	He would return to the same role for the Fightin' Irish in 2012. On September 8, 2012, Notre Dame placekicker, Nick Tausch, would suffer an injury during a game against Purdue. Brindza would come in to replace Tausch but would miss his first career attempt. After missing his first field goal, Brindza then redeemed himself connecting on a 30-yard field goal and a 27-yard field goal with 7 seconds left. The 27-yard field goal sealed the 20–17 victory over the Purdue Boilermakers.