What you need to know
USC’s playoff hopes suffer a heartbreaking blow in loss
Penn State completes comeback with field goal in overtime
USC misses field goal on its first possession of overtime
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USC’s playoff hopes suffer heartbreaking blow in overtime loss to No. 4 Penn State
The chances had been there all afternoon for USC as it tried to put No. 4 Penn State away. But once again Lincoln Riley’s Trojans tiptoed along the brink, playing fast and loose with their College Football Playoff hopes hanging in the balance, driving late in search of one last opportunity after a painstaking succession of missed ones.
So often have the Trojans found themselves in this position, within a few inches of redemption, within a few plays of a key win, only to watch it slip away. It seemed unfathomable Saturday, as USC took an early two-score lead, that it might somehow happen again.
But then the seconds ticked away faster than expected on a critical late drive, and a pass from Miller Moss sailed higher than expected, landing in the arms of a Penn State defender, and suddenly, in overtime, a desperate field-goal attempt sailed wide left.
The opportunities ran dry, and with them, USC’s College Football Playoff hopes largely slipped away. Penn State’s Ryan Barker kicked a 36-yard field goal to send USC to a 33-30 defeat, its third loss in four weeks.
Penn State hits game-winning field goal in overtime
No. 4 Penn State 33, USC 30, overtime
Penn State started on its 25.
Kaytron Allen ran for no gain. On second-and-10, Drew Allar delivered a shovel pass to Tyler Warren for four yards. On third-and-seven, Allar ran for three yards and centered the ball.
Ryan Barker lined up for a field goal and USC called timeout.
Barker hit a 36-yard field goal and helped the Nittany Lions escape L.A. undefeated.
USC misses field goal on first possession of overtime
USC 30, No. 4 Penn State 30, overtime
USC started on its 25 after Penn State won the overtime coin toss.
Miller Moss tossed a pass incomplete to Mikai Lemon. USC asked for pass interference on the play, but it wasn’t called. On second-and-10, Woody Marks was dropped for a loss of three. On third-and-13 at the USC 30, Moss’ pass intended for Ja’kobi Lane was incomplete. USC argued it was pass interference on the play, but it was called for the second time during the series.
USC’s Michael Lantz missed the 45-yard field goal wide left.
Penn State wins overtime coin toss
USC 30, No. 4 Penn State 30, start of overtime
Penn State won the coin toss and USC will get the ball first in overtime.
After matching picks, we’re going to overtime
USC 30, No. 4 Penn State 30, end of the fourth quarter
We’re going to overtime after USC and Penn State could not score in the final three minutes of the fourth quarter.
USC started on its 25 after the touchback.
Miller Moss passed to Kyron Hudson for nine yards. Woody Marks ran for three yards and the first down.
On first down at the USC 37, the two-minute timeout was triggered. Moss’ pass intended for Makai Lemon was tipped and fell incomplete. On second-and-10, Moss passed quickly to Lemon for 14 yards.
On first down at the Penn State 49 with 1:21 left, Marks ran for a two-yard loss. On second-and-12, Moss passed to Jay Fair for six yards. On third-and-six at the Penn State 45, the Nittany Lions took a timeout with 14 seconds left.
Moss’ pass was intercepted by Jaylen Reed and returned to the USC 49.
The Trojans took a timeout with five seconds left.
Penn State’s Drew Allar passed to Liam Clifford for six yards and stopped the clock with two seconds left. USC called timeout right before the ball was snapped.
On second-and-five at the USC 43 with two seconds left, Allar’s pass was intercepted by Roman Marchetti at the USC 8. He returned it and stepped out as time expired.
Penn State scores, ties the game
USC 30, No. 4 Penn State 30, 2:53 left in the fourth quarter
Penn State started on its 25 after the touchback.
Kaytron Allen ran for seven yards. Drew Allar passed a slant to Harrison Wallace III for nine yards. Allar’s next pass to Wallace was incomplete. Allen ran for three yards. On third-and-seven, Allar’s pass was incomplete. On fourth-and-seven, passed to Julian Fleming for 17 yards.
On first down at the USC 39, Allar tossed an incomplete pass to Wallace. On second down, Allar was hit as he tossed an incomplete pass. On third-and-10 at the USC 39, Penn State called timeout with the play clock nearly expiring. Allar then tried to pass to Liam Clifford, but it was broken up by Kamari Ramsey. On fourth-and-10, Allar evaded a sack and hit Fleming for 16 yards.
