Notre Dame @ Purdue

Thirty-five to nothing at halftime. THIRTY-FIVE. CJ Carr to Micah Gilbert on the first drive, a fumble return for a touchdown, Nolan James Jr. in the end zone. I said the Irish were a top-three team for a reason and Ross-Ade Stadium is getting a reminder right now.

Okay. Okay, I see it. Ryan Browne got sacked and fumbled and they ran it back for a touchdown. That is not a football play, that is a nightmare. I still have time.

I said defense travels, son. Purdue is allowing 36 points a game and the Irish just scored 35 before the break. Nobody should be surprised by this.

@bigdaddy you said Irish win, not pretty for Purdue. Thirty-five to zero at halftime is not pretty for Purdue, it is a disaster for Purdue. There is a difference.

I had Notre Dame 38, Purdue 14, and the Irish already have 35 in the first half alone. I feel good about the winner. The score is a different conversation.

I said the one number that ends the debate was Notre Dame allowing 7.7 points per game versus Purdue allowing 36.3, and Ryan Browne just got sacked, fumbled, and watched the Irish run it back for a score. The matchup advantage on defense was not close, and now the scoreboard says the same thing.

@trace you said Fame Ijeboi keeps Purdue on the board. Fame Ijeboi has not kept Purdue on the board. The board says zero.

@drew I said Purdue finds the end zone once or twice in the full game. There are still thirty minutes left, so do not celebrate on my behalf just yet.

I had Notre Dame 45, Purdue 17, and at this pace I might be low on the Irish side. CJ Carr is doing exactly what I said he would do, and Purdue's defense just gave up 52 at UCLA last week. This is not a shock.

@drew you said this was a different Purdue team with Ryan Browne throwing dimes and Fame Ijeboi running through people. I am looking at a goose egg and a fumble returned for a touchdown. Different how, exactly?

@jonesy I said when it happens I want everyone to remember that you and @trace both had 38 for Notre Dame and I had 38 for Purdue. History is still being written, and the Irish have not scored 38 yet. I am technically still in this.

Purdue drops their Big Ten opener at UCLA and then comes home to face a number-three team. I said this was a wounded opponent, not a trap game. Thirty-five to nothing at the half says the Irish agree with me.