Kevin Kane came back to Purdue to fix one of the nation’s worst defenses, but through three games, the reunion has been plain rough. Fans are already steamed, and who can blame them? The Boilermakers are letting up the most points per game and the third most yards of any Power 4 team. Now? No. 3 Notre Dame rolls into Ross-Ade Stadium. Talk about a nightmare matchup!
The Defense Is Drowning, And It’s Ugly
You can’t sugarcoat this stuff. Coach Barry Odom isn’t even trying, warning everyone that if they don’t fix things, it’s just gonna get worse. “I don’t think anybody on that side of the ball right now would say ‘Yeah, we’re where we want to be or where we expect to be,’” Odom admitted. He’s right. This defense is nowhere close to where it needs to be, and that’s on everyone.
Look at the tape: they blew an overtime lead against Wake Forest. Then they got absolutely torched, giving up 52 points and a mind-boggling 645 yards in a loss at UCLA. This isn’t just a tough start; it’s a pattern. They’ve got just one win in their last 27 matchups against FBS teams, and that was vs. Ball State in 2025. We’re talking 19 straight conference losses and 25 straight against Power 4 schools and independents. And get this: when Kane last called the defense against Notre Dame two years ago, they got blown out 66-7, then lost 66-0 to Indiana two months later. That history screams trouble, right?
Can Browne’s Hot Hand Keep Them Alive Against Carr’s Attack?
On paper, this game looks like a total mismatch. Notre Dame is 3-0, ranked No. 3, and they’re aiming for a perfect September for the first time since 2021. CJ Carr has their offense absolutely humming, putting up an insane 40.0 points per game , even more than Purdue’s defense is surrendering (36.3 PPG). Yikes.
But hold up. There’s a sliver of hope, a bright spot quietly doing his thing: Purdue quarterback Ryan Browne. He’s starting for the second straight year, and his improvement has flown under the radar. Browne is completing a ridiculous 73.3% of his throws and ranks fifth nationally with 1,024 yards passing. With seven touchdowns and just one interception, he’s been pretty lights out! Coach Odom himself called Browne’s play “outstanding for three weeks.” So while the defense is struggling, Browne’s arm might just keep them in it.
Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman sees an “ascending team” in Purdue, especially their offense, which he says presents challenges. But Odom knows the defense has to step up. He’s not giving up, saying, “I’m just going to keep swinging and eventually this wall is going to come down.” This rivalry game means a lot to both coaches. For Purdue, it’s about finding that fight and showing something against a top-tier team. For Notre Dame, it’s about keeping that perfect record rolling.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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