Spencer Porath will return to Ross-Ade Stadium this weekend as Notre Dame’s kicker, facing his former team Purdue for the first time since transferring. Porath spent two years with the Boilermakers before enrolling at Notre Dame for the spring semester, a move that was undisclosed to Purdue’s coaching staff until January.
Special teams coordinator Marty Biagi spoke on Porath’s mindset after Tuesday’s practice, comparing the situation to other transfers who have returned to former venues. “Try and take it as a faceless opponent,” Biagi said. “We try to do a really good job with our sports psych. Very similar to—probably not on the same level—but even when Riley [Leonard] went back.” Leonard, a former Duke quarterback, helped Notre Dame beat Texas A&M last season, where he faced his old coaches.
Joey Ramaeker, Notre Dame’s director of sports psychology, works closely with players like Porath to manage the mental challenges involved in these moments. “Coach Ramaeker does a good job of trying to find similarities of those kinds of things,” Biagi added.
Porath’s return to Purdue will be watched closely given the unusual nature of a kicker returning against his former team. Purdue’s new kicker, freshman Jacobo Echeverria Lozano, has converted seven of eight attempts this season with a long of 39 yards, making Porath’s presence an intriguing subplot.
Porath has shown resilience since joining Notre Dame. After missing his first field goal with the Irish—a 39-yard attempt against Michigan State—he quickly corrected his technique. Biagi described Porath’s reaction: “He was mad at himself. He knows he did a cut swing or a slice swing. The best part is I had the tablet and I walked over, and he goes, ‘I don’t need to see it.’” That miss came despite Notre Dame leading comfortably late in the game.
His accuracy has improved since his time at Purdue, where he made 15 of 17 field goals as a sophomore in 2025. His last miss for the Boilermakers was a 54-yard attempt in a heavy loss to Indiana in November 2025. Biagi said Porath “already knew how to fix it” after misses and appreciated his lack of excuses. “There was no finger pointing, no excuse. He could tell me what he already did before he even saw the tablet.”
Porath’s confidence and focus earned praise from Biagi, who described him as “so locked in” and “really dialed” once on the field. The kicker’s composure will be tested by what Biagi refers to as the “Ross-Ade Brigade,” Purdue’s student section known for vocal support and occasionally harsh jeers.
The NCAA’s new rules on “ghost transfers” came into effect in April and have sparked debate around transfers like Porath who enroll without informing their previous programs. Notre Dame’s move to bring Porath in quietly last spring predates those regulations but adds another layer to the ongoing conversations about transfer policies and penalties.
Porath said back in August he was looking forward to returning to Purdue. “I think it will be awesome,” he told local media. “I loved everything about Purdue. Everyone's great. The coaching staff is great, the players. I can't wait, and I'll be excited.”
Biagi emphasized that Porath’s preparation will be no different than any other game. “Just having a true approach and a game plan,” he said. The special teams coordinator himself played as a kicker and punter at Marshall, underscoring his appreciation for Porath’s mental toughness.
The matchup between Notre Dame and Purdue this weekend will be one of the more unusual storylines of the college football season, with Porath’s return to Ross-Ade Stadium carrying attention beyond the usual kickoff and field goals. The Irish will rely on his steady leg as they aim to extend their strong start to the season.
According to Yahoo Sports.