The football rivalry between the University of Notre Dame's Fighting Irish and Purdue University's Boilermakers is known as the Notre Dame-Purdue football rivalry in American college football. The winner of the game between Purdue and Notre Dame exchanges trophies known as the Shillelagh Trophy.
The first meeting between the two in-state rivals took place in 1896. The game was played every year between 1946 and 2014. However, in 2012 and 2013, Notre Dame vacated their trophy. The yearly series concluded after the 2014 game. The rivalry restarted in 2021 and will be played annually until at least 2028.
In their most recent meeting, which took place on September 18, 2021, Notre Dame prevailed 27–13. The following meeting is set for September 14, 2024, at West Lafayette.
The Fighting Irish supporter and merchant seaman Joe McLaughlin contributed the trophy, which was first given out in 1957. He brought the shillelagh from Ireland. Both Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana, and Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana, have hosted games in the rivalry.
Notre Dame–Purdue Football Rivalry History
From 1896 to 1956, there was no trophy for this rivalry; starting in 1957, they competed for the Shillelagh Trophy. Notre Dame has an overall record of 57 wins, 26 losses, and 2 ties in the 87 encounters between the two teams.
Purdue has 19 victories compared to Notre Dame's 38 in the trophy series. The biggest wins for Notre Dame were 48-0 in 1970 and 1992, and their longest winning streak was 11 games from 1986 to 1996. Starting in 2008, Notre Dame has won six straight games as of right now.
Notre Dame–Purdue Football Rivalry Head-to-Head Stats
| Notre Dame Fighting Irish Won | 57 |
| Purdue Boilermakers Won | 26 |
| Ties | 2 |
| Total Matches | 87 |
Shillelagh Trophy Winner Year by Year
| No. | Date | Location | Winner | Score |
| 1 | November 14, 1896 | South Bend, IN | Purdue | 28–22 |
| 2 | November 18, 1899 | West Lafayette, IN | Tie | 10–10 |
| 3 | November 9, 1901 | South Bend, IN | Notre Dame | 12–6 |
| 4 | November 27, 1902 | West Lafayette, IN | Tie | 6–6 |
| 5 | November 24, 1904 | West Lafayette, IN | Purdue | 36–0 |
| 6 | November 24, 1905 | West Lafayette, IN | Purdue | 32–0 |
| 7 | November 3, 1906 | West Lafayette, IN | Notre Dame | 2–0 |
| 8 | November 23, 1907 | West Lafayette, IN | Notre Dame | 17–0 |
| 9 | November 23, 1918 | West Lafayette, IN | Notre Dame | 26–6 |
| 10 | November 22, 1919 | West Lafayette, IN | Notre Dame | 33–13 |
| 11 | November 6, 1920 | South Bend, IN | Notre Dame | 28–0 |
| 12 | October 15, 1921 | West Lafayette, IN | Notre Dame | 33–0 |
| 13 | October 14, 1922 | West Lafayette, IN | Notre Dame | 20–0 |
| 14 | November 3, 1923 | South Bend, IN | Notre Dame | 34–7 |
| 15 | November 3, 1933 | South Bend, IN | Purdue | 19–0 |
| 16 | October 13, 1934 | South Bend, IN | Notre Dame | 18–7 |
| 17 | September 30, 1939 | South Bend, IN | Notre Dame | 3–0 |
| 18 | October 12, 1946 | South Bend, IN | Notre Dame | 49–6 |
| 19 | October 11, 1947 | West Lafayette, IN | Notre Dame | 49–6 |
| 20 | September 25, 1948 | South Bend, IN | Notre Dame | 28–27 |
| 21 | October 8, 1949 | West Lafayette, IN | Notre Dame | 35–12 |
| 22 | October 7, 1950 | South Bend, IN | Purdue | 35–12 |
| 23 | October 27, 1951 | South Bend, IN | Notre Dame | 30–9 |
| 24 | October 18, 1952 | West Lafayette, IN | Notre Dame | 26–14 |
| 25 | October 3, 1953 | West Lafayette, IN | Notre Dame | 37–7 |
| 26 | October 2, 1954 | South Bend, IN | Purdue | 27–14 |
| 27 | October 22, 1955 | West Lafayette, IN | Notre Dame | 22–7 |
| 28 | October 13, 1956 | South Bend, IN | Purdue | 28–14 |
| 29 | September 28, 1957 | West Lafayette, IN | Notre Dame | 12–0 |
| 30 | October 25, 1958 | South Bend, IN | Purdue | 29–22 |
| 31 | October 3, 1959 | West Lafayette, IN | Purdue | 28–7 |
| 32 | October 1, 1960 | South Bend, IN | Purdue | 51–19 |
| 33 | October 7, 1961 | West Lafayette, IN | Notre Dame | 22–20 |
| 34 | October 6, 1962 | South Bend, IN | Purdue | 24–6 |
| 35 | October 5, 1963 | West Lafayette, IN | Purdue | 7–6 |
