WEST LAFAYETTE - Purdue Football (2-0) visits No. 10 Notre Dame (2-0) on Saturday, Sept. 18, with kickoff from Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend set for 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC. The Shillelagh Trophy Game pits the Boilermakers back up against a familiar foe in the Fighting Irish. Fans can also follow along with the action on the Purdue Radio Network.
PURDUE-NOTRE DAME SERIES HISTORY
• One of the most played matchups in Purdue Football history, Saturday's Shillelagh Trophy Game will be the 87th all-time meeting between the Boilermakers and Notre Dame. Purdue and the Fighting Irish will meet in a football game for the first time since 2014.
• Purdue has only played three opponents more times than the Fighting Irish: Indiana (122), Illinois (96), Iowa (91). The Boilermakers have also played Wisconsin 87 times, with the 88th meeting scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 23.
• Purdue claimed three out of five games from Notre Dame from 2003-07, taking ownership of the Shillelagh Trophy in 2003, 2004 and 2007.
• The Boilermakers will look to end a six-game losing streak to Notre Dame, last defeating the Fighting Irish in 2007 by a score of 33-19. Curtis Painter passed for 252 yards (22-37-2) and two touchdowns and Kory Sheets rushed for 141 yards and one score in the win (Sept. 29, 2007).
RING THE BELL
• We need to talk about David Bell. The junior WR from Indianapolis (Warren Central HS) has surpassed 100 receiving yards in 12 of his 20 career games at Purdue, including three-straight games dating back to last season. Bell has started his 2021 campaign with a 134-yard, eight-catch effort vs. Oregon State (Sept. 4) and a 121-yard, six-catch, three-touchdown outing at UConn (Sept. 11).
• The three-TD game for Bell at UConn matched his career-high he set against Iowa last season (Oct. 24, 2020). He is just the second Purdue WR in school history with multiple three-TD reception games, joining Taylor Stubblefield (2001-04).
• Bell currently ranks third in the Big Ten Conference and tied for 16th nationally in receptions per game this season (7.0).
• The Boilermaker star is also tied for seventh nationally in receiving yards per game (127.5), and second in the conference only to Dontay Demus of Maryland (130.5).
• For his career, Bell is averaging 7.7 catches per game, 95.8 yards per game and 0.9 touchdown receptions per game. His 7.7 receptions per game is currently the second-most for an active NCAA career, only trailing Western Kentucky's Jerreth Sterns (8.1).
• In the win at UConn (Sept. 11), Bell scored on an electric 59-yard catch and dash to the end zone, weaving through Huskies and diving to the goal line. The snag was the second-longest catch of his Purdue career, with the longest being an 89-yard touchdown reception vs. Nebraska during the 2020 season (Dec. 5).
2-0 START FOR THE BOILERS
• For the second-straight season, Purdue has started with a 2-0 record. Last season in 2020, the Boilermakers and Coach Brohm began their campaign at 2-0 with wins vs. Iowa (24-20, Oct. 24, 2020) and at Illinois (31-24, Oct. 31, 2020).
• Back-to-back 2-0 starts for the Boilermakers has not occurred since the 2006 and 2007 seasons under head coach Joe Tiller. Purdue started four consecutive seasons with 2-0 marks from 2004-07.
PITCHED THE SHUTOUT
• With the 49-0 win at UConn (Sept. 11), Purdue shut out its opponent for the first time since a 59-0 home victory over Southeast Missouri on Sept. 17, 2011. The 49-point margin of victory is also Purdue's largest since that same win.
• Against FBS competition, the UConn shutout stands as Purdue's first since 2004 when the Boilermakers blanked Syracuse, 51-0, on Sept. 5, 2004, at Ross-Ade Stadium. For a road FBS shutout, scroll back to 1981 when Purdue rolled to a 35-0 win at Northwestern (Oct. 17, 1981).
WE KNOW HIM
• Legendary Purdue quarterback Drew Brees will be on the call as an analyst for NBC when the Boilermakers take the field at Notre Dame Stadium to face the Fighting Irish on Saturday, Sept. 18.
• Brees, known for his stellar play as a senior during Purdue's Rose Bowl season in 2000, holds nearly every school passing record; game, single-season and career. The list notably includes career completions (1,026), yards (11,792) and touchdowns (90).
• The former New Orleans Saints signal caller retired from his prolific NFL career (2001-20) in March 2021 and announced his intentions to pursue sports broadcasting with NBC shortly thereafter.
• Brees quarterbacked the Boilermakers to a 28-23 win over 16th-ranked Notre Dame in 1999, passing for 317 yards (24-40-1) and one touchdown. He also rushed for 39 yards and one score.
BIG GAINS ON OFFENSE
• With the 49-0 win at UConn (Sept. 11), head coach Jeff Brohm's Purdue squads have scored 30 points or more in 22 games. Since 2017, the Boilermakers have played 46 games.
• In the win vs. Oregon State (Sept. 4), Purdue had at least two 100-yard receivers (WR David Bell, 134, and TE Payne Durham, 120) for the 38th time in program history and for the 11th time since 2016. Bell has been a part of Purdue's last six 100-yard receiving duos.