On first down at the USC 23, Allar looked to pass before running for nine yards. On second-and-one, Allar passed to Nicholas Singleton for a 14-yard touchdown.
Ryan Barker hit the extra point to tie the game.
Woody Marks and Miller Moss lead USC touchdown drive
USC 30, No. 4 Penn State 23, 5:56 left in the fourth quarter
USC started on its 25 after the touchback.
Miller Moss passed to Woody Marks for 11 yards. Marks then ran for six yards. Marks then ran for nine yards to the Penn State 49.
With about nine minutes left on the clock, Moss pitched to Marks and he cut inside for 11 yards to the Penn State 38.
Quinten Joyner ran for four yards. On second-and-six at the Penn State 34, Moss’ pass intended for Kyle Ford was incomplete. Moss stepped away from pressure, bought time and passed to Duce Robinson for 25 yards.
On first-and-goal at the Penn State 9 with 6:43 left. Woody Marks ran for four yards. Moss passed to Kyron Hudson across the middle for a five-yard touchdown. Michael Lantz hit the extra point.
USC defense limits Penn State to field goal that ties the game
USC 23, No. 4 Penn State 23, 10:50 left in the fourth quarter
Penn State faced second-and-three to open the fourth quarter.
Kaytron Allen ran for five yards. He then ran for another six yards.
Drew Allar passed to Tyler Warren for 17 yards and Anthony Lucas was called for roughing the passer after injurying his ankle and colliding with Allar.
On first-and-10 at the USC 25, Penn State was called for a false start. Allar then passed to Tyler Warren for 21 yards to the USC 9.
Nicholas Singleton ran for two yards to the USC 7. Play was stopped as Penn State’s Anthony Donkoh was treated on the field. On second-and-goal at the USC 7, Allen ran for two yards. On third-and-goal at the USC 5, Allar passed to Warren for two yards. On fourth-and-goal at the USC 2, Penn State’s Ryan Barker hit the 20-yard field to tie the game.
Penn State starting its drive as third quarter ends
USC 23, No. 4 Penn State 20, end of the third quarter
Penn State started on its 25 after a touchback.
Drew Allar took a shovel pass to Tyler Warren for a seven-yard gain as time expired in the third quarter.
USC hits field goal after interception
USC 23, No. 4 Penn State 20, 33 seconds left in the third quarter
Penn State started on its 17 after the punt.
Drew Allar’s pass was broken up by Kamari Ramsey and it is intercepted by Easton Mascarenas-Arnold.
USC took over at the Penn State 24.
Miller Moss’ pass to Makai Lemon in the end zone was incomplete.
Woody Marks ran for two yards. On third-and-eight, Moss tossed an incomplete pass intended for Zachariah Branch.
Michael Lantz hit a 39-yard field goal to claim a slim lead.
USC earns one first down and punts again
USC 20, No. 4 Penn State 20, 2:19 left in the third quarter
USC started on its 16 after Zachariah Branch returned the kickoff 16 yards.
Miller Moss’ pass twoard Duce Robinson was nearly intercepted, but Penn State’s Abdul Carter dropped it. Moss’ next pass to Zachariah Branch was broken up and fell incomplete. On third-and-10 at the USC 16, Moss passed to Ja’Kobi Lane for 10 yards.
Moss tried to evade the blitz and took a sack. On second-and-14, Moss passed to Kyron Hudson for eight yards. On third-and-six, Moss passed to Makai Lemon for one yard.
On fourth-and-five, USC punted and Penn State took a fair catch at its 17.
Penn State keeps USC defense on its heels, ties the game
USC 20, No. 4 Penn State 20, 4:51 left in the third quarter
Penn State started on its 10 after the punt.
Drew Allar delivered an option shovel pass to Nicholas Singleton for two yards. Allar delivered another short pass to Singleton for six yards. On third-and-two, Kaytron Allen ran for four yards.
On first down at the Penn State 22, Allar passed to Harrison Wallace III for 25 yards.
On first down at the Penn State 47, Allar passed to Tyler Warren for 34 yards.
On first down at the USC 19, Allar passed to Omari Evans for 16 yards.
On first-and-goal at the USC three, Allen ran for two yards. On second-and-goal at the USC one, Allen ran for a one-yard touchdown. Penn State hit the extra point.
Penalties thwart first USC drive of third quarter
USC 20, No. 4 Penn State 13, 9:25 left in the third quarter
USC started on its 25 after a touchback.
Woody Marks ran for no gain. Miller Moss then passed to Maikai Lemon under pressure for a 30-yard gain.
