Notre Dame adds Purdue transfer kicker Spencer Porath to address 2025 struggles

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The Irish’s last made field goal of the 2025 season came Oct. 11 against NC State.

Over the final six games, three different Notre Dame kickers combined to miss three field goals and three extra points, magnifying the need for stability at the position.

Spencer Porath, an Indiana native and former Purdue Boilermaker, arrives in South Bend with a résumé that suggests reliability and growth.

He was ranked the No. 13 kicker in the Class of 2024 by 247Sports and earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors in 2025. As a true freshman at Purdue, Porath appeared in nine games, converting 7 of 11 field-goal attempts and going a perfect 17-for-17 on extra points, totaling 38 points.

He took another step forward as a sophomore. Porath connected on 88.2% of his field-goal attempts and again did not miss an extra point, finishing 24-for-24 on PATs. He scored 69 points for the Boilermakers, demonstrating improved consistency and confidence.

“I’m always trying to just chase being more consistent,” Porath said. “I think the biggest thing is preparation, it’s really important — just getting the reps in during the week. It’s really the same kick that you’ve probably practiced hundreds of times, so just trying to do that same thing over and over again.”

Porath is also a finance major and said academics played a major role in his decision. He cited the opportunity to attend Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business as a key factor, adding that being accepted sealed the deal.

For Porath, the move to Notre Dame represents both a football opportunity and an academic investment — one the Irish hope brings much-needed stability to their special teams unit in 2026.