It was supposed to be one of those storybook Saturdays in South Bend — blue skies, golden helmets gleaming, and Marcus Freeman finally catching a break after back-to-back strays. Instead, No. 24–ranked Notre Dame’s first dub of the 2025 season came with thunder, lightning, and a twist nobody saw coming—except the football gods. The Irish put on a 56-point masterclass against Barry Odom’s poor Purdue, but when the dust (and rain) settled, the real headline wasn’t just the scoreboard. Notre Dame’s sacred postgame ritual? Got canceled. And for a fanbase that treats tradition like gospel, that stung more than their 2 hours weather delay.

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 del

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