Notre Dame travels to West Lafayette on Saturday afternoon as a four-touchdown road favorite, with the Shillelagh Trophy on the line for the 90th meeting in this in-state series. The Irish are 3-0 and ranked third in the country. Purdue sits at 1-2, but the Boilermakers carry the Big Ten’s most productive passing attack. The spread has climbed since it opened, which tells you where the early money went. Both of our picks lean the other way.
Last Updated: Saturday, September 26, 2026
Notre Dame vs. Purdue — Time & How to Watch
| Where | Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette Indiana |
| When | Saturday, September 26 – 2:00 PM ET |
| TV | Peacock |
Notre Dame vs. Purdue Betting Preview
Notre Dame has been the more complete team. The Irish beat Wisconsin 41-13, shut out Rice 52-0, then handled Michigan State 27-10. That is 23 total points allowed in three games and a winning margin of at least 17 every week. Second-year starter CJ Carr has not turned the ball over, and the offense averages roughly 40 points per game. The No. 3 spot in the Associated Press Top 25 reflects the resume, not the brand.
Purdue’s season reads very differently depending on which side of the ball you watch. Barry Odom’s second-year team beat Indiana State 44-19, lost 38-36 in double overtime to Wake Forest, then dropped its Big Ten opener 52-38 at UCLA. Quarterback Ryan Browne leads the Big Ten at 341.3 passing yards per game with seven touchdowns against one interception, clearing 300 yards in all three starts. Running back Fame Ijeboi has added 248 rushing yards and six scores. The offense averages 39.3 points per game.
The defense is the problem. UCLA piled up 645 yards and converted 11 of 14 third downs. Purdue is thin in places, too. Left tackle Joey Tanona has not played this season, and defensive back Mister Clark and defensive end Elo Modozie have missed time. Notre Dame has absences of its own, including offensive lineman Charles Jagusah and receiver Quincy Porter, with defensive back Luke Talich questionable.
The series history is lopsided. Notre Dame leads 61-26-2 all time and has won ten straight, including 56-30 last September. Purdue has not beaten the Irish since 2007. Trophy games can defy form, but a decade of results argues against leaning on rivalry volatility alone. Our recent Notre Dame pick against Michigan State covers how the Irish handled their last opponent.
Notre Dame vs. Purdue Odds
| Spread | Moneyline | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notre Dame | -28 (+100) | -6500 | O 57 (-115) |
| Purdue | +28 (-120) | +1300 | U 57 (-105) |
Odds accurate as of September 26, 2026 via TheSpread.com. Odds change, get the latest NCAAF Odds – Futures – Props
Notre Dame vs. Purdue — Who Is the Public Betting?
| Notre Dame | 46% | 54% | Purdue |
See the latest College Football Public Betting Splits and make smarter wagers!
Notre Dame vs. Purdue Prediction — Is Four Touchdowns Too Much Respect?
Start with the movement. The spread opened at 26.5 and now sits at 28, while the favorite’s moneyline stretched from -5000 to -6500. That is a market growing more confident in a blowout. The spread splits, meanwhile, are close to even with a slight majority on the home side. When a number climbs without the public chasing it, the move usually reflects respect for the favorite rather than ticket volume.
The case for laying it is simple. Notre Dame has allowed 23 points in three games and has not let an opponent inside two scores. Purdue’s line has been working without its projected left tackle. If Browne is under pressure and the run game stalls, this looks like last year’s 56-30 result, which cleared four touchdowns comfortably.
The case for the dog is about points already on the board. Purdue scored 36 and 38 in consecutive games against Power Four defenses, and Browne has not been held under 300 yards. Twenty-eight is an enormous number against a team averaging 39.3 points per game at home. Margins this wide also end with backups on the field and a running clock. The risk is plain: if the Irish secondary smothers the passing game early, Purdue has shown no other way to move the ball.
The Pick: Purdue +28 (-120)
Notre Dame vs. Purdue Prediction — Can a Leaky Defense Outweigh an Elite One?
The total opened at 57.5 and has ticked down to 57, so early money leaned toward a lower-scoring afternoon. That read is defensible. Notre Dame’s games have averaged under 50 combined points, and the defense is the reason. Purdue has not faced anything close to this front, and a comfortable Irish halftime lead naturally slows the pace.
The other side has volume behind it. Purdue’s three games produced 63, 74 and 90 combined points, an average near 76. The Boilermakers surrendered those 645 yards last week, and Notre Dame is scoring about 40 per game against tougher opposition. Last year’s meeting finished 56-30, well clear of this number. If the Irish reach the mid-40s and Purdue’s passing game finds modest traction, 57 falls without drama. The counterargument holds weight, though: hold Purdue to a touchdown or two and no amount of Irish scoring gets there.
The Pick: Over 57 (-115)
Final Thoughts and Bonus Angle
We looked at the moneyline and are passing. Purdue at +1300 implies roughly a 7 percent chance of winning outright, and a series the Irish have won ten straight times gives no reason to pay for that ticket. Notre Dame at -6500 is not worth touching either, and no alternate-line angle is supportable here.
Notre Dame should win, and probably win clearly, but the market has priced in close to a worst case for Purdue at home. Both of our positions lose together if the Irish defense erases Browne. That is the honest risk, and the one the climbing spread reflects.
Our picks for this game: Purdue +28 (-120) against the spread, and Over 57 (-115) on the total. For more on handicapping wide numbers, see our latest college football picks coverage.
NCAAF Notre Dame vs. Purdue FAQ: Saturday September 26, 2026
What time does the Notre Dame vs. Purdue game start?
Kickoff is set for 2:00 PM ET on Saturday, September 26, 2026. West Lafayette sits in the Eastern time zone, so the local start time matches the listed kickoff. It is an early afternoon window rather than a night game, which is worth noting for anyone planning around the Week 5 slate.
What channel is the Notre Dame vs. Purdue game on?
This game streams exclusively on Peacock and is not carried on traditional television. A Peacock subscription is required to watch the Shillelagh Trophy meeting live. That streaming-only arrangement caught some fans off guard when the kickoff window was announced, so plan ahead rather than searching cable listings on Saturday.
Where are Notre Dame and Purdue playing?
The game is at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana, Purdue’s home field. This is a true road game for Notre Dame rather than a neutral-site matchup. The two campuses sit roughly 100 miles apart within Indiana, which is part of what gives the series its in-state character.
Who won the last meeting between Notre Dame and Purdue?
Notre Dame won the most recent meeting 56-30 on September 20, 2025. That result extended the Irish winning streak in the series to ten games. Notre Dame leads the all-time series 61-26-2, and Purdue’s last victory over the Irish came back in 2007.
What conference are Notre Dame and Purdue in?
Purdue competes in the Big Ten Conference and has already opened league play this season. Notre Dame remains an FBS independent in football and carries no conference affiliation. That makes this a non-conference game for both programs, with no standings implications for the Big Ten race.