It was supposed to be one of those storybook Saturdays in South Bend with blue skies and golden helmets. Marcus Freeman was looking to get his first win of the season after back to back losses. He got the W. But it came with thunder and lightning. The Irish managed to put on a 56-point masterclass against Barry Odom’s Purdue. After the dust (and rain) settled, fans were told that Notre Dame’s sacred postgame ritual was canceled. No Mass after their first win of 2025.

The Irish had been desperate for a dub after opening 0-2 against Texas A&M and Miami. Saturday finally delivered, though the nearly two-hour lightning delay tested every fan’s patience. NBC’s cameras caught fans drenched and counting down as strike after strike reset the mandatory 30-minute clock. By the time the Irish hit the locker room with a 28-13 lead, there had already been 59 lightning strikes within 10 miles. Mother Nature was stealing airtime from everyone.

CJ Carr continued to excel, going 10-of-12 for 223 yards with a pair of touchdowns. RB Jadarian Price turned the Boilermakers’ defense into his personal highlight reel, piling up scores in every way possible. This included a 100-yard kickoff return. Notre Dame walked away with 535 total yards, while Purdue’s offense could barely keep up.

Notre Dame insider Mike Bernandino broke the news on X: “Mass canceled at Basilica due to weather delay.” For the uninitiated, this isn’t like some casual cancellation. Since the 1920s, Notre Dame’s football Saturdays have ended with a big post-game Mass at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. Players, families, and fans linking arms, singing the Alma Mater, and closing the day in prayer. Freeman himself reinstated the team Mass when he became the head coach to retain the program’s Catholic roots.

Notre Dame owned Purdue

From the opening drive, CJ Carr’s deep strike to Malachi Fields set the tone. A 66-yard bomb that left Purdue’s secondary chasing shadows. If anyone thought that weather delay might slow down Notre Dame’s rhythm, Price erased that notion fast, weaving in a pair of rushing touchdowns like it was backyard football.

Purdue fought back early, even pulling off a halfback throwback pass to tie it at 7. But once the Irish running game got going, the Boilermakers were playing catch-up the rest of the way. Meanwhile Notre Dame’s defense held Purdue to just 76 yards on the ground.

The absence of starting corners Leonard Moore and DeVonta Smith did show. Purdue’s Ryan Browne managed 250 passing yards and a touchdown, keeping the game from turning into a complete blowout. His connection with Jacory Barney Jr. gave the Irish secondary trouble.

The Irish reminded Purdue who owns this rivalry. That’s now 10 straight wins for Notre Dame, padding a 61–26–2 all-time edge. For Freeman, the dub finally stopped the early-season bleeding. For the fans, though, the bittersweet part lingers. A tradition built on nearly a century of post-game unity was left out in the storm. Notre Dame might’ve owned Purdue on the field, but the weather owned the night.