The Notre Dame football team left no doubt when it faced off against in-state rival Purdue. Of course, it hasn’t left much doubt in its mind anytime it’s played the Boilermakers.
The Fighting Irish have won 11 straight games against the Big Ten school. The two teams haven’t faced each other every year, but it’s still noteworthy that Purdue last won in this series 19 years ago.
Marcus Freeman and his gang needed to show that this year wasn’t any different. They didn't just have to win; they had to earn style points. Some of the Notre Dame players definitely did that. Others left things wanting. So who stood out positively, and who stood out negatively, in Saturday afternoon’s showdown between two old rivals?
4 winners in Notre Dame’s blowout win over Purdue
1. Aneyas Williams is Notre Dame’s big winner against Purdue
One week after it looked like Aneyas Williams might be looking for a new school after the season, he seemed to redeem himself in the eyes of his coaches and fans. Williams entered the season as the odds-on favorite to start. After a less-than-stellar start and a sideline chewing-out after an unsportsmanlike penalty last week, Williams moved to a backup role this weekend.
However, once he got in the game, he started running hard every time he touched the ball. Among his 14 carries for 80 yards and a touchdown was Notre Dame's first run of more than 20 yards of the season. After the 49-10 win, it looks like Williams has taken back the role of primary rusher.
2. Jonaz Walton is a winner with a big caveat
Almost all of Jonaz Walton’s 7 carries came in the second half when Notre Dame was running away with the game. Still, he ran for 61 yards and officially has the longest rush of the season for the Irish after dashing for 44 yards in the fourth quarter.
The true freshman technically got more action against Rice, tallying 8 carries, but since Saturday was against a Big Ten team, this outing was more impressive and shows he can hold his own against Power 4 opponents.
3. Joey O’Brien is a winner after announcing his presence with authority
After injuries to Brauntae Johnson and Luke Talich, Joey O’Brien earned a starting safety role on Saturday, and he made the most of the opportunity. He recorded his first career sack on a safety blitz, played 51 snaps, and tallied 5 tackles. According to Pro Football Focus, he earned an 80.1 overall grade, making him the second-highest-rated starter on defense and the highest-rated player with more than 40 snaps.
4. Chris Ash wins big for Notre Dame’s defense
Yes, Notre Dame technically allowed 10 points, but Purdue’s only touchdown came against the Fighting Irish’s reserves with 6 seconds to go. Beyond that, ND recorded 6 sacks and allowed just 40 yards rushing. Quarterback Ryan Browne entered Saturday averaging nearly 300 yards passing per game. He finished Saturday with 118 yards and no touchdowns.
The 2 biggest losers for Notre Dame against Purdue
1. Nolan James Jr. is Notre Dame’s big loser
The running back position will likely be in flux for most of the 2026 season, in part because there hasn’t been a consistent performer. Nolan James Jr. grabbed the starting running back job after his performance against Michigan State. After just 7 carries for 28 yards against Purdue, it looks like he’s fallen back to No. 2 on the depth chart, even if the Fighting Irish coaches keep listing him and Williams as “or” on the official list.
2. CJ Carr might be the biggest loser in the Heisman hunt
If the Notre Dame quarterback wasn’t hoping for a Heisman Trophy, there’s no way CJ Carr lands in this spot. Still, for whatever reason, there were periods when he didn’t look that sharp.
Yes, he completed 64% of his passes, but that’s a step down in accuracy from his previous three games. He also threw his first interception of the season. Yes, he threw for 237 yards and 3 touchdowns. But against guys like Miami’s Darian Mensah, who has an 88% completion percentage with 14 TD passes and 0 interceptions, the Notre Dame star lost some serious ground in individual honor territory.
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