USC reaches a 1st in B1G win

USC notched a hard-fought road win against a Big Ten opponent, defeating Purdue 33-17 in West Lafayette. The game included a three-hour weather delay, but the Trojans never wavered. While they fell short of covering the 20.5-point spread set by Vegas bookmakers, the real story was the Trojans composure and control. USC led wire-to-wire, marking their first-ever Big Ten conference road victory and their first game of the season in which they never trailed. Considering the challenging circumstances with an eastern time zone kickoff, a hostile environment, and the lengthy weather delay, this was a statement win for the Trojans. USC did have one other game in confernece a year ago in which they led wire-to-wire. That was a home win against Rutgers.

The Trojans have opened the season 3-0 for the third time in four years under Lincoln Riley. Quarterback Jayden Maiava completed 60 percent of his passes against Purdue and added a rushing touchdown to his stat line. Waymond Jordan chipped in with another score on the ground, while Eli Sanders impressed by averaging 7.5 yards per carry.

Protecting the football proved crucial, as Maiava and the offense avoided turnovers while the defense forced three, helping USC win the turnover battle 3-0. The Trojans also racked up five sacks, a performance that vaulted them to first in the nation in sacks through Week 3.

The highlight of the night came courtesy of defensive lineman Jamaal Jarrett, who returned an interception 70 yards for a touchdown. The play, already dubbed the “Thick Six,” saw the 350-pound interior lineman rumble down the field with a convoy of blockers, delivering one of the most memorable moments in USC football history.

Encouraging sign for USC

The takeaway from this victory is clear. USC has opened Big Ten play 1-0 and proven it can win on the road in its new conference. The Trojans leaned on their run game to close out the fourth quarter and trusted their defense to snuff out any chance of a Purdue rally which serves as an encouraging formula that adds to the growing optimism about what this team can accomplish in 2025.

Now, the focus shifts to building momentum. USC returns home to the Coliseum on Saturday night to face Michigan State, with head coach Jonathan Smith, a familiar opponent from his Oregon State days leading the Spartans. It will be another important test for the Trojans as they look to stack conference wins and piece together a full month of winning football.