USC beats Penn State as Nittany Lions fall to third straight defeat

USC defeated Penn State in the highest-attended game in Beaver Stadium history, with 114,419 fans present for the 7:30 p.m. EDT kickoff. The loss extends Penn State's losing streak to three games and marks a difficult start to the first season under head coach Matt Campbell.

The Trojans, who were 4-7 in away games since joining the Big Ten, controlled the game through the performance of quarterback Jayden Maiava, who completed 21 of 33 passes for three touchdowns. Running backs King Miller and Waymond Jordan contributed on the final drive, while freshman Trent Mosley, returning from injury, caught nine passes for 111 yards and a touchdown. USC took an eight-point lead in the fourth quarter and managed the clock effectively despite punting after three incomplete passes and a sack with 6:31 remaining.

Penn State's offense struggled significantly, managing only 68 rushing yards on 31 attempts against the USC defense. The Nittany Lions failed to score touchdowns on several long drives, settling for field goals instead. A critical mistake in the fourth quarter, where Penn State fumbled the ball back to USC after a punt return attempt, allowed the Trojans to run out the clock. With just over a minute left, a delay of game penalty on Penn State's defensive line gave USC an automatic first down, securing the victory.

The result comes after Penn State allowed a combined 936 total yards in its previous two games against Northwestern and USC. The Nittany Lions had previously lost 34-13 to Northwestern, where they gave up 506 total yards, including 413 rushing yards. For USC head coach Lincoln Riley, the win is crucial as he faces a challenging schedule that includes road games at Ohio State and Indiana. The article notes that a loss might have threatened Riley's position, given his team's struggles on the road and upcoming opponents.

Penn State now faces an immediate road trip to Michigan, while USC will have a bye week before traveling to Wisconsin. The Nittany Lions remain in a rebuilding phase following the departure of former head coach James Franklin, with a schedule that includes games against Wisconsin, Ohio State, Indiana, and UCLA. The source suggests that while the schedule may ease up from here, the current trajectory does not reflect the progress fans hoped for in Campbell's first year.