About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WEST LAFAYETTE — Will Purdue football's series with Notre Dame continue as scheduled, or is this historic rivalry about to take another break?
An episode of the Irish Illustrated Insider podcast last week delved into the program's future schedules. One of the panelists, USA TODAY college sports insider John Brice, and host Pete Sampson said they believed Notre Dame was trying to add a new Big Ten team to its 2027 schedule. Their speculation turned to a possible Oregon game at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles over Labor Day weekend.
Brice also said the Irish's schedule shuffle would affect another Big Ten team.
"I was told to expect the likelihood that Purdue would be disappearing from Notre Dame's schedule," Brice said.
Sep 26, 2026; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Purdue Boilermakers head coach Barry Odom before the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images (Marc Lebryk, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) Sep 26, 2026; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman before the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images (Marc Lebryk, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) Sep 26, 2026; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Purdue interim president Mitch Daniels talks with students before the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images (Marc Lebryk, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) Sep 26, 2026; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Purdue Boilermakers athletic director Tommy McClelland and former NFL player and Purdue alumni Drew Brees before the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images (Marc Lebryk, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) Sep 26, 2026; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman leads his team onto the field before the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images (Marc Lebryk, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) Sep 26, 2026; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback CJ Carr (13) looks to pass in the first quarter against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images (Marc Lebryk, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) Sep 26, 2026; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; at Ross-Ade Stadium.Purdue Boilermakers wide receiver Asaad Waseem (19) is pulled out of bounds by Notre Dame Fighting Irish cornerback DJ McKinney (2) ahead of wide receiver Chauncey Magwood (5) and safety Joey O'Brien (20) in the first quarter at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images (Marc Lebryk, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) Sep 26, 2026; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; at Ross-Ade Stadium.Purdue Boilermakers wide receiver Asaad Waseem (19) is pulled down by Notre Dame Fighting Irish cornerback DJ McKinney (2) ahead of wide receiver Chauncey Magwood (5) and safety Joey O'Brien (20) in the first quarter at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images (Marc Lebryk, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) Sep 26, 2026; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Purdue Boilermakers quarterback Ryan Browne (15) runs the ball as Notre Dame Fighting Irish safety Adon Shuler (8) defends in the first quarter at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images (Marc Lebryk, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) Sep 26, 2026; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Purdue Boilermakers running back Fame Ijeboi (2) runs the ball against Notre Dame Fighting Irish cornerback Leonard Moore (15) and safety Adon Shuler (8) in the first quarter at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images (Marc Lebryk, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) Sep 26, 2026; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish wide receiver Jordan Faison (6) makes a catch ahead of Purdue Boilermakers defensive back Hudauri Hines (4) in the first quarter at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images (Marc Lebryk, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) Sep 26, 2026; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Purdue Boilermakers running back Fame Ijeboi (2) is tackled by Notre Dame Fighting Irish safety Adon Shuler (8) and cornerback Leonard Moore (15) in the first quarter at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images (Marc Lebryk, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) Sep 26, 2026; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Purdue Boilermakers running back Fame Ijeboi (2) runs the ball against Notre Dame Fighting Irish cornerback Leonard Moore (15) and safety Adon Shuler (8) in the first quarter at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images (Marc Lebryk, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) Sep 26, 2026; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Purdue Boilermakers cheerleaders in the second quarter against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images (Marc Lebryk, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) Sep 26, 2026; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Purdue Boilermakers quarterback Ryan Browne (15) attempts a pass in the second quarter against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images (Marc Lebryk, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) Sep 26, 2026; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Aneyas Williams (22) runs for a touchdown in the second quarter against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images (Marc Lebryk, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 1 / 16 Notre Dame dominates Purdue football in first half, CJ Carr, Aneyas Williams lead way Sep 26, 2026; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Purdue Boilermakers head coach Barry Odom before the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images (Marc Lebryk, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 1 / 16 Notre Dame dominates Purdue football in first half, CJ Carr, Aneyas Williams lead way Sep 26, 2026; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Purdue Boilermakers head coach Barry Odom before the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images (Marc Lebryk, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 2 / 16 Notre Dame dominates Purdue football in first half, CJ Carr, Aneyas Williams lead way Sep 26, 2026; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman before the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images (Marc Lebryk, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 3 / 16 Notre Dame dominates Purdue football in first half, CJ Carr, Aneyas Williams lead way Sep 26, 2026; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Purdue interim president Mitch Daniels talks with students before the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images (Marc Lebryk, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 4 / 16 Notre Dame dominates Purdue football in first half, CJ Carr, Aneyas Williams lead way Sep 26, 2026; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Purdue Boilermakers athletic director Tommy McClelland and former NFL player and Purdue alumni Drew Brees before the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images (Marc