Lincoln Riley has the Trojans off to a hot 2-0 start. But don’t let the smooth record fool anyone. Riley’s crew has been lighting up the scoreboard, outscoring early opponents by a mind-boggling 132-33. After a shaky 2024 campaign, the mood in Los Angeles feels different. But just as Trojan fans start dreaming of a real Big Ten run, Purdue looms large. And guess what? The depth chart is looking a little thin. Practice reports suggest at least one offensive starter will be missing against the Boilermakers.

Riley dropped the news that key offensive tackle Tobias Raymond will not be available this week. In an online conversation with the media hosted on the USCAthletics Channel, Riley didn’t mince words when they asked him about Raymond’s availability against Purdue. “No, certainly get the question,” Riley said. “We’ll put everything in the availability report that I think comes out there on Saturday. So, we’ll stick with that on injuries going forward.” It’s a major blow for USC. And especially when Raymond and left tackle Elijah Paige were quickly becoming Riley’s go-to combo for pulling and opening lanes in the ground game.

Raymond has turned into the heartbeat of USC’s offensive line. When he first landed in Los Angeles, Raymond was all raw potential, but still learning the finer points of the position. He’s been asked to play multiple positions, from right tackle to inside at guard, offering USC flexibility whenever injuries or lineup shuffles hit. Riley openly raved that, “he’s one of those guys you put anywhere and he just gets the job done.” And even his teammates, like center J’Onre Reed, rave about him too, which means his leadership is catching on. “He held it down all summer,” Reed said.

“He’s standing there with his shirt off, flexing like he’s Captain America. He loves it, man.” Against Missouri State, the Trojans steamrolled to a historic 73-13 win. The most points for USC since 1930. Raymond was front and center in the trenches, helping pave the way for a crisp, high-flying offensive show. What really stands out from Raymond’s play is the balance and trust he brings to the left side. USC rumbled for double-digit touchdowns and piled up 42 first-half points. But it all started up front.

Raymond’s pulls and combos with Elijah Paige let Riley dial up those signature run schemes, giving running backs clear daylight and keeping Jayden Maiava upright and in rhythm. He was one of the big-time forces in the Missouri State line, right there with Alani Noa and Killian O’Connor. And Raymond kept that momentum rolling against Georgia Southern. In that 59-20 domination, Raymond again proved why the Trojan offense calls him its unsung hero. His physicality and technique at tackle helped USC pile up a staggering 755 total yards. So the fans understand what they’re going to miss this Saturday against Purdue.

The reason for his unavailability is not clear, but as per Riley, the Saturday report might shed more light on Tobias Raymond’s absence.

The defensive mind behind Purdue’s rise

Lincoln Riley’s Thursday media meet was packed with nuggets. But one of the standout moments came when he praised Purdue’s head coach, Barry Odom, in a way that was equal parts honest and respectful. “Yeah, I’m sure he’s a really good defensive mind,” Riley said. “And you can see that in what they’re doing.  [The] Job that their staff and the players have done here in the first couple of weeks of the season. They had a very good defense at UNLV last year.” Riley knows Odum’s success comes from the Missouri days. Thus, the USC coach gave a straight-up thumbs up.

“He’s had a lot of really productive defenses, and that’s kind of been the catalyst for him,” Riley continues. “Moving up in the business and getting some of the opportunities that he’s obviously deserved to get. So, yeah, they do a really good job, and it looks like this group has taken to it quickly.” Barry Odom’s coaching journey reads like a blueprint for defensive mastery. What jumps out is how his defensive pedigree has translated into real results. At UNLV, Odom’s Rebels went 19-8 in two seasons.

He made back-to-back Mountain West championship games and showed he can get defenses humming against tough competition. Even after losing his starting QB at UNLV, the program kept winning. He pulled off road upsets over Houston and Kansas. That’s the kind of resilience and discipline Odom’s defense brings. And it’s no wonder Purdue jumped at the chance to bring him to West Lafayette to revitalize their defense after a rough run under Ryan Walters.