On first down at the Penn State 45, Marks was stopped for a one-yard loss. On second-and-11, Moss threw the ball away under pressure. On third-and-11, Moss passed to Duce Robinson but Marks was called for holding on the play.
On third-and-21 on the USC 44, the Trojans were called for false start.
On third-and-26 on the USC 39, Marks ran for 13 yards.
On fourth-and-13, USC punts and it was downed at the Penn State 10.
Penn State uses a trick play to quickly score in third quarter
USC 20, No. 4 Penn State 13, 12:54 left in the third quarter
Penn State started on its 25-yard line.
Drew Allar passed to Tyler Warren for 10 yards.
Nicholas Singleton ran for one yard. On second-and-nine at the Penn State 36, Allar was hit as he threw but completed to the pass to Harrison Wallace II for 19 yards. Allar passed on the run to Singleton for 13 yards.
Penn State then used a trick play to score.
Backup quarterback Beau Pribula took a snap from Warren on the left side of the line. Warren remained an eligible receiver on the play. Pribula passed behind the line of scrimmage to Allar, who then passed to Warren in the end zone for a 32-yard touchdown.
Penn State hit the extra point to trim the USC lead.
And we’re back ...
USC 20, No. 4 Penn State 6, start of third quarter
USC kicked off and there was a toucback.
Penn State will start on its 25-yard line.
Penn State runs out clock in second quarter
USC 20, No. 4 Penn State 6, end of second quarter
USC kicked off and Nicholas Singleton ran it back 22 yards to the Penn State 23.
With one second left, Singleton ran for a yard and time expired in the first half.
Penn State will get the ball to open the third quarter.
USC’s Michael Lantz hits another long field goal
USC 20, No. 4 Penn State 6, seven seconds left in the second quarter
Zachariah Branch returned the Penn State kickoff 13 yards to the USC 21.
Miller Moss passed to Ja’Kobi Lane for eight yards. On second-and-two, Moss passed to Makai Lemon for eight yards.
After the two-minute timeout, Moss tossed a screen pass to Woody Marks, who evaded tackles and ran for 33 yards.
On first down at the Penn State 30, Marks ran for three yards. On second-and-seven a little less than a minute left, Marks ran for 17 yards but USC was called for an illegal low block to erase the gain.
On second-and-22 at the Penn State 42, Moss passed to Zachariah Branch under heavy pressure for a gain of nine yards.
On third-and-13 at the Penn State 33 with 17 seconds left, Penn State took a timeout. Moss passed to Quinten Joyner for three yards before running out of bounds.
Michael Lantz lined up and hit the 47-yard field goal.
Penn State hits another field goal
USC 17, No. 4 Penn State 6, 2:51 left in the second quarter
Penn State started on its 20.
Drew Allar passed to Julian Fleming, who dropped the ball and could not complete the reception. On second-and-10, Allar passed to Tyler Warren for 20 yards.
Katryon Allen ran for two yards and another six on yards. On third-and-two at the Penn State 48, Allar passed to Warren for 18 yards.
On first down at the USC 34, Allar ran for 19 yards to the USC 15.
Nicholas Singleton ran for a loss of one yard. Allar then tossed an incomplete pass to the end zone. On third-and-11, Allar threw on the run and the pass was incomplete.
Ryan Barker lined up and hit the 33-yard field goal.
USC offense stalls, Trojans punt
USC 17, No. 4 Penn State 3, 5:58 left in the second quarter
USC started on its 18.
Quinten Joyner ran for three yards. Miller Moss’ pass intended for Ja’Kobi Lane was incomplete. On third-and-seven, USC called timeout due to miscommunication about their lineup. Moss passed to Makai Lemon for a four-yard gain.
On fourth-and-seven at the USC 21, the Trojans punted.
Penn State’s Zion Tracy returned the long punt one yard before he was tackled at the Nittany Lions’ 20.
USC defense forces another punt
USC 17, No. 4 Penn State 3, 7:46 left in the second quarter
Penn State started on its 25 after the touchback.
Drew Allar passed to Tyler Warren for 10 yards. Kaytron Allen rushed for one yard and then two yards. On third-and-seven, Allar passed to Warren for four yards.
And Penn State punted to the USC 18.
Penn State limits USC to field goal after interception
USC 17, No. 4 Penn State 3, 10:05 left in the second quarter
USC started on the Penn State 26 after the interception return.
Woody Marks ran for no gain. Miller Moss passed to Zachariah Branch for a loss of three. And Marks ran for one yard.
