SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Purdue Football fell in its first road game of the season, 56-30, at No. 21 Notre Dame on Saturday.
The game was delayed for lightning with 1:31 left in the first half, Purdue’s second consecutive game with a weather delay. The game was suspended for 1 hour and 54 minutes until resuming at 7 p.m. ET.
The delay also served as the game’s halftime break. Action resumed and ran straight into the third quarter with a regular quarter-length break.
The Boilermakers (2-2, 0-1 B1G) scored 23 first half points, including 10 in the final two minutes thanks to a Myles Slusher strip sack that led to a field goal, followed by a Nitro Tuggle touchdown reception. It was Purdue’s most points in a first half against an FBS opponent since Nov. 11, 2023, against Minnesota (28). However, the Fighting Irish (1-2) firmed up after that and kept Purdue out of the end zone until the final two minutes of the game.
Sophomore quarterback Ryan Browne completed 21-of-34 passes (61.8%) for 250 yards and a touchdown.
Tuggle finished with three catches for a team-high 66 yards. He also hauled in a 24-yard pass for a touchdown at the end of the second quarter, his third straight game with a receiving score. He is Purdue’s first receiver to score in three consecutive games since Charlie Jones in 2022.
Senior Devin Mockobee caught a career-high seven passes for 56 yards. On a trick play in the first quarter, he connected with a wide-open Browne on the perimeter for a 14-yard passing touchdown. It was Mockobee’s first career pass and Browne’s first career catch.
Mockobee’s touchdown pass was the first by a Boilermaker running back since Montrell Lowe at Minnesota (Sept. 29, 2001).
Quarterback Malachi Singleton saw his first extended action early in the fourth. He tallied five carries for 26 yards and completed 3-of-4 passes for 39 yards, including his first touchdown pass as a Boilermaker. The touchdown pass was also Jesse Watson’s first career score.
Slusher led the defense with 11 tackles (nine solos). Purdue secured its first takeaway of the season when Slusher strip-sacked Irish quarterback CJ Carr shortly before halftime. CJ Nunnally IV recovered the fumble at the Notre Dame 19-yard line.
Spencer Porath went 3-for-3 on his field goal attempts to remain perfect (7-for-7) this season. His first was a career-long 48-yarder in the second quarter, followed by a 26-yarder and a 35-yarder. With seven straight makes, he is off to the best start by a Purdue kicker since Mitchell Fineran hit his first nine in 2021.
Punter Jack McCallister converted a fake punt for a first down in the second quarter, rushing for 10 yards on 4th-and-5. It was the first carry by a Purdue punter since Joe Schopper at Rutgers on Oct. 21, 2017, and the fourth-longest run by a Boilermaker punter since 1995.
UP NEXT
The Boilermakers enter their first bye week before returning to Ross-Ade Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 4. They will host No. 8 Illinois in the historic Cannon Trophy rivalry game.
