No. 4 Penn State football (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten) stunned USC (3-3, 1-3 Big Ten) 33-30 in overtime on Saturday at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California.

Both teams traded blows all game. Penn State got off to a slow start and trailed 20-6 at the half, but bounced back to tie the game in the third quarter. Leads changed again throughout the rest of the half, but Miller Moss threw an interception late in the game to set up overtime. USC missed a field goal, but Penn State drilled an attempt to break Trojan hearts in Los Angeles.

How It Happened

Woody Marks was dropped for a one-yard loss to begin the game’s inaugural drive. However, Miller Moss bounced back with a 14-yard completion to Kyron Hudson. The drive didn’t last long, as two incompletions and a two-yard Marks gain forced USC to punt.

From his own 11-yard line, Nick Singleton ripped a 10-yard gain. Completions to Singleton and Tyler Warren brought up 3rd-and-3, and Warren made a four-yard catch to extend the drive. Drew Allar fired a 16-yard pass to Liam Clifford, and Kaytron Allen made an eight-yard gain. A one-yard Singleton run brought up 3rd-and-1, and Warren rushed for a first down. Warren’s production continued with 14-yard and 21-yard receptions to set up 1st-and-goal. Despite being at the three-yard line, the Nittany Lions couldn’t reach the end zone. Ryan Barker’s field goal made it 3-0 with 4:53 left in the first quarter.

On the first play of the drive, Quinton Joyner received an end-around and ran 75 yards to the end zone to give the Trojans a 7-3 lead with 4:38 to go in the quarter.

Singleton responded with a seven-yard run, and Allen caught a nine-yard pass to get a first down. Penn State faced 3rd-and-3 three plays later, and Allar threw an incompletion under pressure. For the first time in the game, the Nittany Lions punted.

Moss fired a 16-yard pass to Makai Lemon on 2nd-and-7. Marks rushed 12 yards and then ripped a 21-yard gain to Penn State’s 37-yard line. Marks received another handoff and made it to the nine-yard line. Moss tossed it to Joyner for the touchdown to give Southern California a 14-3 lead with 13:33 left in the second quarter.

Penn State’s woes continued. On 3rd-and-6, Desman Stephens II intercepted Allar’s pass at USC’s 42-yard line and returned it 32 yards to Penn State’s 26-yard line. Despite the good field position, the Trojans went three-and-out and kicked a field goal to make it 17-3 with 10:05 left in the quarter.

Allar fired a 10-yard pass to Warren to open the drive. Two Allen runs made it 3rd-and-7, but Warren’s catch was only worth four yards.

After a USC three-and-out, Penn State took over at its own 20-yard line. Warren made a 20-yard reception, but two Allen runs brought up 3rd-and-1. Warren made another catch worth 18 yards to move across midfield to USC’s 34-yard line. Then, Allar scrambled 19 yards to the 15-yard line. On 3rd-and-long three plays later, Allar threw another incompletion. Barker kicked a 33-yard field goal to make it 17-6 with 2:46 left in the first half.

Moss fired two eight-yard passes to Ja’Kobi Lane and Lemon. Marks made another explosive play, as a 33-yard gain put Southern California on Penn State’s 30-yard line. The drive stalled, though, and Michael Lantz drilled a 47-yard field goal to give USC a 20-6 lead to end the half.

Allar connected with Warren for a 10-yard completion to open the second half. Two plays later, he found Trey Wallace for the first time with a 19-yard pickup, and Singleton caught a 13-yard pass to keep the fast-paced drive going. Then, Beau Pribula took the snap and tossed it to Allar, who hit Warren in the end zone with a 32-yard bomb to make it 20-13 with 12:52 left in the third quarter.

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— Onward State (@OnwardState) October 12, 2024

Marks was stuffed on the first play, but Lemon made a 30-yard reception to reach Penn State’s 45-yard line. Another one-yard loss for Marks and an incompletion brought up 3rd-and-11, and holding and false starts calls set USC back 15 yards. Marks picked up 13 yards, but the Trojans punted.

From his own 10-yard line, Singleton picked up eight yards over the first two plays. On 3rd-and-2, Allen converted with a four-yard run. Then, Allar connected with a wide-open Wallace for 25 yards. He hit Warren with a 34-yard pass to reach USC’s 19-yard line and proceeded to find Omari Evans to make it 1st-and-goal from the three-yard line. Allen was unsuccessful on his first attempt from the three, but he bulldozed one yard into the end zone on 2nd-and-goal to tie it 20-20 with 4:42 left in the third quarter.

