For the first time since 1991, Southern California welcomes Penn State to Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in a pivotal Big Ten Conference showdown Saturday.
The fourth-ranked Nittany Lions (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) are facing the Trojans at USC’s home stadium for the first time as conference foes. Saturday also marks the first meeting since USC won a thrilling 52-49 matchup in the Rose Bowl Game on Jan. 2, 2017.
The Trojans’ victory in that classic Rose Bowl encounter spoiled Penn State’s latest Big Ten-title-winning season. The Nittany Lions aim to return to that apex in 2024 and are off to a solid start with back-to-back double-digit wins in their initial league games.
Penn State cruised against USC’s fellow Los Angeles-based Big Ten newcomer, UCLA, in a 27-11 rout last week. After taking the lead in the second quarter vs. the visiting Bruins, the Nittany Lions controlled the game, surrendering only a touchdown in the final minute with the outcome no longer in doubt.
With running back Nick Singleton out last week due to an undisclosed injury, Kaytron Allen led the way with 78 rushing yards and a touchdown. Penn State coach James Franklin anticipates Singleton returning this Saturday to pair the standout every-down back averaging 7.7 yards per carry and 102 yards per game with Allen, an effective short-yardage back.
Nittany Lions quarterback Drew Allar connected on 17 of 24 passes for his third consecutive game with a completion percentage of better than 70 percent and no interceptions thrown. He has thrown nine touchdown passes and only one interception through five games.
In moving to 5-0 with the blowout win, Penn State became the only program in the country to start 5-0 in each of the past four seasons.
“Those things are special,” Franklin said in his news conference Monday. “Don’t take them for granted, because a ton of programs would love to be able to say the same thing. But at the end of the day, all that matters is that we’re 1-0 this week. If we don’t handle our business this week, that stat we’re talking about won’t mean anything.”
While the Nittany Lions come in looking to extend their perfect start, USC (3-2, 1-2) is attempting to avoid falling to .500 overall this deep into a season for the third year since 2018. The Trojans are also trying to avoid a deep hole in their inaugural Big Ten campaign after enduring road losses in the closing minute at Michigan on Sept. 21 and at Minnesota last Saturday.
The 24-17 setback against the Golden Gophers was the first time this season USC was outscored in a second half, as the Trojans gave up two late rushing touchdowns to Minnesota quarterback Max Brosmer. The second came on a fourth-and-goal sneak with 56 seconds remaining to break a 17-17 tie and give Minnesota a 14-7 second-half edge.
Trojans coach Lincoln Riley said at media availability Tuesday that USC contacted the Big Ten about various calls in last week’s game, including Brosmer’s game-winning touchdown, which was initially declared stopped before a video review.
“We had plenty of other opportunities. I’m not sitting here blaming the officials,” Riley said. “It’s unfortunate, yes, but obviously a lot of things we can do better and need to do better.”
Part of USC’s recent misfortune has been turnovers. The Trojans had two possessions at Minnesota stall in Golden Gophers territory due to interceptions thrown by Miller Moss.
USC is also playing without linebacker Eric Gentry. Riley said on Tuesday that Gentry’s absence appears to be indefinite and that the standout might wind up sitting out the remainder of the year to use it as a redshirt season.
