Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Purdue Boilermakers Complete Game Preview

Just one week after ending a rivalry with a Big Ten opponent, Notre Dame says goodbye (for now) to another one Saturday night against Purdue.

For all the attention the end of the Michigan series got, the in-state rivalry with Purdue will end a battle for the Shillelagh Trophy, a game that's been played every year since 1946. While athletic directors Jack Swarbrick and Morgan Burke have a date set for 2020, Saturday night's Shamrock Series game is the end of a 68-year streak, the fourth-longest uninterrupted series in college football history. 

With 24 hours come and gone after the shutout victory over Michigan, the Irish need to turn their attention to Purdue. While the Boilermakers had a disappointing performance in their loss to Central Michigan, they've played Notre Dame tight the last two seasons and will be motivated in this team's final opportunity to beat the Irish. 

Here's all the info you need to get you ready for Saturday night's game. 

Date: Saturday, Sept. 13

Time: 7:30 p.m. ET

Place: Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis

TV: NBC

Radio: IMG College Sports, SiriusXM Channel 129

Spread: Notre Dame by 29.5, according to Odds Shark.

Notre Dame Keys to Victory

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Don't Suffer a Letdown

Brian Kelly joked about it after the game: The Michigan win isn't worth two. So while a really one-sided game looks on tap for Saturday night, the Irish should underestimate Purdue at their own risk.

Last year, a Boilermaker team that ended the season 1-10 gave Notre Dame all it could handle. Purdue held a touchdown lead heading into the fourth quarter before the Irish scored 21 points to hold on for a 31-24 victory. In 2012, the Irish nearly had their undefeated regular season ended before it began, but Tommy Rees came in for the close, leading the Irish to a late field goal and a 20-17 victory. 

Coming off a big victory against the Wolverines, Notre Dame climbed to No. 11 in both the AP and Coaches Polls. But getting back to business and preparing for another rivalry game is important and likely being stressed by Brian Kelly and his coaching staff right now.

Get the Ground Game Back on Track

Film review this week will certainly bring the Irish back to earth. While the 31-0 victory was decisive, it was far from perfect. The Irish running game was an example of that. After running for 281 yards against Rice, the Irish struggled to just 54 total rushing yards on Saturday. 

The opportunity for a bounce back is there for the taking, as Purdue's defense has given up two big rushing days to their first two opponents. In the season opener, Western Michigan's Jarvion Franklin ran for 163 yards on just 19 carries, scoring three touchdowns. In Central Michigan's dominant 38-17 victory, Thomas Rawls ran for 155 yards on 31 carries for two scores. 

After seeing Greg Mattison and Michigan stuff the box with six and seven defenders, Greg Bryant, Cam McDaniel and Tarean Folston have to be licking their chops. 

Purdue Keys to Victory

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Get Some Production from the Passing Game

Purdue fans had high hopes for sophomore Danny Etling. Starting the final seven games of last season, Etling was thrown into the fire after a high-profile recruitment that included an impressive showing at the Elite 11 camp. 

Etling completed 55.8 percent of his throws last season, with a 10 to 7 TD:INT ratio. But through two weeks, Etling has struggled horribly for Purdue, averaging just 4.4 yards per attempt and completing only 51.4 percent of his throws. 

Against Central Michigan, Etling's pick-six started the Boilermakers on the wrong foot. And it only seemed to get worse from there, with redshirt sophomore Austin Appleby relieving Etling and having limited success. 

In what looks like the start of another quarterback controversy, Purdue needs to find a way to stretch the field, doing something to relieve the pressure off of running backs Raheem Mostert and Akeem Hunt. 

Find a Way to Stop Everett Golson

Purdue has given up an average of 36 points to Western Michigan and Central Michigan. With all due respect to Zach Terrell and Cooper Rush, neither one is Everett Golson. Notre Dame's quarterback has started off the season hot, rushing for three touchdowns and throwing for five more through the first two games. 

He'll face a Purdue defense that returns eight starters but still seems to be struggling under former Notre Dame linebacker Greg Hudson's direction. While defensive end Ryan Russell is a talented defensive end and the secondary has playmakers Frankie Williams and Landon Feichter, this is a bad matchup for the Boilermakers. 

Notre Dame Players to Watch

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Amir Carlisle

A week after his best game in an Irish uniform, expect Carlisle to want to do his best against a team that was his undoing last season. Carlisle fumbled late in the game against Purdue last season, nearly putting the Irish back in the hole they spent all night digging out from. 

That fumble pushed Carlisle back into a crowded depth chart. From there, he went from starter at running back to forgotten piece of the puzzle, spending the spring transitioning to slot receiver. That the position change served as a fresh start is a credit to the diminutive senior, who gives the Irish a legitimate threat at slot receiver. 

The game against Purdue also means quite a bit to Carlisle personally. His father Duane is on the opposing sideline, where he serves as the director of sports performance for all 18 of the Boilermakers varsity sports. It was the elder Carlisle taking the job in Indiana that opened the door for Amir's transfer, wanting to play closer to his family. 

Sheldon Day

For the junior leader of Notre Dame's defensive line, Day has an opportunity to play in front of his hometown crowd. The Indianapolis native starred at Warren Central before choosing the Irish over programs like Ohio State, Michigan and LSU. 

Day has started the season off quickly, with 11 tackles through two games. He's got the opportunity to wreak havoc in the Boilermakers backfield on Saturday night. It was this game last year that ultimately ruined Day's 2013 season, suffering a high ankle sprain that plagued him all year. 

Purdue Players to Watch

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Frankie Williams

The safety might be the next diminutive playmaker for the Boilermakers secondary. The 5'9" Tampa, Florida, native nearly took an interception to the house against Western Michigan and has also been dynamic in the punt return game as well. 

With Notre Dame's passing game making big plays against both Rice and Michigan, Williams will be on the hot seat early and often on Saturday night. 

Danny Etling or Austin Appleby

Whoever plays quarterback for the Boilermakers needs to play better than they have in the season's first two games. And against Brian VanGorder's attacking defense, that's a tall order.

The lack of production from the passing game seems like a glaring weakness for Purdue, especially with a more than average ground attack doing its part to keep some balance. 

Offensive coordinator John Shoop spent a dozen years in the NFL and five seasons as the coordinator at North Carolina before joining Darrell Hazell at Purdue. He'll have a familiarity with some of the attacking schemes that VanGorder enlists. But with just a week to get his quarterbacks ready, finding a game plan that helps manufacture some success through the air will be critical if Purdue has a chance this weekend. 

Prediction

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Notre Dame 44, Purdue 17

While Notre Dame players and coaches will do their best to take Purdue seriously, you can't help but think there's going to be a little bit of a hangover effect in Indianapolis, a venue that could actually serve as a neutral site with West Lafayette, Indiana, being an easier drive to Lucas Oil Stadium than South Bend, Indiana. 

But Notre Dame is just too talented offensively for the Boilermakers to hang with, especially with the Irish getting their ground game rolling. For the third straight game backup quarterback Malik Zaire will get a chance to play. 

While the defense doesn't pitch a shutout, the inexperienced depth gives up a second-half touchdown to Purdue to help the Boilermakers cover the spread. And wearing alternate uniforms designed to honor the Golden Dome atop the university, the Irish will march to a relatively easy victory.