the CFP for the first time since 2020.
2024 Purdue football schedule
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