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    • Purdue football vs. Notre Dame scouting report, prediction
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    Purdue football vs. Notre Dame scouting report, prediction

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    WEST LAFAYETTE — When the rivalry between Purdue and Notre Dame heats up again on Saturday, it will be the first time in 11 years that the Fighting Irish will visit Ross-Ade Stadium.

    What was once an annual rivalry was halted after the two played each other at Lucas Oil Stadium in 2014.

    Purdue traveled to South Bend for a 2021 meeting, and Saturday begins a five-year stretch in which the two will play each other every season, reviving the Shillelagh Trophy, which ran for 69 consecutive seasons before being discontinued in 2014.

    Center Gus Hartwig, linebacker Kydran Jenkins and defensive tackle Damarjhe Lewis were all starters for Purdue the last time it played Notre Dame. Mahamane Moussa and Ben Furtney also played in that game.

    The Boilermakers are well aware of the opportunity they face against one of the most storied programs in college football.

    “I can’t even remember the last time Purdue beat Notre Dame,” safety Antonio Stevens said. “I know it would mean a lot to everybody.”

    Purdue vs. Notre Dame Series History

    When you compare the two programs historically, you might think the rivalry is lopsided.

    Notre Dame has won more than enough in meetings in the past, including the last eight, but the Boilermakers have 26 wins over the Irish and are 14-27 against Notre Dame at Ross-Ade Stadium.

    Despite Notre Dame’s recent success in the series, Purdue generally seems to be a good fit.

    More: BoilersXtra Podcast: Purdue vs. Notre Dame Preview

    In the last 19 meetings, beginning with Joe Tiller’s first season as Purdue’s head coach in 1997, Notre Dame’s average margin of victory is 4.3 points. That number is skewed somewhat by Purdue’s 41-16 win in 2004, but also offset by Notre Dame’s 28-point victory in 2011. Eight of those most recent 19 meetings have been decided by a touchdown or less.

    Notre Dame news

    Quarterback Riley Leonard appeared to have injured his non-throwing shoulder in Saturday’s loss to Northern Illinois. Leonard will play Saturday, Irish coach Marcus Freeman said Thursday.

    More: Can Purdue’s top transfer QB beat Notre Dame?

    Speaking of Freeman, Saturday will be his first appearance at Ross-Ade Stadium since 2016, when he was co-defensive coordinator for the Boilermakers.

    Notre Dame tight end Mitchell Evans is atop Notre Dame’s depth chart. After undergoing midseason knee surgery, Evans played sparingly in the Irish’s first two games and caught two passes for 26 yards last week.

    Prediction: Purdue football 23, Notre Dame 20

    Before the season, I boldly predicted on the Boilers Xtra podcast that Purdue would beat Notre Dame. Now I’ve backed that up by saying that Georgia transfer C.J. Smith will be a factor at receiver. Smith is not expected to play against the Fighting Irish.

    More: Before Max Klare became the star of the Purdue football team, he had to choose which sport he wanted to play

    That prediction also came before Notre Dame was surprised by a MAC team. Purdue has likely had Notre Dame’s full attention since last Saturday. Not that it didn’t already, but a team with national championship aspirations now has to run the table for 10 straight games if it has any hope.

    But as I said before, Purdue always seems to improve on its performance against Notre Dame. In some of those years, the talent gap was obvious. Right now, the gap isn’t as big.

    Notre Dame’s secondary is not only not Indiana State’s, it’s also among the best in the country, led by All-American safety Xavier Watts.

    Hudson Card, who completed an NCAA-record 24-of-25 passes against Indiana State, will need to play well. The defense will need to eliminate big plays, and Purdue will likely need a few on offense.

    When you factor in Ross-Ade and Purdue’s extra week of preparation, a Boilermaker win doesn’t seem so far-fetched after all.

    Sam King writes about sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter and Instagram @samueltking.

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