Week 3 of the college football season is here, and while fans expected fireworks on the field, it’s the skies over West Lafayette that might steal the spotlight. The unranked USC Trojans and Purdue Boilermakers are set to face off in both teams’ conference openers.
Weather-Related Concerns Pull Over USC-Purdue Matchup
Heavy rain and thunderstorms rolled in Saturday afternoon, putting the USC–Purdue matchup on hold. With lightning in the area, kickoff will most likely be pushed back, the kind of unexpected twist that adds even more tension to one of the Big Ten’s early must-watch games.
Purdue and USC coming up in just under an hour as off-and-on rain continues in West Lafayette. pic.twitter.com/GDHBv6m9RZ
— Boilers and Beyond (@BoilersBeyond) September 13, 2025
And make no mistake, this one matters. The Big Ten has been stacked through two weeks, with 14 of 18 teams still undefeated. That leaves almost no margin for error, and for USC and Purdue, this first-ever meeting as conference rivals carries real weight.
Some potential weather-related concerns around the start of USC-Purdue …
Heavy rain is expected to start soon in West Lafayette. A lightning delay could be in play.
— Ryan Kartje (@Ryan_Kartje) September 13, 2025
The early signs for USC have been promising. The Trojans came into 2025 with plenty of questions, especially on defense, but they’ve started strong at 2–0.
Quarterback Jayden Maiava has been nothing short of electric, throwing for 707 yards and six touchdowns in just two games. Better yet, the offense has spread the wealth. 12 different players have already scored touchdowns.
The defense, however, is still a work in progress. USC gave up too many big plays on the ground against Georgia Southern, and those cracks could become costly in Big Ten play.
Head coach Lincoln Riley has made changes to how the team prepares for road trips, hoping to fix some of last year’s struggles away from home. Saturday at Purdue will be an early chance to see if that work is paying off.
Purdue Already Exceeding Expectations After Horrific 2024 Season
Then there’s Purdue, the surprise of the season so far. After a brutal 1–11 finish last year, most fans expected 2025 to be a rebuilding season under new head coach Barry Odom. Instead, the Boilermakers are 2–0 for the first time since 2021.
USC vs. Purdue Prediction: Can the Boilermakers Shock the Trojans in Undefeated Big Ten Showdown?
They’ve taken down Southern Illinois and Ball State with relative ease, leaning on quarterback Ryan Browne and running back Devin Mockobee. Browne threw for over 300 yards in the opener, while Mockobee has looked steady in the backfield.
The turnaround is even more impressive when you realize just how new this team is. 82 of Purdue’s 119 players weren’t even on the roster last season. That kind of overhaul usually takes time, but Odom has found a way to get his guys playing together quickly.
So while the clouds continue to sky over West Lafayette, this Big 10 matchup is a must-win for both teams, who are continuing to prove that 2025 is a year for excitement.
