Purdue's Offense is Explosive, but is it Ready for the Notre Dame Defense?
The Notre Dame passing defense will face its biggest test yet this season when the Irish put their ten-game winning streak against the Purdue Boilermakers on the line this Saturday in West Lafayette.
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Despite a 1-2 start to 2026, Purdue looks improved in year two of the Barry Odom era. Offense, called by Offensive Coordinator and Tight Ends Coach Josh Henson, has not been the issue, with the Boilermakers averaging over 39 points per game led by a strong passing attack. Henson came over to call Odom’s offense when he received the job last season, following three years as Lincoln Riley’s OC and Offensive Line Coach at USC, where Riley calls the Trojans’ offense.
Through three games, Purdue’s offensive attack has tried to be balanced; however, the passing game is having much more success compared to the ground. Overall, the Boilermakers are averaging an impressive 488.7 total yards per game, including 6.8 yards per play.
Purdue Results (1-2)
44-19 win vs Indiana State
36-38 2OT loss vs Wake Forest
38-52 loss at UCLA
A large credit for the Boilermakers’ passing success thus far belongs to returning starting QB Ryan Browne, someone Irish fans saw last year. Purdue’s 366.7 passing yards per game currently leads the Big Ten and is the third-most among FBS programs. For the Irish, they should be able to create pressure against an offensive line that has allowed seven sacks this season and disrupt Browne. Browne also made his first notable error last week when he threw his first interception of the season in the road loss against UCLA.
Purdue’s rushing attack has lagged behind the pass, averaging just 122 yards per game and 3.4 yards per carry. This 3.4 yards per carry mark is the worst among Big Ten opponents and is a bottom-20 number in the country. Last week was a big struggle when the Boilermakers averaged a mere 2.3 yards per carry while totaling 63 yards on 28 carries.
Notably, all three of Purdue’s turnovers this season came against UCLA last week, with Browne’s interception coming along with two lost fumbles.
For as big of a test this might be for the Notre Dame defense, I can almost guarantee the Purdue offense views this matchup with more fear than the Irish. Below, you can find where Notre Dame ranks defensively amongst FBS teams in various statistics:
7.7 points per game allowed (tied-4th)
2 touchdowns allowed (tied-3rd)
193 total yards per game allowed (3rd)
58.3 rushing yards per game allowed (6th)
1.9 yards per carry allowed (5th)
134.7 passing yards per game allowed (tied-14th)
5 fumble recoveries (tied-1st)
3 interceptions (tied-31st)
Some notable players to highlight on the Irish defense are LB Drayk Bowen, who has a team-high 19 tackles, including one TFL. Next, the EDGE duo of Bryce Young and Boubacar Traore have combined for 15 tackles, 6.5 TFLs, and three sacks. Lastly, CB Jayden Sanders has contributed two tackles and a team-high three PBUs as his counterpart Leonard Moore seemingly sees fewer targets each week.
Now, we take a look at Purdue’s offensive personnel by position group ahead of Saturday’s Battle for the Shillelagh Trophy:
Quarterback
Ryan Browne
As mentioned above, a big reason for Purdue’s offensive success is credited to QB Ryan Browne. The 6-4, 225-pound junior is in his fourth year in West Lafayette after committing to the Boilermakers as a three-star recruit out of Clarkston, Michigan.
Last season was Browne’s first as the full-time starter, but it came with plenty of struggles. He completed 58.9% of his pass attempts for 2,153 yards and nine touchdowns with ten interceptions in 12 games played. He was able to add 206 yards and four touchdowns on the ground across 66 carries. Against Notre Dame last year, Browne was 21/34 passing for 250 yards with one touchdown and an interception. He also contributed 18 yards across six carries and caught a 14-yard touchdown on a trick play while facing the Irish defense.
This season, Browne is 74/101 (73.3%) passing for 1,024 yards with seven touchdowns and one interception. His 341.3 passing yards per game currently ranks second in the country, and last week he became just the second QB in Purdue history to throw for over 300 yards in each of the team’s first three games since Jim Everett accomplished this feat in 1985. Browne threw for a season-high 378 yards with three touchdowns and a pick in last week’s loss at UCLA.
