TV/radio: 2:30 p.m. Saturday; WMAQ-Ch. 5, WLS-AM 890.
Line: Notre Dame by 14.
Records: Purdue 1-0; Notre Dame 1-0.
Last meeting: Notre Dame won 38-10 on Oct. 1, 2011 in West Lafayette, Ind.
ON THE OFFENSIVE: Purdue has stout DTs like Kawann Short and veteran cornerbacks. Irish QB Everett Golson will have to make throws to keep drives alive instead of merely managing the game, heightening TE Tyler Eifert’s importance as an outlet.
GETTING DEFENSIVE: Facing as many as three Purdue QBs isn’t the issue. It’s how CBs Bennett Jackson, KeiVarae Russell and Jalen Brown hold up against a team actually capable of passing. One or two mistakes, and it’s a close one.
THE NUMBER: 3. Notre Dame forced three fumbles against Navy in the opener. It forced six in all of 2011 schedule.
THE TALK: It is fair to be optimistic about No. 22 Notre Dame after a crisp Week 1. It’s also fair to pull back the reins just a bit until the Irish can repeat the performance against a team that matches up better physically and can throw the ball.
BRIAN HAMILTON’S PICK: Purdue may be a step up in opponent quality, but it’s a small step. This should be a tuneup for titanic clashes the following two weeks, as long as Notre Dame avoids the look-ahead or letdown.
Notre Dame 29, Purdue 16.
