Ex-Purdue kicker faces hostile fans in return

Notre Dame kicker Spencer Porath will return to Ross-Ade Stadium this weekend for the first time since his transfer from Purdue. Porath, who spent two years at Purdue, quietly enrolled at Notre Dame for the spring semester without informing his former coaches of his departure. His transfer commitment was widely reported on January 13, 2026.

This return comes amidst new NCAA regulations implemented on April 1, 2026. These penalties target 'ghost transfers,' imposing significant fines equivalent to 20% of a program's annual budget and a half-season suspension for the head coach. Failure to self-report within 15 days can escalate these penalties.

Despite the potential for hostility from Purdue's student section, Notre Dame's special teams coordinator, Marty Biagi, expressed confidence in Porath. The team's sports psychology director, Joey Ramaeker, is helping Porath mentally prepare by focusing on the game itself, a strategy also employed with other transfer athletes.

Porath has been unflappable, even when he missed his first field goal attempt with Notre Dame against Michigan State. He demonstrated remarkable composure, recognizing his error without needing to review footage, highlighting his focused mindset. He had previously made 15 of 17 field-goal attempts as a Purdue sophomore in 2025.