Entering Saturday’s matchup with Notre Dame, Browne is playing accurately and efficiently with his 73.3% completion rate and 10.1 passing yards per attempt. He has demonstrated good downfield ability this season with 41 completions of ten or more yards and six completions of 40-plus yards, including a 75-yard touchdown last week.
75-yard touchdown to WR Xavier Townsend vs UCLA
Browne has also done a good job of getting everyone involved in the pass game and is not reliant on just any one receiver. He has shared the ball with various receivers, running backs, and tight ends through the team’s first three games. The Junior QB has provided value, in general, as a returner starter with valuable experience, including the game against Notre Dame in 2025. Similarly to Michigan State QB Alessio Milivojevic, Browne can flash sneaky athleticism on the run but has not displayed it much in 2026.
The largest question surrounding Browne is whether he will be able to maintain this high level of play. He started hot in 2025 too, but his play dramatically dipped beginning in mid-October, highlighted by inaccuracies and turnovers.
Running Back
Fame Ijeboi
The Boilermakers’ featured RB is Minnesota transfer and sophomore, Fame Ijeboi. The 6-0, 215-pound RB spent the previous two seasons with the Golden Gophers after committing to the program as a three-star recruit out of Folcroft, Pennsylvania.
After playing in just two games in 2024, Ijeboi broke out in ‘25 when he rushed for 441 yards and two touchdowns on 97 carries across 11 games played, including one start. He also contributed 12 catches for 54 yards and one touchdown as a receiving option in 2025 with the Gophers.
Since transferring to Purdue this offseason, Ijeboi has rushed for 248 yards and six touchdowns on 55 carries. His best performance so far this season came in week two against Wake Forest when the sophomore racked up 114 yards and three touchdowns on 27 carries. Notably, Ijeboi’s six rushing scores are tied for the third-most in the country. As a receiver this season, the RB has added eight catches and 72 yards. He added six receptions for 42 yards in his dominant outing against the Demon Deacons.
Ijeboi has displayed solid explosive play ability this season, and even had a 63-yard touchdown run against Indiana State called back because of a WR holding penalty. His 97.3 PFF rushing grade against the Sycamores was the highest in the country week one. He also displayed a good mix of contact balance and power against Wake Forest when 95 of his 114 rushing yards came after contact. Additionally, he serves as a legit short-yardage, goal-line option and rushed in a one-yard wildcat score in the week one domination. Ijeboi offers good versatility as a receiving threat, but his pass-blocking will be something to watch in this somewhat pass-heavy offense. Finally, as a unit, Purdue’s run game really struggled last week against UCLA. This could be the start of a negative trend for the Boilermakers offense with an elite run-stopping Irish defense visiting on Saturday.
Receivers
Chauncey Magwood
Purdue’s main deep threat in 2026 has been 6-0, 204-pound senior Chauncey Magwood. The Albany, Georgia native is in his second year at Purdue following stints at Kentucky and UCF.
Magwood committed to Kentucky out of high school as a three-star recruit, where he spent two years. The WR was able to haul in eight catches for 121 yards and one touchdown across 25 games played, including one start, during his time in Lexington.
In 2023, Magwood decided to enter the portal and transferred to UCF. He appeared in 16 games across two years with the Knights, totaling nine catches and 142 yards. Magwood redshirted the 2023 season after appearing in just four games.
Last season, Magwood transferred to Purdue, where his year was cut short due to injury. He recorded two catches for 17 yards in two games played in 2025.
Through three games in 2026, Magwood has already contributed eight receptions for 110 yards and a touchdown. He recorded a season-high in catches and yards against Wake Forest when he brought in five receptions for 77 yards. He also added an 18-yard carry against the Demon Deacons on his lone rush of the year.
Magwood has flashed solid contested catch abilities this season, including this snag below, over the Wake Forest defender.
Contested catch vs Wake Forest
The Senior WR has also been productive with his touches this season, averaging 13.8 yards per catch. He showed his versatility as a runner with the carry against Wake Forest. Now, he needs to prove he can consistently produce at this level while injuries and overall durability remain a concern.
De'Nylon Morrissette
One of the few disappointing pieces of the Purdue offense to open 2026 has been the lack of emergence from senior WR De’Nylon Morrissette. The 6-1, 205-pound wideout is in his third year at Purdue as a former Georgia (UGA) transfer.
