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The Five Teams Notre Dame Football Should Play Every Season

By Daniel Morrison

SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 01: Khaleke Hudson #7 of the Michigan Wolverines tackles Chris Finke #10 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the second quarter at Notre Dame Stadium on September 1, 2018 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN - SEPTEMBER 01: Khaleke Hudson #7 of the Michigan Wolverines tackles Chris Finke #10 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the second quarter at Notre Dame Stadium on September 1, 2018 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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4. Purdue

WEST LAFAYETTE, IN – SEPTEMBER 14: Jalani Phillips #89 of the Purdue Boilermakers tries to tackle Cam McDaniel #33 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish as he runs the ball at Ross-Ade Stadium on September 14, 2013 in West Lafayette, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated Purdue 31-24. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
WEST LAFAYETTE, IN – SEPTEMBER 14: Jalani Phillips #89 of the Purdue Boilermakers tries to tackle Cam McDaniel #33 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish as he runs the ball at Ross-Ade Stadium on September 14, 2013 in West Lafayette, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated Purdue 31-24. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

The Boilermakers represent an underappreciated, in-state, rivalry. The winner gets the Shillelagh Trophy, and right to say they’re the best in Indiana (sorry Hoosiers). Notre Dame has won the majority of the two programs’ 86 total meetings. There might not be hate in this rivalry, but there is tradition and pageantry.

The Irish and the Boilermakers date back to 1896, but the two schools haven’t met on the field since 2014, when they met at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The Irish won that game 30-14.

The series hasn’t always been particularly close, as the Irish have won the last 7 meetings against the Boilermakers. In all, Notre Dame leads the series 56-26-2. Two of their wins were vacated due to NCAA violations. But even though the numbers have been been tilted in Notre Dame’s favor, the Irish and the Boilermakers have met for some real entertaining ballgames near the turn of the century.

Regional rivalries are great. In-state rivalries are even better. It’s a shame that we haven’t seen the Irish and Boilermakers tango for supremacy in the state of Indiana since 2014. With Purdue gaining momentum as a program, it might be time for the two schools to renew their rivalry.

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