First and 10: USC at Purdue preview

The Trojans are averaging 66 points through the first two games

Sep 12, 2025

Big Ten opener. Rose Bowl celebration.

There's a lot to unpack before USC and Purdue square off on Saturday at Ross-Ade Stadium.

The 2-0 Boilermakers take a step up in class after facing Ball State and Southern Illinois when the Trojans visit Ross-Ade Stadium for the second time. USC beat Missouri State, playing in its first game as an FBS program, and Georgia Southern.

Meanwhile, the backdrop is the 25th anniversary of Purdue’s Big Ten championship and the program’s second trip to the Rose Bowl. The first appearance was in 1967 against USC. Several players, including quarterback Drew Brees, are scheduled to attend Saturday’s game and take part in activities throughout the weekend.

A combination of 10 thoughts, takeaways, and questions ahead of the 3:30 p.m. kickoff (CBS).

Arhmad Branch has two TD passes **(Dave Wegiel Photography)**

• We’ll find out where the Boilermakers stand and how the rest of the conference season might unfold. Purdue took care of business in the first two games, but it must deal with bigger, stronger, and faster athletes in this game.

• Although it’s been just two games, USC leads in the nation in scoring (66.0), total offense (676.0), yards per play (11.3), and plays of 50 yards or more (7). The Trojans are 12-for-12 in the red zone. That’s just scratching the surface of what this offense is capable of producing. The Boilermakers have allowed just 17 points in the first two games.

• Devin Mockobee and Ryan Browne will need to deliver big performances. Purdue can’t be one-dimensional. It needs balance, and it needs big plays. The offense grinded out the victory over Southern Illinois in the second half, but must find some explosive plays to keep up with the Trojans.

• The offense can’t go backwards, and that’s been the strength of USC’s defense. The Trojans have produced 21 tackles for loss and nine sacks. The Boilermakers have given up one sack.

Linebacker Charles Correa **(Mark Elsner Photography)**

• Mani Powell and Charles Correa need to continue making plays from their linebacker spots to slow down USC’s offense. The pair has been active in the first two games, but must play at a higher level this week.

• How do the Boilermakers slow down the quarterback-receiver combination of Jayden Maiava and Makai Lemon? Maiava, who played one season for Barry Odom at UNLV before transferring, is 31 of 42 for 707 yards and six touchdowns. He’s produced a handful of big plays, averaging 16.8 yards per attempt to lead the nation. Lemon, a slot receiver, is averaging 22.6 yards on 11 catches. He had 115 yards after the catch against Georgia Southern, and the Boilermakers can’t afford to miss open-field tackles.

• If Purdue’s offense struggles, can punter Jack McCallister pin the Trojans deep in their territory? The transfer from the University of Washington had a strong showing in the opener against Ball State, averaging 50.3 yards on three punts. The Cardinals battled poor field position due to McCallister’s punts.

• Since the Boilermakers are considered a heavy underdog, will Odom use a trick play to surprise the Trojans? Let’s see what Odom has in his trick play bag.

• One trend in Purdue’s favor is USC’s lack of success in the Central/Eastern time zones during the last 12 years. The Trojans have lost 14 straight when playing in one of the two time zones, including at Michigan, Minnesota, and Maryland last season. Six of those losses were at Notre Dame. USC’s last win in the Central/Eastern time zone was in 2011 at Notre Dame. Saturday isn’t USC’s only long trip. The Trojans play three times in the Central/Eastern time zone in six weeks - Purdue, Illinois, and Notre Dame. Coach Lincoln Riley said changes in the way the team travels and its schedule have been made since last season.

“We even changed the type of airplane we’re in,” Riley told reporters in Los Angeles. “We’ve made a couple of changes in the schedule, timing in eating, time we’re putting them to bed, and done a lot of research on sleep.”

• Will both teams continue their fast starts? Purdue has scored 14 points in the first quarter against both Ball State and SIU. However, the Trojans are averaging 17.5 points in the opening period.

BONUS ITEM

As of Thursday, USC is a 21-point favorite. An Odom-coached team has never been a three-TD home underdog in his previous six seasons at Missouri and UNLV. In 2017, the Tigers were an 18-point home underdog to Auburn. Purdue is 1-1 against the spread this season, but Saturday marks the first time in the underdog role. As an underdog, Odom is 13-13, including 4-4 as a home underdog.