Michael Lantz then lined up and hit a 45-yard field goal.
USC’s Desman Stephens II delivers an interception
USC 14 , No. 4 Penn State 3, 12:15 left in the second quarter
Penn State started on its 25 after the touchback.
Kaytron Allen ran for four yards. Drew Allar tossed an incomplete pass that sailed high intended for Julian Fleming. On third-and-six, tossed the ball across the middl enad it was intercepted by true freshman Desman Stephens II.
Stephens returned the pick 42 yards to the Penn State 26.
Woody Marks fuels another USC scoring drive
USC 14 , No. 4 Penn State 3, 13:33 left in the second quarter
USC faced second-and-10 at the USC 42 to open the second quarter.
On what appeared to be a call for Woody Marks to lateral the ball back for a potential flea flicker, Marks saw Penn State players in his way and took off running from one sideline to the other and up field for 21 yards.
Marks carried the ball again, this time rumbling for 28 yards.
On first down at the Penn State 9, Miller Moss connected with Quinten Joyner for a nine-yard touchdown pass. Michael Lantz hit the extra point.
USC driving as first quarter ends
USC 7, No. 4 Penn State 3, end of the first quarter
USC started on its 11.
Woody Marks ran for three yards. Miller Moss then passed to Makai Lemon for 16 yards. Marks then ran for 12 yards.
On first down at the USC 42, Moss’ pass intended for Duce Robinson was incomplete and time expired in the first quarter.
USC defense forces Penn State to punt
USC 7, No. 4 Penn State 3, 1:57 left in the first quarter
Penn State started on its 25 after the touchback.
Nicholas Singleton ran for eight yards. Tyler Warren passed to Kaytron Allen for nine yards. Allen then ran for three yards. Allar passed to Liam Clifford for four yards. On third-and-three at the Penn State 49, the Nittany Lions called timeout.
Allar tossed an incomplete pass and the Nittany Lions burned another timeout to decide whether to go for it on fourth-and-three at the Penn State 49. The Nittany Lions were trying to draw USC offsides, but Penn State offensive linemen flinched and were called for false start.
Penn State punted and Zachariah Branch took a fair catch at the 11.
No one could stop Quinten Joyner
USC 7, No. 4 Penn State 3, 4:38 left in the first quarter
USC started on its 25 after the touchback.
On first down, Quinten Joyner brushed off tackles and completed a 75-yard touchdown run that electrified the Coliseum crowd.
Michael Lantz hit the extra point to complete the 15-second scoring drive.
USC defense limits Penn State to a field goal
No. 4 Penn State 3, USC 0, 4:53 left in the first quarter
Penn State started on its 11 after the USC punt.
Nicholas Singleton ran for 10 yards. Singleton then rushed for a yard. Drew Allar passed to Tyler Warren for six yards and another four yards.
On first down at the Penn State 32, Allar passed to Liam Clifford for 16 yards. Kaytron Allen ran for eight yards. On second-and-two at the USC 44, Singleton ran for one yard. On third-and-one, Penn State called timeout. After a lengthy review, the previous play was a one-yard gain. Warren rushed for four yards.
Allar then passed to Warren for 14 yards. Allar dumped the ball to Warren amid an oncoming blitz and gained 21 yards.
On first-and-goal at the USC 4, Singleton ran for no gain. On second down, Allar faked a handoff and was stuffed at the three-yard line. On third-and-goal at the 3, Allar passed to Warren and Kamari Ramsey tackled him at the two-yard line. On fourth-and-goal at the 2, Allar passed to Warren for a touchdown. Penn State was called for offensive pass interference and the touchdown was overturned.
Ryan Barker hit a 34-yard field goal.
USC gets one first down before punting
USC 0, No. 4 Penn State 0, 12:50 left in the first quarter
USC started on its 25 after the touchback.
Woody Marks ran for a one-yard loss. Miller Moss them passed to Kyron Hudson for 14 yards.
Moss’ next pass was incomplete, Marks ran for two yards and Moss tossed an incomplete pass intended for Hudson.
USC was forced to punt.
And we’re off ...
USC 0, No. 4 Penn State 0, 15:00 left in the first quarter
Penn State won the toss and kicked off to USC.
Lincoln Riley still thinks USC can be ‘a really good team’ despite loss to Minnesota
MINNEAPOLIS — An unseasonably warm breeze blew through Huntington Bank Stadium. It was the rare sort of October night when USC, a team in unfamiliar and typically frosty Big Ten territory, could feel right at home.
