Overview

• Kickoff is set for Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET on NBC at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend.
• SportsLine consensus lists Notre Dame as a 24.5-point favorite with a 51.5 total, and a CBS Sports model projects the Irish to cover in 61% of simulations.
• Preview coverage notes Notre Dame’s two losses came by a combined four points to Miami and Texas A&M, including a 40-point outing in College Station.
• Analysts highlight the Irish defense’s slow start with just one sack and one takeaway through two games and the expected first-half absence of captain safety Adon Shuler.
• Purdue’s path is framed around a clean game from QB Ryan Browne, who has two 300-yard outings but four interceptions, and a defense that has yet to allow a second-half touchdown this season.