SOUTH BEND, Ind. (WNDU) – The battle for the Shillelagh Trophy returns Saturday to West Lafayette, but the future of the historic in-state rivalry remains uncertain as major changes reshape college football.
The Notre Dame-Purdue series is currently slated annually through 2028, with next year’s contest set for South Bend before returning to West Lafayette.
With expanding 16-team mega-conferences and grueling nine-game league slates, non-conference matchups nationwide face mounting scrutiny.
Given the evolving landscape and expanded playoff access, Boilermakers head coach Barry Odom said future scheduling hinges on what makes strategic sense for his squad.
“I always look at what is best for Purdue, and we’ve got to make those decisions administratively on what we think is best for building our program,” Odom said. “And if Notre Dame falls into that, then that’s what the schedule will be, and let’s go play them. And if not, then there’ll be decisions that have to be made on what the conference looks like and the expanded playoffs and all the different things that go into that on how important the decisions are for the future of Purdue football.”
Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman acknowledged the administrative realities but reinforced Notre Dame’s desire to keep the series intact.
“Every administration has to do what’s best for their program,” Freeman said. “As far as speaking for our program, we love to continue this long-standing rivalry for many different reasons. It’s a great rivalry. It’s a great opponent, a well-respected opponent, and one that we value. And so, if they decide to not continue to extend this rivalry, we’ll make adjustments and fill our schedule with the right opponent. But as far as this program, we do value it.”
How to watch Notre Dame-Purdue
Saturday’s game will be available only on Peacock. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.
To watch the game, viewers must subscribe to Peacock:
Where to sign up: Download the Peacock TV app on a supported smart TV, streaming device, or mobile device, or visit peacocktv.com on a computer.Subscription tier: Live sports streaming requires Peacock Premium, which currently costs $12.99 per month.Discounts: Peacock does not offer a free trial, but discounted plans are available for eligible college students.
Once registered and subscribed, viewers will have access to the live broadcast at kickoff.
With the Irish a quarter of the way through their 12-game regular season, what do you predict Notre Dame’s final record will be? Let us know by voting in this week’s Irish Fan Poll!
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