Big Ten USC-Purdue Game Delayed Lightning West Lafayette

The Big Ten opener between the USC Trojans and Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana, has been delayed due to multiple lightning strikes in the area, pushing the kickoff time well past the originally scheduled 3:30-3:40 p.m. ET. Stadium officials evacuated fans for safety, and NCAA rules mandate a 30-minute delay after each lightning strike within a 6-10 mile radius, with the countdown resetting after every new strike, causing further postponements. Teams must wait for 30 uninterrupted minutes without lightning before resuming play, followed by a 10-minute warm-up, which contributed to uncertainty about the exact start time. USC enters as a 20-point underdog and faces the challenge of improving their poor recent record in Eastern Time Zone road games, with this being their first Big Ten road game. Both teams are managing player absences, with Purdue sidelining several injured players and USC down six players. The game marks the first meeting between the two since 1998 and coincides with Purdue's celebration of the 25th anniversary of its 2000 Big Ten Championship and Rose Bowl team.