•For junior TE Payne Durham, the effort against Oregon State was his first career 100-yard receiving game. He set career bests in receiving yards (120) and receptions (seven).
PURDUE-NOTRE DAME SERIES HISTORY
• One of the most played matchups in Purdue Football history, Saturday's Shillelagh Trophy Game will be the 87th all-time meeting between the Boilermakers and Notre Dame. Purdue and the Fighting Irish will meet in a football game for the first time since 2014.
• Purdue has only played three opponents more times than the Fighting Irish: Indiana (122), Illinois (96), Iowa (91). The Boilermakers have also played Wisconsin 87 times, with the 88th meeting scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 23.
• Purdue claimed three out of five games from Notre Dame from 2003-07, taking ownership of the Shillelagh Trophy in 2003, 2004 and 2007.
• The Boilermakers will look to end a six-game losing streak to Notre Dame, last defeating the Fighting Irish in 2007 by a score of 33-19. Curtis Painter passed for 252 yards (22-37-2) and two touchdowns and Kory Sheets rushed for 141 yards and one score in the win (Sept. 29, 2007).
RING THE BELL
• We need to talk about David Bell. The junior WR from Indianapolis (Warren Central HS) has surpassed 100 receiving yards in 12 of his 20 career games at Purdue, including three-straight games dating back to last season. Bell has started his 2021 campaign with a 134-yard, eight-catch effort vs. Oregon State (Sept. 4) and a 121-yard, six-catch, three-touchdown outing at UConn (Sept. 11).
• The three-TD game for Bell at UConn matched his career-high he set against Iowa last season (Oct. 24, 2020). He is just the second Purdue WR in school history with multiple three-TD reception games, joining Taylor Stubblefield (2001-04).
• Bell currently ranks third in the Big Ten Conference and tied for 16th nationally in receptions per game this season (7.0).
• The Boilermaker star is also tied for seventh nationally in receiving yards per game (127.5), and second in the conference only to Dontay Demus of Maryland (130.5).
• For his career, Bell is averaging 7.7 catches per game, 95.8 yards per game and 0.9 touchdown receptions per game. His 7.7 receptions per game is currently the second-most for an active NCAA career, only trailing Western Kentucky's Jerreth Sterns (8.1).
• In the win at UConn (Sept. 11), Bell scored on an electric 59-yard catch and dash to the end zone, weaving through Huskies and diving to the goal line. The snag was the second-longest catch of his Purdue career, with the longest being an 89-yard touchdown reception vs. Nebraska during the 2020 season (Dec. 5).
2-0 START FOR THE BOILERS
• For the second-straight season, Purdue has started with a 2-0 record. Last season in 2020, the Boilermakers and Coach Brohm began their campaign at 2-0 with wins vs. Iowa (24-20, Oct. 24, 2020) and at Illinois (31-24, Oct. 31, 2020).
• Back-to-back 2-0 starts for the Boilermakers has not occurred since the 2006 and 2007 seasons under head coach Joe Tiller. Purdue started four consecutive seasons with 2-0 marks from 2004-07.
PITCHED THE SHUTOUT
• With the 49-0 win at UConn (Sept. 11), Purdue shut out its opponent for the first time since a 59-0 home victory over Southeast Missouri on Sept. 17, 2011. The 49-point margin of victory is also Purdue's largest since that same win.
• Against FBS competition, the UConn shutout stands as Purdue's first since 2004 when the Boilermakers blanked Syracuse, 51-0, on Sept. 5, 2004, at Ross-Ade Stadium. For a road FBS shutout, scroll back to 1981 when Purdue rolled to a 35-0 win at Northwestern (Oct. 17, 1981).
WE KNOW HIM
• Legendary Purdue quarterback Drew Brees will be on the call as an analyst for NBC when the Boilermakers take the field at Notre Dame Stadium to face the Fighting Irish on Saturday, Sept. 18.
• Brees, known for his stellar play as a senior during Purdue's Rose Bowl season in 2000, holds nearly every school passing record; game, single-season and career. The list notably includes career completions (1,026), yards (11,792) and touchdowns (90).
• The former New Orleans Saints signal caller retired from his prolific NFL career (2001-20) in March 2021 and announced his intentions to pursue sports broadcasting with NBC shortly thereafter.
• Brees quarterbacked the Boilermakers to a 28-23 win over 16th-ranked Notre Dame in 1999, passing for 317 yards (24-40-1) and one touchdown. He also rushed for 39 yards and one score.
BIG GAINS ON OFFENSE
• With the 49-0 win at UConn (Sept. 11), head coach Jeff Brohm's Purdue squads have scored 30 points or more in 22 games. Since 2017, the Boilermakers have played 46 games.
• In the win vs. Oregon State (Sept. 4), Purdue had at least two 100-yard receivers (WR David Bell, 134, and TE Payne Durham, 120) for the 38th time in program history and for the 11th time since 2016. Bell has been a part of Purdue's last six 100-yard receiving duos.
•For junior TE Payne Durham, the effort against Oregon State was his first career 100-yard receiving game. He set career bests in receiving yards (120) and receptions (seven).