Penn State gets a primetime reset Saturday night at Beaver Stadium, where the Nittany Lions will try to halt a two-game skid against No. 19 USC in front of a White Out crowd.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET, with NBC carrying the game and streaming available on demand.
The matchup arrives with plenty of pressure on both sidelines. Matt Campbell’s start at Penn State has gone sideways quickly, with back-to-back losses to Wisconsin, 24-20, and Northwestern, 34-13. The Nittany Lions have also been dealing with a shaky stretch from transfer quarterback Rocco Becht, who has thrown three interceptions over the last two games.
Penn State’s defense has its own problems to clean up after Northwestern carved it up for 413 rushing yards and four touchdowns. The Wildcats averaged 7.5 yards on 55 carries and got big days from two backs: Caleb Komolafe ran for 188 yards and a touchdown, while Joseph Himon II piled up 162 yards and two scores on 10 carries.
USC comes in with its own questions, even at 5-1. Lincoln Riley’s team has won games, but the pressure around the program has not eased, especially with defensive issues hanging over the Trojans. USC recently survived a scare against Washington, rallying from a 21-10 deficit to pull out the win.
The Trojans’ offense remains dangerous. USC ranks No. 12 nationally in passing at 311.7 yards per game and No. 29 in scoring at 37.3 points per game.
On the other side, Riley’s defense has allowed 348.8 total yards per game, which ranks No. 68, and 230.7 passing yards per game, which ranks No. 97.
For fans looking to watch without cable, FuboTV and DirecTV both are offering a five-day free trial along with a discounted first month. SlingTV is also in the mix, with pricing flexibility and up to 50% off the first month.
The game will also stream live on Peacock, which starts at $12.99 per month or $129.99 per year. Peacock includes exclusive NFL and college football games, along with movies, television series, and more.
In Other News...
Penn State's White Out Is Chasing A Beaver Stadium First
Penn States White Out against USC is lining up to be one of those Beaver Stadium nights people talk about for years, and not just because of the matchup. The game has already topped 110,000 tickets distributed, putting it in position to challenge the stadiums single-game attendance mark as renovations continue to reshape the venue and add new premium suites and bleacher seating.
The bigger backdrop is that Beaver Stadiums capacity has crept up this season, giving Penn State a fresh chance to post an attendance number that would stand above the recent records set in 2024 and 2025. If the announced crowd lands where it appears headed, the White Out will not only bring the usual noise and spectacle, it could leave the program with a new benchmark for one of college footballs most iconic settings. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Fans Have Every Right To Debate Whos Letting This Team Down
Penn States loss to No. 19 USC in front of a record crowd at Beaver Stadium only sharpened the questions around a season that keeps slipping further out of reach. The 31-23 defeat came with enough bright spots and enough frustration to fuel plenty of postgame debate, because the Nittany Lions did not look like a team simply undone by one bad break. Some players showed up and made their case, while others struggled through a night when both sides of the ball had issues keeping pace.
The larger concern is the trend line. Penn State is now 0-3 in Big Ten play, and with bowl eligibility suddenly looking uncertain, every weekly evaluation carries more weight than it should this time of year. The offense and defense have each had their share of problems, and after a game like this, the conversation naturally turns from one result to the broader question of who is actually helping this team move forward and who is holding it back. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State's Record Crowd Saw A Loss Fans Won't Shrug Off
The biggest crowd ever to pack Beaver Stadium got a game with all the drama Penn State could ask for, and not the ending it wanted. USC came in and left with a win after a back-and-forth night that featured multiple lead changes and scoring drives, the kind of heavyweight matchup that had the place buzzing from start to finish.
Penn State had chances, but USC quarterback Jayden Maiava kept delivering, completing 21 of 33 passes for 301 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. For a fan base that showed up in record numbers expecting a memorable night, this was the sort of loss that lingers, not just because of the result, but because it came in a game the Nittany Lions had every reason to believe they could finish. [Read more 🡒]