USC overcome adversity in 1st Big Ten win of season

This was an odd game for USC. After a lengthy weather delay, the two teams finally took to the field, and the Trojans began their Big Ten portion of the 2025 season.

Although USC did well to take the early lead, by the time the middle of the third quarter was happening, it felt as if Purdue was going to be able to close the gap and make it a game.

Jah Jarrett then took advantage of a hit on Ryan Browne and returned the pick for a 70-yard touchdown. Although the Boilermakers were able to soon respond on the next drive with a touchdown of their own, that play energized the Trojan sidelines and put the game out of hand enough for USC to end up winning in West Lafayette by a score of 33-17.

Considering everything that was going on in Indiana, this was a game that the Trojans can largely take a lot of positives from. Some penalties were questionable, of course. The holding call against Jahkeem Stewart stands out in this regard. By the same token, however, this is an area that the Trojans will need to clean up.

All in all, though, USC showed just how lethal this offense can be at any point. The defense managed to mount consistent pressure against Browne and forced multiple turnovers.

Case in point, late in the fourth, Purdue was driving, looking like they were about to score. Instead, Bishop Fitzgerald produced another turnover through his interception, and the Trojans were able to kill the rest of the game off from there.

Encouraging signs from USC

This is the exact type of game that USC would have found a way to lose last year. Self-inflicted mistakes and oddities in the past have derailed what would have otherwise been wins. Granted, the competition is about to increase in short order.

Even so, for the Trojans to have navigated everything the way that they did in what ended up being a relatively comfortable win speaks well for the direction that the program is heading toward under coach Riley.