| 36 | October 3, 1964 | South Bend, IN | Notre Dame | 34–15 |
| 37 | September 25, 1965 | West Lafayette, IN | Purdue | 25–21 |
| 38 | September 24, 1966 | South Bend, IN | Notre Dame | 26–14 |
| 39 | September 30, 1967 | West Lafayette, IN | Purdue | 28–21 |
| 40 | September 28, 1968 | South Bend, IN | Purdue | 37–22 |
| 41 | September 27, 1969 | West Lafayette, IN | Purdue | 28–14 |
| 42 | September 26, 1970 | South Bend, IN | Notre Dame | 48–0 |
| 43 | September 25, 1971 | West Lafayette, IN | Notre Dame | 8–7 |
| 44 | September 30, 1972 | South Bend, IN | Notre Dame | 35–14 |
| 45 | September 29, 1973 | West Lafayette, IN | Notre Dame | 20–7 |
| 46 | September 28, 1974 | South Bend, IN | Purdue | 31–20 |
| 47 | September 20, 1975 | West Lafayette, IN | Notre Dame | 17–0 |
| 48 | September 18, 1976 | South Bend, IN | Notre Dame | 23–0 |
| 49 | September 24, 1977 | West Lafayette, IN | Notre Dame | 31–24 |
| 50 | September 30, 1978 | South Bend, IN | Notre Dame | 10–6 |
| 51 | September 22, 1979 | West Lafayette, IN | Purdue | 28–22 |
| 52 | September 6, 1980 | South Bend, IN | Notre Dame | 31–10 |
| 53 | September 26, 1981 | West Lafayette, IN | Purdue | 15–14 |
| 54 | September 25, 1982 | South Bend, IN | Notre Dame | 28–14 |
| 55 | September 10, 1983 | West Lafayette, IN | Notre Dame | 52–6 |
| 56 | September 8, 1984 | Indianapolis, IN | Purdue | 23–21 |
| 57 | September 28, 1985 | West Lafayette, IN | Purdue | 35–17 |
| 58 | September 27, 1986 | South Bend, IN | Notre Dame | 41–9 |
| 59 | September 26, 1987 | West Lafayette, IN | Notre Dame | 44–20 |
| 60 | September 24, 1988 | South Bend, IN | Notre Dame | 52–7 |
| 61 | September 30, 1989 | West Lafayette, IN | Notre Dame | 40–7 |
| 62 | September 29, 1990 | South Bend, IN | Notre Dame | 37–11 |
| 63 | September 28, 1991 | West Lafayette, IN | Notre Dame | 45–20 |
| 64 | September 26, 1992 | South Bend, IN | Notre Dame | 48–0 |
| 65 | September 25, 1993 | West Lafayette, IN | Notre Dame | 17–0 |
| 66 | September 24, 1994 | South Bend, IN | Notre Dame | 39–21 |
| 67 | September 9, 1995 | West Lafayette, IN | Notre Dame | 35–28 |
| 68 | September 14, 1996 | South Bend, IN | Notre Dame | 35–0 |
| 69 | September 13, 1997 | West Lafayette, IN | Purdue | 28–17 |
| 70 | September 26, 1998 | South Bend, IN | Notre Dame | 31–30 |
| 71 | September 11, 1999 | West Lafayette, IN | Purdue | 28–23 |
| 72 | September 16, 2000 | South Bend, IN | Notre Dame | 23–21 |
| 73 | December 1, 2001 | West Lafayette, IN | Notre Dame | 24–18 |
| 74 | September 7, 2002 | South Bend, IN | Notre Dame | 24–17 |
| 75 | September 27, 2003 | West Lafayette, IN | Purdue | 23–10 |
| 76 | October 2, 2004 | South Bend, IN | Purdue | 41–16 |
| 77 | October 1, 2005 | West Lafayette, IN | Notre Dame | 49–28 |
| 78 | September 30, 2006 | South Bend, IN | Notre Dame | 35–21 |
| 79 | September 29, 2007 | West Lafayette, IN | Purdue | 33–19 |
| 80 | September 27, 2008 | South Bend, IN | Notre Dame | 38–21 |
| 81 | September 26, 2009 | West Lafayette, IN | Notre Dame | 24–21 |
| 82 | September 4, 2010 | South Bend, IN | Notre Dame | 23–12 |
| 83 | October 1, 2011 | West Lafayette, IN | Notre Dame | 38–10 |
| 84 | September 8, 2012 | South Bend, IN | Notre Dame | 20–17 |
| 85 | September 14, 2013 | West Lafayette, IN | Notre Dame | 31–24 |
| 86 | September 13, 2014 | Indianapolis, IN | Notre Dame | 30–14 |
| 87 | September 18, 2021 | South Bend, IN | Notre Dame | 27–13 |
FAQs
The Notre Dame-Purdue football rivalry is known for the annual game that takes place between the University of Notre Dame's Fighting Irish and Purdue University's Boilermakers.
The winner of the Notre Dame-Purdue game exchanges the Shillelagh Trophy as a symbol of victory.
The tradition of playing for the Shillelagh Trophy began in 1957.
In the overall series between Notre Dame and Purdue, Notre Dame has secured 57 wins, experienced 26 losses, and had two ties.
The rivalry between Notre Dame and Purdue was rekindled in 2021 after a hiatus. The next scheduled meeting is set to take place on September 14, 2024, in West Lafayette, Indiana.
