Story perspectives

USC vs. Purdue Game Delayed by Lightning, Evacuated

9/14/2025

Summary

Story summary

The USC vs. Purdue game has been delayed from 3:30 p.m. ET to 6:45 p.m. ET due to lightning.
Ross-Ade Stadium was evacuated for safety as fans sought shelter amid severe weather warnings.
The last lightning strike was recorded at 5:31 p.m., causing multiple resets of the delay clock.
USC is missing six players, while Purdue has several injured.
This game is the first Big Ten matchup for both teams and their first meeting since 1998, with Purdue honoring its 2001 Rose Bowl team.

History

Historical Context

The 2001 Rose Bowl featured a pivotal clash between the University of Southern California and Purdue University, with USC's victory bolstering their national championship hopes. Historically, severe weather has disrupted sporting events, echoing past incidents where safety concerns took precedence, highlighting the ongoing challenges sports organizations face in ensuring fan safety during critical games.

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Story summary

The USC vs. Purdue game has been delayed from 3:30 p.m. ET to 6:45 p.m. ET due to lightning.
Ross-Ade Stadium was evacuated for safety as fans sought shelter amid severe weather warnings.
The last lightning strike was recorded at 5:31 p.m., causing multiple resets of the delay clock.
USC is missing six players, while Purdue has several injured.
This game is the first Big Ten matchup for both teams and their first meeting since 1998, with Purdue honoring its 2001 Rose Bowl team.

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