Purdue vs. USC Delayed Because of Lightning
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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Saturday's game between Purdue and USC will start later than anticipated. Due to lightning and inclement weather in the area, kickoff has been delayed at Ross-Ade Stadium.
Update at 5:50 p.m. ET — Gates are expected to open at 6:15 p.m. ET and kickoff is currently set for 6;45 p.m. ET.
Update at 5 p.m. ET — 90 minutes have passed since kickoff was initially scheduled. There was still a flash of lightning at 5 p.m. ET, which means we still have some time until this game gets underway.
Update at 4:26 p.m. ET — A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for Tippecanoe County until 5 p.m. ET.
Update at 4:11 p.m. ET — Rain is still coming down hard at Ross-Ade Stadium with flashes of lightning still prominent. No official word on a new expected start time at this moment.
Purdue and USC were initially scheduled for a 3:30 p.m. ET kickoff on CBS. The earliest possible kickoff time is now 3:50 p.m. ET.
Every time lightning is spotted, the game is delayed by 30 minutes. The clock restarts every time a flash of lightning is seen in the area.
After there was lightning spotted, security crews at Ross-Ade Stadium began escorting fans out of the venue.
Stay tuned for more updates as Purdue and USC prepare for their Big Ten opener.
Purdue-USC availability report
A total of 11 players have been listed as out for Saturday's Purdue-USC game. The Boilermakers have players out with injury and the Trojans will be without six players. Purdue defensive back Crew Wakley is the only player listed as "questionable."
Here are the availability reports for Saturday's Big Ten opener.
Purdue Boilermakers
- #5 Chauncey Magwood, wide receiver (senior)
- #8 De'Nylon Morrissette, wide receiver (junior)
- #9 Jalil Hall, wide receiver (freshman)
- #41 Jon Grimmett, tight end (freshman)
- #49 Isaiah Needam (freshman)
USC Trojans
- #0 Zacharyus Williams, wide receiver (sophomore)
- #16 Prophet Brown, cornerback (senior)
- #17 Prince Strachan, wide receiver (junior)
- #21 Bryan Jackson, running back (sophomore)
- #27 Alex Graham, cornerback (freshman)
- #45 Caden Chittenden, kicker (sophomore)
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Dustin Schutte is the publisher of Purdue Boilermakers on SI and has spent more than a decade working in sports journalism. His career began in 2013, when he covered Big Ten football. He remained in that role for eight years before working at On SI to cover the Boilermakers. Dustin graduated from Manchester University in Indiana in 2010, where he played for the men's tennis team.
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