Lebryk, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 5 / 16 Notre Dame dominates Purdue football in first half, CJ Carr, Aneyas Williams lead way Sep 26, 2026; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman leads his team onto the field before the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images (Marc Lebryk, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 6 / 16 Notre Dame dominates Purdue football in first half, CJ Carr, Aneyas Williams lead way Sep 26, 2026; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback CJ Carr (13) looks to pass in the first quarter against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images (Marc Lebryk, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 7 / 16 Notre Dame dominates Purdue football in first half, CJ Carr, Aneyas Williams lead way Sep 26, 2026; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; at Ross-Ade Stadium.Purdue Boilermakers wide receiver Asaad Waseem (19) is pulled out of bounds by Notre Dame Fighting Irish cornerback DJ McKinney (2) ahead of wide receiver Chauncey Magwood (5) and safety Joey O'Brien (20) in the first quarter at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images (Marc Lebryk, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 8 / 16 Notre Dame dominates Purdue football in first half, CJ Carr, Aneyas Williams lead way Sep 26, 2026; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; at Ross-Ade Stadium.Purdue Boilermakers wide receiver Asaad Waseem (19) is pulled down by Notre Dame Fighting Irish cornerback DJ McKinney (2) ahead of wide receiver Chauncey Magwood (5) and safety Joey O'Brien (20) in the first quarter at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images (Marc Lebryk, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 9 / 16 Notre Dame dominates Purdue football in first half, CJ Carr, Aneyas Williams lead way Sep 26, 2026; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Purdue Boilermakers quarterback Ryan Browne (15) runs the ball as Notre Dame Fighting Irish safety Adon Shuler (8) defends in the first quarter at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images (Marc Lebryk, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 10 / 16 Notre Dame dominates Purdue football in first half, CJ Carr, Aneyas Williams lead way Sep 26, 2026; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Purdue Boilermakers running back Fame Ijeboi (2) runs the ball against Notre Dame Fighting Irish cornerback Leonard Moore (15) and safety Adon Shuler (8) in the first quarter at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images (Marc Lebryk, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 11 / 16 Notre Dame dominates Purdue football in first half, CJ Carr, Aneyas Williams lead way Sep 26, 2026; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish wide receiver Jordan Faison (6) makes a catch ahead of Purdue Boilermakers defensive back Hudauri Hines (4) in the first quarter at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images (Marc Lebryk, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 12 / 16 Notre Dame dominates Purdue football in first half, CJ Carr, Aneyas Williams lead way Sep 26, 2026; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Purdue Boilermakers running back Fame Ijeboi (2) is tackled by Notre Dame Fighting Irish safety Adon Shuler (8) and cornerback Leonard Moore (15) in the first quarter at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images (Marc Lebryk, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 13 / 16 Notre Dame dominates Purdue football in first half, CJ Carr, Aneyas Williams lead way Sep 26, 2026; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Purdue Boilermakers running back Fame Ijeboi (2) runs the ball against Notre Dame Fighting Irish cornerback Leonard Moore (15) and safety Adon Shuler (8) in the first quarter at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images (Marc Lebryk, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 14 / 16 Notre Dame dominates Purdue football in first half, CJ Carr, Aneyas Williams lead way Sep 26, 2026; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Purdue Boilermakers cheerleaders in the second quarter against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images (Marc Lebryk, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 15 / 16 Notre Dame dominates Purdue football in first half, CJ Carr, Aneyas Williams lead way Sep 26, 2026; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Purdue Boilermakers quarterback Ryan Browne (15) attempts a pass in the second quarter against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images (Marc Lebryk, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 16 / 16 Notre Dame dominates Purdue football in first half, CJ Carr, Aneyas Williams lead way Sep 26, 2026; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Aneyas Williams (22) runs for a touchdown in the second quarter against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images (Marc Lebryk, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) Purdue and Notre Dame are scheduled to play on Sept. 4, 2027, in South Bend, and on Sept. 23, 2028, at Ross-Ade Stadium. The NCAA recently changed its scheduling model to allow games in what was formerly referred to as Week 0. Notre Dame moved its game with Kent State to that weekend. Purdue has not yet announced any changes for that week.
Purdue coach Barry Odom on Monday said he had no information about a potential change.
"I don't talk to anyone in South Bend," Odom said. "I've got a lot of respect for Marcus Freeman. I hope they have great success."
The series has not been competitive in recent years. Notre Dame has won 11 straight dating back to 2008. It has outscored the Boilermakers 171-47 over the past three games. The Irish appeared in the College Football Playoff national championship game in 2024, missed the tourney despite going 10-2 last season and are currently 6-1 and ranked No. 6 in the US LBM USA TODAY coaches poll .
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The shift to a 24-team playoff could play into how both programs evaluate the series' value. High-profile programs such as Notre Dame might seek out more competitively equated opponents, as a single loss will not hurt their postseason chances as much. Programs trying to climb back towards fringe playoff contention, such as Purdue, might look for more equitable matchups as well.
The Big Ten already plays nine conference games. The move to a 24-team playoff would include a mandate that all conference teams play at least one Power Four team (or Notre Dame) in its nonconference schedule.
Purdue is already scheduled to play the return game of its home-and-home series with Wake Forest in 2028. Next season, though, it would need to find a P4 replacement if the Notre Dame series goes away. It was originally scheduled to play North Carolina next season, but the Tar Heels moved that series farther into the future to accommodate the ACC's shift to nine conference games.
Notre Dame also played Wisconsin and Michigan State this season. It is scheduled to play at the Spartans next season. Purdue is its only currently scheduled Big Ten opponent for 2028.
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Will Purdue continue to play Notre Dame football series? Speculation continues
Source: Sports
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