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College Football: Top 15 rivalry games we’d like to see return in 2020

By David Glancy

COLLEGE STATION, TX - NOVEMBER 24: Jeff Fuller #8 of the Texas A&M Aggies attempts to catch a pass against Carrington Byndom #23 of the Texas Longhorns in the first half of a game at Kyle Field on November 24, 2011 in College Station, Texas. The pass was incomplete. (Photo by Darren Carroll/Getty Images)
COLLEGE STATION, TX - NOVEMBER 24: Jeff Fuller #8 of the Texas A&M Aggies attempts to catch a pass against Carrington Byndom #23 of the Texas Longhorns in the first half of a game at Kyle Field on November 24, 2011 in College Station, Texas. The pass was incomplete. (Photo by Darren Carroll/Getty Images) /
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WEST LAFAYETTE, IN – SEPTEMBER 14: Cam McDaniel #33 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish runs the ball against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium on September 14, 2013 in West Lafayette, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated Purdue 31-24. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
WEST LAFAYETTE, IN – SEPTEMBER 14: Cam McDaniel #33 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish runs the ball against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium on September 14, 2013 in West Lafayette, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated Purdue 31-24. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

12. Notre Dame vs. Purdue

Games played: 86
Series record: Notre Dame leads 56-26-2*
Last played: 2014
Trophy: Shillelagh Trophy
Next meeting: 2021

Separated just two hours apart, Notre Dame and Purdue began their rivalry back in 1896. The two Indiana based schools would play sporadically during the early 1900s before the series became an annual rivalry in 1946 running until the last match-up in 2014.

The 2015 season marked the first time the Fighting Irish and Boilermakers didn’t fight for the Shillelagh Trophy since World War II. While Purdue would like to keep the rivalry as an annual game, Purdue doesn’t expect Notre Dame to schedule the Boilermakers beyond the 2028 matchup.

In a meeting at the John Purdue Club in 2019, Purdue athletic director Mike Bobinski said, “Notre Dame has got its own unique scheduling dynamic and philosophy. They thought the six-game stretch that we are gonna have coming up here for the time being as all they wanted to commit to and they wanted to think about other things moving out into the ’30s.”

While Notre Dame has historically dominated the series, the Boilermakers have been a thorn in Notre Dame’s side since their first victory in 1896. Purdue ended Notre Dame’s 39-game winning streak in 1950 and then knocked off a top ranked Irish team in 1954. Purdue once again ended a 12-game winning streak in 1967, and as the No. 1 team in the country, defeated the No. 2 Irish, 37-22 in 1967.

While Purdue has played the underdog role in the series, the Fighting Irish have owned the largest winning streak, margin of victory, and won the final seven matchups leading up to the 2014 finale. Down 17-10 heading into the forth quarter in West Lafayette, the Fighting Irish scored 21 straight before holding off Purdue 31-24 in their 2013 matchup. The series finale in Indianapolis during the 2014 season was a much different match-up with the No. 11 Irish pulling away in a 30-14 victory after taking a lead just before halftime.

The rivalry resumes in 2021 when Purdue heads to South Bend in the first of a six-game series which will then return to West Lafayette in 2024 and end again in 2028.

There is no indication of the series will continue beyond the 2028 matchup as Notre Dame continues to balance their Independent schedule with ACC programs. While Purdue remains open to continuing the series, the Irish have continued to schedule other Big Ten opponents, including a series with Wisconsin from 2020-21 with games at Lambeau and Solider Field.

*Notre Dame’s wins in 2012 and 2013 were later vacated by the NCAA as part of a NCAA sanction due to academic benefits to multiple members of the Notre Dame Football team.

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