Powering his way through

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— Onward State (@OnwardState) October 12, 2024

Abdul Carter dropped a Moss pass on USC’s first play of the ensuing drive. Moss threw it toward Zachariah Branch, but Zion Tracy broke it up. On 3rd-and-10, though, he hit Lane to convert. However, Moss was sacked by Carter for a four-yard loss on the next play. Moss found Hudson to set up 3rd-and-6, and his pass to Lemon was only good for one yard.

Penn State’s momentum ended with Easton Mascarenas-Arnold’s interception at its own 24-yard line. The Trojans attempted a deep shot and then gained two yards on a run before they faced 3rd-and-8. Moss threw an incomplete pass, and USC retook the lead with a field goal to make it 23-20 with 28 seconds left in the quarter.

Allar completed a seven-yard shovel pass to Warren. Allen ripped a five-yard run for a first down and then picked up another six. Warren made a 17-yard catch, and Penn State gained 15 more yards due to a roughing the passer call against Anthony Lucas. Allar connected with Warren for a 21-yard completion to reach Southern California’s nine-yard line. Singleton and Allen combined for four yards to bring up 3rd-and-goal, and Warren’s completion made it 4th-and-goal. Barker’s field goal tied it 23-23 with 10:49 left in the fourth quarter.

Marks gained 11 yards to begin USC’s drive. He gained six yards, picked up a first down with a nine-yard run, and then rushed for 11 more yards. Joyner ran four yards, but Moss threw an incompletion to bring up third down. However, Moss connected with Duce Robinson on a 25-yard pass to put the Trojans on the Nittany Lions’ nine-yard line. Then, on 2nd-and-goal, Hudson caught a touchdown pass to give USC a 30-23 lead with 5:56 left in the fourth quarter.

Singleton ripped a seven-yard gain, and Allar fired a nine-yard pass to Wallace for a conversion. An incompletion and three-yard Allen run brought up 3rd-and-long, but Allar’s pass was incomplete. On fourth down, Allar converted with a 17-yard completion to Julian Fleming. On 3rd-and-10, Allar’s pass was nearly intercepted by Kamari Ramsey. On fourth down from the 39-yard line, Allar found Fleming again with a 16-yard pass. Then, two plays later, Allar hit Singleton for a 14-yard touchdown pass to tie it 30-30 with 2:53 left in regulation.

Hudson made a nine-yard catch, and Marks picked up three yards to open USC’s drive. Moss threw an incompletion, but he found Lemon for a 14-yard pass. Marks rushed for a two-yard loss, and Moss completed a six-yard pass to Jay Fair to make it 3rd-and-7. Then, Moss’ pass was picked off by Jaylen Reed and returned to USC’s 49-yard line with five seconds left.

Allar threw a six-yard completion to Clifford to reach USC’s 43-yard line. Allar’s hail mary attempt was intercepted to end regulation.

From his own 25-yard line, Moss threw an incompletion. Marks was tackled for a three-yard loss, and Moss threw another incompletion to bring up fourth down. Lantz’s field goal sailed wide, and Penn State got the ball from its own 25-yard line.

Allen was stuffed on the first play, and Warren gained three yards on a shovel pass. Allar dashed for another three yards to set up a 36-yard field goal attempt. Barker’s walk-off attempt was successful to give Penn State a 33-30 comeback win.

Takeaways

• What an incredible, gutsy win for the Nittany Lions. All hiccups were overcome, and this kind of win is a testament to good coaching, Penn State’s roster, and resilience. Although USC was not ranked, this is one of the more impressive wins of the James Franklin era.
• Penn State dug itself a hole with its slow start. USC put up 20 points and 248 yards in the first half, while Penn State only got six. The Trojan defense stifled the offense the entire half, including twice in the red zone. 
• The Nittany Lions are one clutch team. Fleming’s two catches on fourth down in the second half, Reed’s interception, and, of course, Barker’s game-winner are examples of that. A clutch gene is imperative for any team with championship aspirations, which Penn State has.
• Saturday was a massive test for Penn State. USC is a good team, and playing on the other side of the country hasn’t been easy for Big Ten teams. The Nittany Lions have work to do, but they just made a statement with this win.

What’s Next?

Penn State has its second and final bye week. After that, the Nittany Lions face Wisconsin on Saturday, October 26, at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.