Morrissette committed to the Bulldogs out of high school as an in-state four-star recruit from Stone Mountain, GA. He spent two years in Athens, totaling just four catches and 34 yards across 13 games played at UGA. He redshirted in 2023 after appearing in just three games.
Following this redshirt campaign, Morrissette transferred to Purdue in 2024. In his first season with the Boilermakers, the former Bulldog tallied 11 catches for 106 yards and two touchdowns in 11 games played, including four starts. Last season, Morrissette unfortunately missed the entire year after suffering a severe ankle injury during the 2025 fall camp.
In his return from this injury, Morrissette has recorded three catches for 30 yards and a touchdown this season. He flashed against Wake Forest when he brought in two receptions for 26 yards, including a touchdown.
Nine-yard touchdown vs Wake Forest
Despite the overall discouraging career production, Morrissette still possesses good physical upside. He features a good mix of size and athleticism, and has been described as a RB with WR skills in terms of physicality. He also has good speed and explosiveness, and poses as a solid red zone threat. Morrissette is still working on establishing himself as one of Browne’s primary targets; however, the injury history remains a concern.
Xavier Townsend
While Morrissette may be on the disappointing side of things, Xavier Townsend has been a very productive surprise for the Boilermakers offense. The 5-11, 195-pound senior out of Tampa, Florida, is in his first year at Purdue as a former UCF and Iowa State transfer.
Townsend began his collegiate career at UCF, where he made 14 starts in 29 games played across three years. During his time with the Knights, the receiver hauled in 66 receptions for 521 yards and four touchdowns. He also had 278 yards and a touchdown on the ground across 33 carries. Townsend also served as a solid kick and punt returner during his time at UCF.
Last season, Townsend transferred to Iowa State, where he appeared in 10 games, making one start. He finished the year with 243 yards on 18 receptions and added his only score of the year on his lone carry of the season on a five-yard run.
Notre Dame reportedly had interest in the Tampa native this past offseason when he entered the portal, but Townsend ended up at Purdue. That decision looks to be working out well for the weapon. He has racked up 19 catches for 267 yards and two touchdowns through three games this season, including at least six receptions in each contest. He flashed last week against UCLA when he finished the loss with six catches for a season-high 162 yards and two touchdowns.
20-yard touchdown at UCLA
Townsend has been Purdue’s most explosive receiver this season, especially after last week’s breakout performance where 152 of his 162 yards came after the catch. He also demonstrates this with an impressive 14.1 yards per catch. Townsend has a knack for making defenders miss with the elusive moves that make him a consistent YAC threat. Going forward, the question will be whether Townsend can sustain performances as he did against UCLA. He is not particularly big and has failed to consistently produce in past years.
Others to watch: Asaad Waseem
Tight Ends
George Burhenn
Purdue’s main threat at tight end is this 6-5, 245-pound junior in his fourth year at Purdue. Burhenn originally committed to the Boilermakers out of McCordsville, Indiana, as a three-star recruit.
Prior to 2026, Burhenn had appeared in 19 games with one start. During this span, the TE totaled 15 catches for 171 yards and a touchdown. His Purdue career has been unfortunately riddled with injuries, with a broken foot in 2024 and a broken arm in 2025 limiting him to just eight combined games played over those two seasons. Burhenn had two catches for 20 yards against Notre Dame last season before suffering his arm injury during the contest.
Burhenn has looked strong in his return from back-to-back season-ending injuries, tallying five catches for 90 yards and one touchdown. He has been able to haul in at least one catch in each game, including a 30-yard touchdown last week.
30-yard touchdown at UCLA
The Boilermakers TE has showcased big-play ability this season, averaging 18 yards per catch. He possesses solid size for a receiving TE. Burhenn’s durability is a concern with his injury history, and he was reportedly limited against Wake Forest in week two due to an undisclosed injury.
Others to watch: Jackson Berryman
Offensive Line
LT Nuku Mafi
The first Purdue offensive lineman to highlight is starting tackle Nuku Mafi. An Oklahoma State transfer, the 6-4 and 325-pound sophomore is in his first season with the Boilermakers.
