Saturday’s Penn State White Out isn’t just a chance for No. 19 USC to chase a road win. It’s also a recruiting showdown, with Lincoln Riley and the Trojans trying to make noise in front of some of the nation’s top prospects while Penn State hosts one of the sport’s biggest atmospheres.
That matters for USC on two fronts. A marquee victory in State College would give the Trojans a valuable road statement in the 2026 season and strengthen their case for the College Football Playoff when the bracket is revealed.
But the ripple effect could reach well beyond the field. A strong showing in front of elite visitors could help Riley build momentum with recruits and add to a class that could become even more important if USC athletic director Cohen ever has to weigh Riley’s future.
Penn State has lined up a visitor list with plenty of heavyweight talent, and several of those names are also on USC’s board.
One of the most notable is 2028 edge rusher Asa Burch, who is expected to attend, per On3. The four-star defensive end from Warren G.
Harding High School in Ohio is listed at about 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds. On3 ranks Burch as the No. 92 overall prospect in the 2028 class, the No. 13 edge rusher nationally and the No. 4 player in Ohio.
USC is far from alone in that chase. Burch has also drawn offers from Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, Notre Dame and Oregon, per 247Sports.
Another shared target is 2028 four-star offensive lineman Anthony Blalock Jr., whose recruitment reopened in September when he decommitted from Alabama after initially pledging to the Crimson Tide in July. His offer list, per On3, includes Alabama, Ohio State, Penn State, Florida, Florida State and Notre Dame. He also visited Florida in early September, according to On3, and has not announced a new finalist list since backing off his Alabama commitment.
Penn State gets the advantage of hosting him for the White Out, but USC still has a shot to stay in the mix for a prospect with that kind of profile as the national recruiting race keeps moving.
The Trojans also have an opening with 2028 safety Geo McKnight of Pickerington North High School in Ohio. McKnight already visited Los Angeles for USC’s September game against Oregon, and Saturday gives Riley another chance to reinforce that connection in a high-profile road setting. The four-star defensive back has also been linked to Ohio State, Penn State and Notre Dame, according to recruiting reports.
There’s also a broader picture here. In the 2027 class, USC and Penn State are already separated by a narrow margin in 247Sports’ team rankings, with the Trojans at No. 16 and the Nittany Lions at No. 20.
Penn State has more commitments, 22 to USC’s 14, but the Trojans hold the edge in average player rating and total points. USC’s average rating is 91.57, compared with Penn State’s 88.41, and the Trojans sit at 233.57 total points to Penn State’s 230.25.
USC’s 2027 class includes two five-star prospects, edge rusher Mekai Brown and safety Honor Fa’alave-Johnson, plus seven four-star commitments. Penn State’s group features six four-star recruits and 16 three-star commitments, giving the Nittany Lions more volume but a lower average rating.
That’s why Saturday carries extra weight beyond the final score. If USC can leave State College with a win and make a strong impression on the visitors in the building, it could help the Trojans protect their standing in the recruiting race while continuing to build nationally.
The 2028 class is still taking shape, and 2029 is even further out, so there’s plenty of room for both programs to move the board in their favor.
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Brett Eskildsens late fumble became the turning point in a 31-23 loss, giving USC the chance to bleed away the final moments and close out the game. For Penn State, it was the kind of finish that stings because the performance was competitive enough to matter, yet one costly mistake proved decisive when the Lions needed clean execution most. [Read more 🡒]
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Jayden Maiava was central to USCs answer, completing 21 of 33 passes for 301 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. The game had the feel of one that might tilt either way deep into the night, with lead changes and scoring drives keeping the pressure high, but USC handled the decisive moments well enough to make sure the record crowd went home remembering a loss Penn State will not shrug off quickly. [Read more 🡒]