Purdue · Big TenPurdue’s defense faces its biggest test against Notre Dame
After allowing 90 points and 1,056 yards in two games, the 1-2 Boilermakers host the 3-0 Irish on Sept. 26.
SEP 23, 2026
points allowed by Purdue over its past two games
yards allowed by Purdue over its past two games
rushing yards allowed against UCLA
01 · The NewsPurdue’s Defense Faces Notre Dame Test
Purdue’s defense allowed 90 points and 1,056 yards in its past two games, setting up a major test Saturday, Sept. 26, when the 1-2 Boilermakers host No. 3 Notre Dame.
Purdue lost 38-36 to Wake Forest on Sept. 12 and 52-38 at UCLA on Saturday. UCLA ran for 370 yards, and Notre Dame arrives at 3-0 after scoring at least 27 points in each game.
“Defensively, it's unfortunately been a little bit of everything,” Locked On Boilermakers host Nick Arvin said. “Tackling in space has also been a massive concern, but ultimately, the buck stops with the defensive scheme.”
The coaching context makes Purdue’s slide harder to dismiss as a short slump. Kevin Kane returned as defensive coordinator after being fired following the 2024 season, while Odom, who has a defensive background, has become more involved with the unit. Arvin said Purdue has shown few meaningful changes.
Purdue has not said whether it will change its scheme, personnel or defensive play-calling before the game, or whether Kane will remain the primary play-caller. The front seven now faces a Notre Dame team that beat Michigan State 27-10 on Saturday.
02 · The StakesWhy It Matters
That puts more than a tackling correction on coach Barry Odom’s defense. Purdue is trying to avoid falling to 1-3 and turning its first major home test into another blowout. Notre Dame, the No. 9 team in Josh Pate’s preseason playoff bracket, takes its playoff pursuit on the road for the first time. Odom’s immediate task is clear: find a defensive answer before Notre Dame turns Purdue’s first major home test into another lopsided loss.
03 · The Detail Beneath the HeadlineWhat Most People Are Missing
Purdue’s collapse has obscured an offense that scored 74 points across the losses to Wake Forest and UCLA, yet still came away 0-2 because the defense surrendered 90. That imbalance raises the stakes beyond one difficult matchup. A loss Sept. 26 would leave Purdue at 1-3, halfway to its entire 2025 win total of two, before an Oct. 3 trip to Illinois. The schedule then offers home games against Minnesota on Oct. 10 and Washington on Oct. 16, so any defensive correction must carry beyond Notre Dame rather than serve as a one-game patch.
04 · The Open QuestionsQuestions to Be Answered
Will Kevin Kane still call Purdue’s defense against Notre Dame?
The assignment will clarify how Odom’s increased involvement fits alongside Kane after the defense allowed 90 points and 1,056 yards in two games. Keeping the same arrangement would put the response on scheme and personnel; changing it would shift responsibility at the top. Purdue’s play-calling arrangement on Sept. 26 will provide the answer.
05 · The Watch ListWhat We're Watching
Can Purdue stop the run?
The tell is whether Notre Dame avoids reproducing UCLA’s 370-yard rushing performance.
Does Purdue’s defense look different?
Watch for changes in scheme, personnel or defensive play-calling, including whether Kevin Kane remains the primary play-caller.