Lincoln Riley knows exactly where Saturday night at Beaver Stadium can turn for USC: on defense.
The No. 19 Trojans are headed into Penn State’s whiteout environment, and the margin figures to be razor-thin. USC is also walking into a game where road success has been hard to come by under Riley, and that makes every defensive snap feel even bigger against the Nittany Lions.
That side of the ball gave the Trojans a lift in last week’s 25-21 win over Washington, when defensive coordinator Gary Patterson moved from the sidelines to the booth. USC still had its issues, but the defense came up with enough stops and enough splash to get over the line and beat the Huskies for the first time since 2016.
“Obviously, the way we played defensively was certainly the difference,” Riley said. “Just some stretches of really dominant play.
Had the fumble return for the touchdown, which was obviously, if not the most singular, biggest play of the game. Then just some key stops, especially getting some in there during the fourth quarter.”
He said the group kept answering even against one of the country’s top quarterbacks.
“We continued to answer the bell against one of the best quarterbacks in the country [Washington’s Demond Williams Jr.]. Really proud of the way we played.
I thought we played pretty aggressive. I thought the front was pretty impactful in both the run and the pass game.
That’s what we’ve really been challenging our group to do,” Riley continued.
That kind of impact could matter again this weekend. A play like defensive tackle Jahkeem Stewart’s scoop-and-score against Washington may be the sort of swing moment USC needs if this one turns into a tight, back-and-forth battle.
The Trojans are underdogs again for the second time this season. DraftKings Sportsbook lists USC as a 1.5-point underdog, with the over/under at 54.5 points.
The only other time USC was in that spot came in its 41-27 home loss to No. 13 Oregon at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Now the Trojans are trying to flip the script on the road, with their CFP hopes possibly hanging in the balance.
Penn State enters having dropped its last two games to Wisconsin and Northwestern after being ranked No. 13 in the AP Top 25 Poll, and the Nittany Lions are dealing with what the source described as an identity issue in all three phases under coach Matt Campbell.
USC and Penn State have met once since the Trojans joined the Big Ten in 2024, and that one went to overtime. Penn State won 33-30 at the Coliseum when it was ranked No. 4.
Saturday’s game kicks off at 4:30 p.m. PT at Beaver Stadium and will be broadcast on NBC.
In Other News...
USC Faces A Brutal Penn State Test Beyond Just The Crowd
USC heads into its trip to Penn State with the usual warning attached to any visit to State College: the White Out is going to be loud, relentless and built to rattle visiting teams from the first snap. Lincoln Riley and several players have already acknowledged the atmosphere, and for the Trojans it is the kind of stage that tests communication, poise and the ability to stay locked in when everything around them is trying to speed them up.
Luke Wafles recognition as Big Ten Freshman of the Week after his performance against Washington gives USC at least one encouraging note as it prepares for an even tougher setting. The defensive end has provided a fresh burst of production for a defense that will need every bit of it, because this matchup is about more than handling the noise. It is also about whether USC can bring enough edge and discipline to function in one of the conferences most difficult road environments. [Read more 🡒]
Washington Just Exposed One Big Concern For USC
USC left the field with a 25-21 win over Washington and a 5-1 record, but the game also reinforced something the Trojans can no longer ignore. The defense came up with winning plays at the right moments, including a touchdown from sophomore Jahkeem Stewart and a late sack by junior Kameryn Crawford, while sophomore wide receiver Zacharyus Williams delivered a season-best outing to help steady the offense.
Still, even with Jayden Maiava throwing for 245 yards, USC did not fully separate itself from a Washington team that kept the pressure on deep into the fourth quarter. The Trojans are 2-1 in conference play and sitting in a strong spot, but this was the kind of game that hinted their margin for error may be thinner than the record suggests. [Read more 🡒]
Troy Fans Just Got A Glimpse Of This Offenses Ceiling
A conference opener can tell you a lot about a team, and Troys 55-34 win over Southern Miss offered a pretty clear look at just how dangerous this offense can be when it gets rolling. Goose Crowder was at the center of it, piling up 145 rushing yards and two touchdowns while adding 225 passing yards and two more scores, as the Trojans controlled the game with 662 total yards and a relentless ground attack that produced 437 rushing yards.
For a program that had not topped 400 rushing yards since 2002, that part alone made the afternoon stand out. Southern Miss moved the ball too, finishing with 512 yards, but three red zone turnovers kept the Golden Eagles from making it a tighter fight and left them with a fourth straight loss, while Troy walked away with a league win that felt like more than just a fast start. [Read more 🡒]