September 23, 2025 // Diocese
Irish Running Attack Storms Purdue in First Win of Season
After what began as a sunny day on the campus of the University of Notre Dame in South Bend on Saturday, September 20, Notre Dame ended up storming past Purdue 56-30 to earn the Fighting Irish’s first victory of the season.
Photos by Nicole Hahn
Just 1:20 into the first quarter, Notre Dame wide receiver Malachi Fields catches a 66-yard pass from quarterback CJ Carr for a touchdown and the first score of the game against Purdue in South Bend on Saturday, September 20.
Notre Dame went up 7-0 just 1:20 into the first quarter after wide receiver Malachi Fields caught a 66-yard touchdown pass from quarterback CJ Carr and kicker Erik Schmidt kicked the point after. It appeared Purdue might make it a game when the Boilers scored a touchdown less than 3 minutes later to tie the score, but that was as close as they would get the rest of the game.
With just a minute and a half left in the first half, lightning in the area delayed the game for nearly two hours with the Irish leading 28-13. Once the teams returned to the field, there was a 10-minute warm up before second-quarter play was resumed. After Purdue’s Spencer Porath made a field goal to cut Notre Dame’s lead to 28-16, the Irish’s Jadarian Price returned the ensuing kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. Purdue answered with 7 seconds to go in the half as quarterback Ryan Browne hit receiver Nitro Tuggle on a 24-yard touchdown pass to make the score 35-23.
Early in the third quarter, already up 35-23, Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love rushes 46-yards for his second touchdown of the game to put the Irish up 42-23 against the Boilermakers.
Because of the lengthy rain delay, school officials opted to skip halftime and go straight into the third quarter, when Notre Dame pulled away.
Halfway through the third quarter, freshman cornerback Dallas Golden and his teammates celebrate by running down the field after Golden’s first career interception when he snagged a pass from Purdue quarterback Malachi Singleton.
A rushing touchdown by running back Jeremiyah Love, a passing touchdown from Carr to wide receiver Jordan Faison, and a rushing touchdown by Price – his fourth TD of the game – gave the Irish a 56-23 lead.
With less than four minutes left in the third quarter, running back Jardarian Price holds up four fingers after a 1-yard rushing touchdown, signaling his fourth TD of the game, including a 100-yard kickoff return in the first half.
The only action in the fourth quarter came with less than 2 minutes left, as Purdue quarterback Malachi Singleton found redshirt freshman receiver Jesse Watson for a 24-yard score.
Up next for the Irish (1-2) is a matchup against the Arkansas Razorbacks (2-2) in Fayetteville, Arkansas, at noon on Saturday, September 27. The game will be televised on ABC.
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