But nothing about Saturday night’s 24-17 loss to Minnesota would leave USC feeling comfortable with its new place in its new conference. Not its quarterback, who struggled to find a rhythm. Not the offensive line, which struggled once again to protect him. Not the defense, which had so often clamped down after halftime. Not even the coach, who continued insisting afterward that everything was fine, despite the reality that a second straight conference road loss leaves USC with only a limited path to the College Football Playoff.
“We’ve got the makings of a really good team,” said Lincoln Riley, who has lost seven of his last 12 as the Trojans coach.
‘It was already written.’ How USC center Jonah Monheim became the Trojans’ leader
The last three USC centers were floating down Whitefish River last July, marveling at the Montana mountains, when suddenly Brett Neilon and his tube went careening into the river bank.
The tube couldn’t be salvaged. What was once a lazy river float became a slapstick rescue mission for Justin Dedich and Jonah Monheim, the two centers who followed Neilon at USC. When they finally saved Neilon — and had a good laugh at his expense — he was relegated to a spare floatie, which was otherwise meant for the beer cooler.
He didn’t mind. It was the perfect sort of getaway for the trio, the kind of story they could tell over cold beer years later. They already had so many of those stories, and the fourth trip to Montana would add more moments, from late-night bonfires in a place where the sun sets at midnight to Fleetwood Mac carpool karaoke. But it was getting harder to find the time for such outings, with their lives now headed in different directions.
Lincoln Riley says officials reversed late call without video evidence in loss to Minnesota
Three days and one phone call with the Big Ten later and Lincoln Riley still doesn’t understand how officials reversed USC’s decisive fourth-down, goal-line stop and instead gave Minnesota the go-ahead touchdown that changed the complexion of the conference title race.
The USC coach said Tuesday that there “were a number of misses there at the end” by officials during the Trojans’ 24-17 loss that he sought clarification about with the Big Ten, including two pass interference calls and the intentional grounding that killed a critical fourth-quarter drive for USC. But none was more consequential than the final keeper from Minnesota’s Max Brosmer, which initially was deemed short of the goal line on the field.
The call, upon further review, was overturned by officials. NCAA rules state the officials had to determine “indisputable video evidence” in order to reverse the call made on the field. Yet when Riley inquired further about that review this week, he says the Big Ten officials told him only that they “believed” Minnesota had scored — but not that the evidence of that score was indisputable.
Woody Marks finally getting the chance to unleash his total skill set at USC
As Woody Marks weighed his football future last winter, Darren Myles was frank with his former running back. His body of work, he told Marks, was an incomplete picture of the player Myles knew he could be. Four seasons at Mississippi State, playing in Mike Leach’s pass-happy Air Raid offense, proved Marks could catch passes out of the backfield. But he was typecast in the eyes of NFL scouts as a third-down, change-of-pace player, incapable of carrying the load as a bruising back running between the tackles.
His high school coach knew better than that. Myles had seen it during four years at Carver High in Atlanta. He watched as Marks stepped in as the starter before his first game as a freshman, taking the place of a senior who missed practice and never relinquishing the role.
During 43 games at Carver, Marks carried the offense on his back, toting the ball 614 times for 10 yards per carry. As a sophomore, he tallied 13 consecutive 100-yard games. As a senior, he scored 23 touchdowns. Never did he catch more than a pass or two per game.
It’s already do or die: What to watch when USC plays host to Penn State
The refrain felt frustratingly familiar. Here again, in the wake of another disappointing defeat, was the same rosy message from Lincoln Riley, reassuring the public that USC was really just a few plays, a few stops, a few inches away from where its coach wanted them to be.
It’s all a matter of perspective. Still, however close USC might have come, however “battle-tested” it might now be, the harsh reality is Riley has lost seven of his last 12 as the Trojans coach. That’s equivalent to the worst 12-game stretch of Clay Helton’s tenure as USC’s coach.
With No. 4 Penn State on tap Saturday at the Coliseum, the Trojans now find themselves playing for their College Football Playoff lives in mid-October, with zero room for error.
“I promise you,” Riley said this week, “we’re still a very confident team. This isn’t some team that has two losses where we got our ass kicked. No, that’s not the case. We know what we’re capable of.”
USC vs. No. 4 Penn State: How to watch the game, plus betting odds
USC (3-2) faces one of its toughest challenges of the season when it plays No. 4 Penn State (5-0) at the Coliseum on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. PDT. The game will air on CBS and Paramount+ and will be available on 710 AM in the Los Angeles area.
Here’s a look at the betting odds for the game:
