WEST LAFAYETTE — Purdue football’s first Big Ten Conference game of the Barry Odom featured a three-hour lightning delay, a couple of truly weird touchdowns and a celebration of the program’s biggest moment in the past 50 years.
It also ended the same the Boilermakers’ previous nine Big Ten games did: with a loss. USC snapped its own losing streak in the Eastern time zone with a 33-17 victory at Ross-Ade Stadium.
Here is what I liked and disliked from Purdue’s loss to USC, and what it means.
What I liked in Purdue football’s loss vs USC
If you can’t be good, be lucky, I guess. Purdue turned a potential mistake into an important touchdown. Ryan Browne lateraled to Michael Jackson III, who turned to throw the ball back to Browne. Considering he had USC linebacker Eric Gentry draped over his back, it did not appear Browne expected the ball to come back.
Jackson threw it anyway, and the ball eluded the grasp of both Browne and Gentry. Browne astutely picked the loose ball up and ran it in. Officials conferred and determined both passes were in fact backwards, resulting in a 26-yard touchdown run for Browne to cut the USC lead to 20-10.
You can’t give Purdue credit for execution of this play, and Jackson’s decision to throw the ball there is questionable at best. But it was a big-time moment for Browne, who showed some veteran savvy by keeping his head in a hectic moment.
∙ When you take the USC pick-six off the board, Purdue’s defense held a team which scored 132 points in its first two games to 26 points. If the Boilers thought they could win this game while scoring fewer points than that, they were kidding themselves.
The defense isn’t a finished product by any means. Things still seem a bit unsettled in the secondary. The pass rush needs to get home more often. At the same time, Charles Correa is showing up in big ways as a Will linebacker playing downhill with authority. This unit’s ability to flock to the ball and play cohesively is not merely coach speak.
The pieces are here — they simply must execute more consistently.
∙ I’m going to give some credit for resiliency here. After throwing a pick in the end zone and having a 360-pound nose guard run back an interception against them, the Boilers trailed only 30-17 with 14:17 remaining.
That’s only relevant in contrast to how last season’s team so consistently collapsed against similar adversity. As we’ve said before, Odom can’t merely separate from 2024 with his words. It must happen on the field.
What I disliked in Purdue football’s loss vs USC
This game always hinged on whether Purdue’s offense could drive enough to keep USC’s offense off the field and score enough to keep up with the Trojans’ ability to hit explosive plays.
In the first half, the Boilers went 1 of 7 on third down, gave up four sacks and turned the ball over on their only possession inside the 10.
Once the Boilers fell into a 30-10 hole, their margin for error became nil, and this offense simply isn’t built for that sort of pressure yet.
∙ Trailing 3-0, Purdue took over at its own 25. Browne completed passes of 15, 18 and 21 yards to bring up first-and-goal at the 9.
On second-and-goal at the 7, Malachi Singleton entered and Browne exited. After Singleton ran for a 4-yard gain, Browne re-entered, avoided a sack and threw an interception in the end zone.
I don’t see the upside of using that package at that moment. Purdue defenders told us all preseason camp that Browne’s greatest asset is how difficult he is to take down as a runner. Singleton does not present enough of an advantage there, and if he were a better passer than Browne, well, he’d probably be this team’s starting quarterback.
Why interrupt your starting quarterback’s concentration and momentum for such a low-upside gimmick?
∙ Having said that, Browne’s decision-making lacked in some key ways. Technically, all three of his interceptions came in the red zone. The last one was a back-breaker, after Purdue drove to the USC 14 with under six minutes to play, down 13.
At times, Browne looks like the reason Purdue can beat someone it shouldn’t this season. He certainly needs more help from his offensive line, as he spent too much time retreating Saturday night. Yet he also must refine his processing to beat Big Ten teams.
What Purdue football’s loss vs USC means
Saturday’s game opened a tough three-game stretch. Purdue moves to South Bend next week to face Notre Dame, then comes home to play another nationally ranked opponent, Illinois.
The Boilers were not ready to beat a Big Ten team on Saturday night. They also showed they may not be far away.
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Likes, dislikes from Purdue football’s loss vs Southern California: Boilers show promise if miscues clean up
Reporting by Nathan Baird, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
