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On Saturday, USC football travels on the road to face Purdue in the Big Ten opener for both teams. After two resounding victories over overmatched opponents, this will be the Trojans’ first matchup in 2025 that should provide them with an actual test.
Last season, the Boilermakers were a completely lifeless, team, finishing 1-11 with numerous blowout losses. Two games into this year, however, new head coach Barry Odom and company have already doubled the program’s 2024 win total, cruising to wins over Ball State and Southern Illinois.
In a recent edition of our Southern California college football roundtable, Trojans Wire and UCLA Wire writers discussed USC’s upcoming matchup. The question: Does Purdue’s strong start change your view of the game at all? Here is what we had to say:
Matt Zemek, Editor
“Yes. Purdue seems to be a lot better. I thought Barry Odom would improve the team, but I thought it would take him at least two months to get there. The Week 1 blowout of Ball State suggests Odom has Purdue ahead of schedule in its rebuilding project. In mid-August, I thought this would be a blowout. Now I think it will be a competitive game. USC can’t just show up and win; it will need to really lock in and play hard.”
“Not really. It was going to be practically impossible for Purdue to be any worse than they were last year. My reaction to their Week 1 results was similar to USC’s—a good job dominating an inferior opponent, but I’ll need to see more before I am willing to buy stock.”
“I am not worried after the Week 1 victory by Purdue. This is still a team that is not yet ready to compete. The Trojans should be able to walk all over the Boilermakers. I think that exact matchup is the perfect first Big Ten game of the season for the Trojans.”
“No. Even with the shutout win, I still view Purdue as one of the weakest Big Ten football programs and while anything can happen on any given day, the Trojans should still soundly defeat the Boilermakers. Purdue looked great in their 31-0 win over Ball State but it did occur against Ball State. Purdue will have to do that a few more times, against better opponents, to truly take notice.”
“I was impressed with Purdue’s blowout win, but I still think the Trojans can handle the Boilermakers. Ball State struggled against Purdue’s defense, but the Trojans should have more than enough fire to still get through them. That being said, if they show up unprepared or Maiava has a bad day, then the Boilermakers could surprise the Trojans. That seems unlikely though and it should be a week 3 win for USC.”
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