Mafi committed to Oklahoma State out of high school, where he spent the previous two years. After not seeing any action in 2024 and redshirting, he started all 12 games for the Pokes last season, making 11 starts at LT and one at RT.
The Rose Park, Utah native has brought over this valuable experience to West Lafayette in 2026. Mafi’s pass protection has been solid this season, looking much improved from a year ago. Despite the good size and physicality, the Oklahoma State transfer has been inconsistent as a run blocker.
LG Brock Brownfield
Something to monitor on Saturday is who is starting at LG for the Boilermakers. Brownfield left Purdue’s week two contest with an apparent shoulder injury and did not appear in last week’s game at UCLA. However, he was not listed on the Big Ten’s mandated injury report before the UCLA game, leading me to believe he is trending towards playing. If Brownfield is unable to go, expect Marques Easley to take over at this spot.
Brownfield is a 6-4, 300-pound true freshman who committed to the Boilermakers out of New Palestine, Indiana as a three-star recruit. Against Indiana State in week one, the in-state native became the first true freshman to start on Purdue’s offensive line in a season opener since freshmen became eligible in 1972. Brownfield possesses good upside as he is a big, strong, tough, and smart player.
C Boaz Stanley
One of the more reliable pieces of this line through three games has been Boaz Stanley. The 6-4, 305-pound senior is in his first year at Purdue following stretches at Georgia Military College, Troy, and South Carolina.
The Bogart, GA native began his college career at Georgia Military College, where he earned JUCO All-American honors after one year in the program.
In 2023, Stanley transferred to Troy, where he would spend two years. The lineman redshirted in 2023 after appearing in just one game played. However, he started all 12 games in 2024 with the Trojans, splitting time between C and RT. He allowed just two sacks and committed no penalties during this breakout campaign.
Last season, Stanley entered the portal again and transferred to South Carolina. He made nine starts in 12 games played last year with the Gamecocks.
As mentioned earlier, Stanley has been one of the more dependable pieces on this unit, displaying consistently good pass protection. He brings solid prior experience over to West Lafayette. The senior also possesses physical size with a solid frame. However, his run blocking has lacked, and this is a trend with the Boilermakers’ interior line. Lastly, Stanley has been praised in the past for his leadership and maturity, but there have been instances of bad communication across the line this season, especially last week, which typically falls on the center.
RG Micah Banuelos
Starting opposite of Brownfield or Easley will likely be this 6-2, 310-pound USC transfer in his first year at Purdue. Banuelos transferred to the Boilermakers following three seasons with the Trojans.
The Auburn, Washington native committed to USC out of high school as a 2023 Under Armour All-American. Banuelos appeared in 13 games, including five starts, during his time at USC. Last season, he split time between LG and RG as he played in ten games, including five starts.
Banuelos brought this good experience and positional versatility to Purdue this offseason. Part of the reason for his decision to transfer to the Boilermakers was the chance to reunite with Josh Henson and Zach Crabtree. As mentioned before, Henson previously served as USC’s OC and OL Coach from 2022-24, where he recruited and coached Banuelos. Crabtree served as a graduate assistant and assistant OL Coach under Henson at USC during this time, and now serves as Purdue’s OL Coach.
Banuelos has played well in pass protection so far this year, but his run blocking has struggled. He will need to prove he can consistently perform coming off a 2025 season where he struggled and was forced to split reps.
RT Jude McCoskey
The final player to highlight on the Purdue offense could see his playing time coming to a halt as presumed starter Joey Tanona prepares to make his season debut in the coming weeks, possibly as soon as Saturday.
Jude McCoskey is a 6-8, 310-pound senior in his second year at Purdue as a former Indiana State transfer. He committed to the Sycamores out of Terre Haute, IN, where he spent two years, making 20 starts across 22 games played.
McCoskey transferred over to Purdue last season, where he appeared in 11 games; however, he received just 33 offensive snaps.
The senior OL has seen this time increase through three games in 2026. He has flashed as another good pass blocker whose run-blocking has struggled on this unit. McCoskey possesses elite size and length, but looks like he is still adjusting to the improved level of competition.
Others to watch: OG Marques Easley (if Brownfield is out), OT Joey Tanona (could make his season debut this week after reportedly dealing with a sprained ankle)
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