Penn State heads into Saturday night’s White Out with a chance to reset the tone of its season, and the latest injury report gives the Nittany Lions a few openings to work with against No. 19 USC.
For Penn State, the biggest name on the unavailable list is linebacker Alex Tatsch, who went from questionable earlier in the week to out for the game. He’s joined by Cooper Alexander, Tyler Armstead, LaVar Arrington II, Christian Askew, Dayshaun Burnett, Max Granville, Koby Howard, Joshua Johnson, Mason Robinson, Cristiano Rosa, Cam Smith and Will Tompkins.
Tatsch’s downgrade matters more than some of the other absences because of where Penn State is thin. Tony Rojas and Kooper Ebel remain the headliners in that linebacker group, and with Tatsch out and Smith also unavailable, the workload shifts heavily toward those two. Cael Brezina is still there as depth, but the Lions will need Rojas and Ebel to carry most of the load.
Penn State has one player listed as questionable: defensive tackle Armstrong Nnodim. He was one of the two players marked questionable earlier in the week, but now he’s the lone holdout. Nnodim has played in three games since Week 3 against Buffalo and has recorded eight total tackles and one tackle for loss.
If Nnodim can’t go or is limited, defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn may have to lean more on Keanu Williams and Siale Taupaki. Those two lead Penn State’s tackle room in total tackles this season and bring the most NCAA experience in that group. Ty Blanding, Alijah Carnell and Dallas Vakalahi haven’t made much of an impact so far, so the Lions may need one of them to give Penn State a lift against the Trojans.
USC’s report has a few more moving parts. The Trojans listed wide receiver Trent Mosley, tight end Mark Bowman, defensive tackles Jahkeem Stewart and Jide Abasiri, and starting left guard Hayden Treter as questionable or doubtful heading into the game.
Mosley and Bowman are starters on offense. Mosley, a true freshman, has 13 catches for 255 yards and four touchdowns in three games. Bowman, also a true freshman, has 21 receptions for 204 yards and two touchdowns across five games.
On defense, Abasiri has been the starter and Stewart the backup at defensive tackle. Abasiri has posted 16 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and one sack in six games. If he’s limited or dropped to out, Stewart’s availability becomes even more important, though his own questionable tag makes that situation murky.
Treter’s status also stands out. The starting left guard is listed as doubtful after playing in USC’s first five games. Kaylon Miller filled in in Week 5 against Washington when Treter was questionable and ultimately did not play.
Penn State’s injury list isn’t overflowing with surprises, but Tatsch’s absence and Nnodim’s status could shape how the Lions handle USC’s front and keep their rotation steady in a game that already carries plenty of attention.
In Other News...
Penn State's White Out Is Chasing A Beaver Stadium First
Penn States annual White Out already has its own built-in electricity, but this one is shaping up to be something else entirely. With more than 110,000 tickets distributed for the upcoming game against USC, Beaver Stadium is on pace to be packed to a level it has never quite reached before, helped by this seasons expanded capacity during the ongoing renovation project.
The added premium suites and bleacher seating have changed the look and feel of the stadium, and now they may help it make history on a night that already carries extra weight. If the announced crowd lands where it appears headed, the number could climb past the marks set in 2024 and 2025, giving Penn State a new attendance benchmark to go with the pageantry. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Defense Gets Another White Out Concern Before USC
Penn States White Out stage is set for a major test, and the Nittany Lions will have to navigate it with a thinner linebacker group than planned. Alex Tatsch has been ruled out for the upcoming game against No. 19 USC, a hit to the rotation at a spot where depth matters just as much as the top-line production.
There is at least some relief on the defensive front, with defensive tackle Armstrong Nnodim upgraded to probable. His possible availability matters for a line that will be asked to hold up under the kind of pressure USC can bring, and it gives Penn State a little more flexibility as the night game at Beaver Stadium gets closer. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Now Catches USC At A Brutal Time
USCs wide receiver room took another hit this week, and the timing is especially awkward with Penn State looming on the schedule. Terrell Anderson, a transfer from NC State, is expected to undergo season-ending surgery because of an undisclosed injury, leaving the Trojans to keep shuffling plans while they get ready for one of their biggest games of the stretch.
Anderson joins Corey Simms on the list of wideouts sidelined for the year, which only adds to the uncertainty around how USC will piece together its passing game. For Penn State, it is the kind of late-breaking opponent news that can matter in a matchup this significant, even if the full impact will not be clear until the teams finally line up. [Read more 🡒]