As Southern California and Purdue prepare to open Big Ten play on Saturday in West Lafayette, Ind., Boilermakers coach Barry Odom already knows exactly what Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava can do.
“Jayden was our quarterback my first year at UNLV (in 2023) and led us to nine wins. Just a wonderful young man, great family, and was a lot of fun to coach,” Odom said.
Maiava passed for 3,085 yards and 17 touchdowns as a freshman that year for the Rebels. He transferred to Southern California before the 2024 season, initially backing up Miller Moss before captaining the Trojans in the final month of the campaign.
Through two starts in 2025, Maiava is 31-of-42 passing for 707 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions and has rushed for a touchdown to lead USC (2-0) to blowout wins over Missouri State and Georgia Southern.
“Looks like he’s continued to develop his game, both throwing (and) reading defenses,” Odom added.
Purdue (2-0) looks to contain Maiava and the Trojans’ prolific offense in the first conference meeting between the programs. Saturday marks the first meeting in any capacity since 1998, and the first at Ross-Ade Stadium since 1976.
With blowouts of Ball State and Southern Illinois to open the season, Purdue is 2-0 for the first time since 2021. No Boilermakers team has started 3-0 since the 2007 squad opened at 5-0.
Purdue successfully deployed a balanced offensive attack in the initial two games of Odom’s tenure, with Ryan Browne completing 32 of 49 passes for 481 yards and four touchdowns and Devin Mockobee rushing for 185 yards and three scores.
“They’ve done a really good job,” Trojans coach Lincoln Riley said of Purdue’s new coaching staff. “They had to overhaul a ton of players, but give them credit: They’ve won two games and done some really good things with new (players) and new coaches.”
The Boilermakers’ most pressing concern is their defensive game plan against Maiava and a USC offense that scored 132 combined points the first two weeks.
Makai Lemon is off to a torrid start for the Trojans with 11 receptions for 248 yards and two TDs. Four Trojans have rushed for at least two TDs through two games, including Waymond Jordan, who is averaging 10.0 yards per carry.
