SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Jimmy Clausen threw for a career-high 275 yards and three touchdowns, Armando Allen Jr. ran for a career-best 134 yards, and Notre Dame today matched its win total from a year ago with a 38-21 victory over Purdue.

The Fighting Irish (3-1), who hadn't scored in the third quarter in their first three games, scored on their first two possessions of the second half to open a 28-14 lead, then added another touchdown late in the quarter to go ahead 35-21.

The Boilermakers (2-2) fell to 1-15 at Notre Dame Stadium since 1976. The loss also left Purdue coach Joe Tiller, who is retiring after the season, with a 5-7 record against the Irish. Purdue had lost 11 straight to Notre Dame before Tiller arrived.

Clausen's previous high was 246 yards passing against Air Force and Allen's best was 91 yards rushing against Navy. Clausen, using a no-huddle offense, was 20-of-35 passes with no interceptions, while Allen had 17 carries and scored a touchdown.

The Irish, who entered the game averaging 78 yards a game rushing, ran for 201 yards on 40 carries. Michael Floyd added six catches for 100 yards. Golden Tate, David Grimes and Kyle Rudolph each had TD catches.

Curtis Painter was 29-of-55 passing for 359 yards and two touchdowns for Purdue. Kory Sheets ran for 87 yards and a touchdown.

Robert Blanton started the Irish scoring on a 47-yard interception return and the Irish defense came up with big plays when it needed them, stopping the Boilermakers on the 13 late in the third quarter and at midfield with 8:41 to go on fourth-and-3.

The key, though, was Notre Dame's offense in the third quarter, rushing for 90 yards in the quarter. Allen, whose career-high carry was 15 yards heading into the game, had a 21-yard run to set up his 16-yard TD run. He then had two runs of 21 yards on the next possession to help set up Notre Dame's next score, a 5-yard pass from Clausen to Rudolph.

The Boilermakers cut the lead to 28-21 four plays later when Painter threw a pass that Desmond Tardy caught at the Notre Dame 30 and raced up the left sideline and dove for the pylon. He was originally ruled down at the 1-yard, but it was ruled a touchdown after officials reviewed the play.

But the Irish answered immediately, with Clausen throwing a 30-yard TD pass to Grimes on a fourth-and-7. The Irish had 204 yards total offense in the third quarter. In their previous three games, they had 188 yards total offense in the third quarter.

Brandon Walker, who had missed his first five field goal attempts, including a 31-yard attempt early in the second quarter, made a 41-yard attempt to give the Irish a 38-21 lead with 10:04 left.

The Irish never led in the first half. The Boilermakers scored first on a third-and-9 from the 22-yard line. Painter faked a quick pass, then handed off to Sheets, who broke a tackle and raced in for the touchdown. Aaron Valentin scored on a 3-yard pass from Painter.

The Irish answered each of Purdue's scores. The Irish tied the score at 14 with 2:35 left in the half when Clausen connected with Tate on a 6-yard touchdown on a fade pass.