Notre Dame vs Purdue Game Resumes After Long Lightning Delay
College football fans got more than touchdowns and tackles on Saturday in South Bend — they got a weather show too. The Week 4 matchup between Notre Dame and Purdue turned into a test of patience when lightning forced play to be stopped late in the second quarter. What was supposed to be a routine game turned into nearly a two-hour wait before the action picked back up at Notre Dame Stadium.
The game was suspended with just 1:31 left in the first half, right as Notre Dame held a 28–13 lead. NCAA policy requires a 30-minute delay every time lightning is detected within at least six miles of the stadium, and unfortunately for fans, each new strike resets the clock. What that meant on this night was a stadium full of anxious supporters, players forced off the field, and coaches scrambling to keep momentum alive. At one point, rain poured down on the crowd as meteorologists warned storms could linger past 6:30 p.m.
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Eventually, the skies cleared just enough for football to return. Play resumed around 7 p.m., and the delay itself was treated like halftime. The final 1:31 of the second quarter was completed, followed by only a quick break before the third quarter began. For both teams, it was a strange rhythm to adjust to — sitting around for nearly two hours and then jumping right back into high-intensity football.
Despite the disruption, Notre Dame’s offense didn’t cool off. Quarterback CJ Carr was efficient, completing three of four passes for 94 yards and a touchdown before the break. On the ground, Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price combined for three rushing scores, giving the Irish a boost after their tough 0–2 start to the season. The energy picked right back up after the delay, highlighted by Price’s stunning 100-yard kickoff return that pushed the score to 35–16 almost immediately after play resumed.
The storm delay wasn’t just an isolated inconvenience. Notre Dame fans have grown used to these interruptions in recent years. This was the third straight season in which weather forced a stoppage, with lightning delays affecting games in 2023 and 2024 as well. Purdue, too, has dealt with its share of weather-related pauses, including a three-hour delay in 2023 during a home game against USC.
By the time the third quarter was winding down, Notre Dame held a commanding 56–23 lead. What could have been a major momentum breaker turned into a showcase of resilience. The Fighting Irish appeared determined not to let the weather, or their rocky start to the season, derail them any further.
In the end, the lightning may have stolen nearly two hours from the game clock, but it couldn’t dim the spotlight on Notre Dame’s big night. Fans waited it out, players stayed locked in, and the Irish gave the home crowd plenty to cheer about once the storm passed.
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