Notre Dame Enters October Undefeated After Purdue Rout
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The Fighting Irish improved to 4-0 following a dominant 49-10 victory, though rushing efficiency remains a concern.
Notre Dame concluded its September schedule with a 49-10 victory over Purdue on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, moving the Fighting Irish to a perfect 4-0 record, according to Sports Illustrated.
The Fighting Irish established early control, entering halftime with a 35-0 lead. Quarterback CJ Carr led the offensive attack, recording 237 passing yards and three touchdowns, along with one rushing score. The passing game emphasized downfield plays, with Jerome Bettis, Jr., Cooper Flanagan, Jaden Greathouse, Jordan Faison, and Micah Gilbert all securing receptions exceeding 25 yards.
Defensively, Notre Dame stifled a Purdue offense that had previously averaged 39 points per game. The Fighting Irish defensive front recorded six sacks, including two from Bryce Young. Freshman safety Joey O'Brien, starting in place of the injured Luke Talich, contributed five tackles and a half-sack.
Despite the blowout, Sports Illustrated reports that the Notre Dame rushing attack remains a work in progress. While the team totaled 177 rushing yards, the efficiency was uneven. Aneyas Williams scored on a 22-yard run, and freshman Jonaz Walton added a 44-yard run during mop-up time, but Nolan James, Jr. was limited to 28 yards on seven carries. This occurred despite Purdue allowing 369 rushing yards to UCLA the previous week.
Under head coach Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame outscored its opponents 169-33 throughout September.