why is the purdue football game delayed

The Purdue football game against USC was delayed due to severe weather, specifically lightning in the area around Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana. The start was pushed back by over three hours because NCAA rules require halting the game when lightning is detected within a certain radius and mandates a 30-minute waiting period after the last lightning strike before play can resume. During this period, players stayed in locker rooms and fans evacuated the stadium to safer locations. The delay lasted until the storm cleared, and the game then started under sunny, cool conditions.