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USC quarterback Jayden Maiava (14) throws against Purdue during the second half of an NCAA college football game in West Lafayette, Ind., Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
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USC quarterback Jayden Maiava (14) throws against Purdue during the second half of an NCAA college football game in West Lafayette, Ind., Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — USC traveled halfway across the country for its Big Ten opener and endured a three-hour weather delay before beating Purdue 33-17 on Saturday.
Showers and storms had been hovering around the area before warmups, but had initially cleared out. The showers recirculated the area about an hour before the 3:30 p.m. EST contest was slated to kick off. Those storms hung around the stadium, resulting in a three-hour and five-minute delay in the kickoff.
An extended delay can sometimes cause concern for teams, especially those who had to travel as far as the Trojans did. Head coach Lincoln Riley didn’t seem to see that concern with his squad. “They were so pumped and ready to play, we actually had to calm them down.”
The anticipation carried over to what Riley believes the mentality was throughout the locker room: “Let us know and we are going to be ready to go,” Riley said.
The Trojans converted three of their first four drives into points, tallied 263 first-half yards, and led at halftime 17-3.
After forcing a Purdue punt on the opening drive, the Trojans didn’t waste much time getting into Boilermaker territory. On a third and 6, USC quarterback Jayden Maiava connected with Ja’Kobi Lane along the near sideline for a 59-yard connection. After a Purdue pass interference call, the Trojans had the ball inside the Boilers’ 7-yard line. However, the drive stalled, and the visitors settled for an early 3-0 lead on a 24-yard field goal from Ryon Sayeri.
Purdue then put together what seemed to be a quick response, as it took the Boilers just five plays to get the ball inside the Trojan 10-yard line. On third and goal at the USC 3-yard line, Purdue quarterback Ryan Browne slung a pass over the middle. It was intercepted by Bishop Fitzgerald, preserving a 3-0 lead.
USC capitalized on the turnover with a drive that concluded in just four minutes, picking up 80 yards over 10 plays. The drive resulted in a Maiava 3-yard keeper for a touchdown.
Purdue later responded with a field goal with just under 11 minutes left in the first half — the score marked the lone points for the Boilers in the opening 30 minutes.
The Trojans then took the next seven minutes and 30 seconds of game time and drove 75 yards down the field in 13 plays. The drive ended with running back Waymond Jordan punching in a 6-yard touchdown for the last score of the half.
The first half appeared to be more of the same offensive success for USC. The question would be whether the defense will hold up enough in the second half to win games.
The initial USC drive in the second half resulted in a 36-yard field goal for Sayeri off the back of a 42-yard catch by Lane on third down and 9.
With the ball on the USC 26-yard line, Browne threw a backwards pass to wideout Michael Jackson III, who attempted to throw another backwards pass back across the field to Browne. The ball was seemingly going to be picked by linebacker Eric Gentry, but it went right through his hands to the awaiting Browne, who picked up the ball off the grass and took it 34 yards to the house for the first Purdue touchdown of the night.
The Trojans’ next two scores came in widely different fashions. The first came with 5:01 left in the third quarter and was a 48-yard field goal that was drilled by Sayeri. The next score was from the defense. Browne dropped back to throw and was met by defensive tackle Devan Thompkins and safety Kamari Ramsey. The throw went up and landed right in the lap of defensive tackle Jamaal Jarrett. The 360-pound lineman took the interception 70 yards the other way for a pick-six to give USC a 30-10 lead.
The confidence that young quarterback Maiava showed tonight was prominent, and his teammates took notice. He looked more comfortable and confident. Tight end Lake McRee has touched on the increased confidence Maiava has found this year.
“Week in and week out, you really see his confidence growing and really becoming one of the big leaders on our team,” McRee said.
Purdue continued to find a way to hang in the game, seemingly coming up with timely plays time after time throughout the night. This time, it was a touchdown catch for wideout Nitro Tuggle from 9 yards out to cut the lead to 13. The momentum that was seemingly with the Boilers only grew larger when Sayeri missed a 37-yard field goal off the left upright.
Purdue proceeded to march down the field, along with some help from three USC penalties, but couldn’t convert it into points. Browne threw his third interception of the night right to the crossing Fitzgerald in the endzone, who secured his second pick of the night.
When teams are in the red zone, the field is shortened and the margin for error shrinks, especially on offense. Both of Fitzgerald’s interceptions came in the red zone, at huge moments to prevent Purdue scores.
The safety found himself able to trust his instincts and make the clutch plays needed to seal a road win. “It helps trusting my first read knowing if you bring pressure and the quarterback looks one way, he’s probably going to go that way,” Fitzgerald said postgame.
The interception from Fitzgerald set up one last scoring drive for USC. A 63-yard drive capped off by a 19-yard field goal was a perfect stamp on the elusive road Big Ten win for the Trojans. The win marked the first Big Ten road win outside of L.A. as a member and the third win on the season.
The USC offense thrived throughout the night. However, the defense came up with timely plays numerous times, including two red zone interceptions and a 70-yard pick six — a big reason the Trojans won by the margin that they did.
The Trojans return home to host Michigan State next week.
“It was a great first step, you’ve got to go convert and do it,” Riley said postgame. “I did feel like we were in complete control of the game the entire time and never gave that up…which I feel like is a really big step.”
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