Skip to main content
Purdue

Gold and Black Radio: Purdue-USC preview show

by: Derek Schultz09/12/25
GBR cover


The staff of GoldandBlack.com and host Derek Schultz break down Saturday’s Purdue-USC matchup as the Boilermakers look to pull off their biggest upset in decades at Ross-Ade Stadium, with the Trojans coming to town.

Audio only

Purdue-USC–a key matchup

(excerpt from Jordan Jones’ matchup preview)

USC running game versus Purdue against the run

With two blowout victories under their belt, only two Trojan running backs, who collectively lead the nation in rushing, have entered with 10 or more carries thus far. Waymond Jordan, the No. 2 JUCO transfer of the cycle, leads the Trojans with 209 yards on just 21 touches. Eli Sanders, formerly of New Mexico and Iowa State, comes in with 13 carries for 85 yards, and King Miller ripped off a 75-yard run against Missouri State.

Quarterback Jayden Maiava, who began his career at UNLV with Barry Odom in 2023, can run the ball. When he won Mountain West Freshman of the Year for the Rebels, he ran for 277 yards. While Lincoln Riley’s pass-happy offense asks quarterbacks to throw the ball first, dual-threat quarterbacks thrive in his system, which allows them to tuck it and run. Despite question marks along the offensive line, USC ranks ninth nationally in rushing offense, averaging 271 yards per game. Purdue will provide the strongest opposition yet, but USC feels good about its ground game after a couple of easy wins.

Purdue won’t need to change much in practice to prepare for the dual-threat Maiava. It saw a run-first quarterback in Ball State’s Kiael Kelly and a real run threat in Southern Illinois’ DJ Williams. Despite facing respectable run games, Purdue’s defense has limited opposing ball carriers to 3.2 yards per carry and held its opponents to 98.5 rushing yards per game. UNLV transfers Mani Powell and Charles Correa bolstered the linebacking corps, and Tahj Ra-El looks active coming down from the safety position to make plays. The lingering question: how well does Purdue’s defensive line stack up against power conference opposition?

Pregame: First and 10: USC at Purdue | First Look: USC | From UNLV to Big Ten: Purdue’s Barry Odom, USC’s Jayden Maiava set for reunion | 25 years later: Purdue to celebrate 2000 Rose Bowl squad Saturday | Purdue’s George Burhenn finally has weight lifted off shoulders | The 3-2-1: Talking Mockobee workload, football IQ, summer of George and more | Gold and Black Radio: Purdue readies for USC challenge | Opponent View: USC | Number Crunching: Purdue Football Week 2 | Purdue’s Barry Odom welcomes streamlined transfer portal system

You may also like