Boilermakers, Irish Set for 108th Meeting
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

This first weekend of October offers one of the finest college football schedules of the season. In three games, we’ll see the emerging frontrunner for the Heisman Trophy in Purdue’s Kyle Orton, a tutorial on the West Coast offense from Auburn, Notre Dame, and Purdue, and a look at three top-10 teams, all with a shot at a national championship.
PURDUE (15) AT NOTRE DAME
The Boilermakers have one of the most exciting offenses you will ever find, led by the suddenly captivating Kyle Orton at quarterback. To say Orton is the centerpiece of this offense is a gross understatement.
Purdue has scored 20 touchdowns this year – Orton has thrown for 13 of them and rushed for two more. He has shredded all three defenses Purdue has faced, throwing for 356 yards a game and leading his team to a 3-0 record. Purdue averages 49.3 points a game, best in the country, and trails only California with 561.7 yards a game.
The Fighting Irish are unranked, but that doesn’t mean the Boilermakers have an easy game ahead of them. Notre Dame’s renewed confidence is due largely to its defense, which has been the primary factor in three straight wins coming into the game.
The Irish have allowed only five offensive touchdowns all season, including two in their last three contests. The offense showed some spark last week against the Washington Huskies as well, with quarterback Brady Quinn throwing four touchdown passes in the first half.
Purdue is the better team, but history may be on Notre Dame’s side in this one. The Boilermakers are 0-13 in South Bend since 1974 and have won just 24 of the 75 games against the Irish since this rivalry began in 1896.
AUBURN (8) AT TENNESSEE (10)
Both the Tigers and the Vols will enter this game undefeated, knowing that a win will boost them into the driver’s seat for an SEC conference championship, not to mention a possible national title. The winner of this game will probably be ranked in the top five when it’s over. With so much on the line, it has the makings of a classic.
Tennessee is coming off a big win over Florida, and will be looking to avenge a loss to Auburn last season. It has two capable quarterbacks in Brent Schaeffer and Erik Ainge, both of whom will likely see some action. The offense is cruising with both of them behind center, averaging 38 points and 503.7 yards a game.
The Volunteers’ loss of middle linebacker Kevin Simon with a knee injury weakens an already suspect defense, and head coach Phillip Fulmer will be shuffling players around to plug the holes, starting with Jason Mitchell moving from his normal strong-side position to the middle.
Last season, it was the Auburn running game that made the difference in their win over Tennessee, with Carnell Williams gaining 185 yards and Ronnie Brown adding 65 more. This year, the running game is still top-notch – Williams and Brown have combined for 664 yards and four touchdowns. But Tennessee comes in with the no. 1 rushing defense in the country. It’s a collision course.
LSU (13) AT GEORGIA (3)
In a rematch of last year’s SEC championship game, the Tigers and Bulldogs are both looking to prove they are still in the running for a national championship. Both teams were among the best in the country last season, but have struggled this year. Whoever loses this game will be dealt a serious blow to their hopes for a championship.
LSU is 3-1, with a loss to Auburn and a heart stopping overtime win over Oregon St. in the season opener. It wasn’t until they beat Mississippi State 51-0 last week that we really saw any potency out of the Tiger offense. If LSU plans on returning to the top 10, they better bring more of last week’s powerful performance.
If the Tigers drop this game, all hopes for another national championship vanish, as do any reasonable thoughts about repeating as conference champions. It is only their fifth game, but it is not unfair to consider this a must-win situation for LSU.
The Bulldogs are ranked third in the country, but have their own issues. They managed just one touchdown in their win over Marshall and had to mount a comeback win against South Carolina.
Running back Danny Ware has spent the last two games on the sidelines with a bruised lung, and his absence has certainly damaged the offense. Ware is expected to return this weekend, bringing with him a big boost to an offense that needs one badly. Quarterback David Greene has thrown for 583 yards, but has only three touchdown passes.
Georgia simply must get more production out of Greene and the running game, which will not be a simple task against the fifth-ranked LSU defense.
Don’t forget that LSU annihilated Georgia in the SEC title game last season, delivering a 34-13 drubbing on a national stage – not the kind of loss that’s easily forgotten. With a taste for revenge and playing at home, Georgia should emerge the winner of this game and the clear favorite for the SEC championship.