2024-10-13 06:00:04
This Penn State football showdown with USC this afternoon in Southern California came down to overtime and a new, redshirt freshman kicker.
Penn State (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten) and its wilting defense came up big at the end of regulation and in overtime.
But it was the surging offense, led by quarterback Drew Allar and all-world tight end Tyler Warren, that truly impressed a national TV audience and the Los Angeles Coliseum crowd in Saturday’s 33-30 comeback victory over the inspired USC Trojans.
And, in the end, it was kicker Ryan Barker, in just his second college start, who won it in overtime with a 36-yard field goal.
Barker made each of his four field goals today, each nearly straight down the middle. He was good after USC’s Michael Lantz missed first in OT from 45 yards.
Allar (30-for-43 passing, two touchdowns, two interceptions) outdueled USC QB Miller Moss, who threw the killer interception at the end of regulation.
Much of Allar’s expertise went through Warren, the do-it-all senior tight end who set a school record with 17 receptions for 221 yards and a stunning TD reception just after halftime.
Penn State now figures to move up at least one spot in the national rankings with the loser of tonight’s Ohio State-Oregon game expected to slip below it.
Watch Penn State football vs. USC live on Fubo (free trial)
Final, overtime: Penn State 33, USC 30
Redshirt freshman Ryan Barker makes a 36-yard field goal in overtime to win it.
His fourth field goal of the day keeps No. 5 Penn State undefeated.
USC kicker Michael Lantz misses a 45-yard field goal to start things.
Penn State just needs a field goal now to win.
A Jaylen Reed interception saves the day, at least momentarily, for the Penn State defense.
Huge stop on the driving Trojans.
Penn State heads to overtime with Drew Allar’s 388 passing yards − a stunning 221 of those going to tight end Tyler Warren.
Drew Allar rose to the occasion here, for sure.
He’s got 382 passing yards now. Two touchdowns. And 29 big rushing yards, to boot.
A surgical, nine-play, 75-yard scoring drive by the Trojans. Just like you would draw it up in the fourth quarter.
Penn State needs Ryan Barker, once again, to save a promising drive that comes up just short.
The Penn State offense has come alive − beyond tight end Tyler Warren.
Of course, Warren is still the center of the offense here today. He’s got a stunning 12 catches for 174 yards through 2 1/2 quarters.
But Drew Allar is getting more comfortable pushing the ball down the field. And Kaytron Allen rams home the second touchdown in as many second-half possessions.
A 90-yard drive to tie it.
Penn State has wrestled back full momentum … at least for now.
Tyler Warren snaps the ball to Beau Pribula who throws it backward to Drew Allar … who throws a touchdown bomb to Warren.
Ever seen that play before?
Flag football, maybe. But who cares, right? Penn State finally scores a touchdown early in the third quarter.
Penn State finally with potential momentum here.
Miller Moss and the Trojans made efficient use of their final first-half drive.
They went 49 yards on seven plays for a late field goal − and nearly had even more, potentially. A big USC run by Woody Marks was called back by an illegal block penalty.
Michale Lantz converted again for points, though. He drilled the 47-yard field goal just seven seconds left to revive the two-touchdown lead.
Drew Allar’s second interception of the season − and a 42-yard return by Desman Stephens − set up the Trojans in another wonderful scoring opportunity.
This time, the Penn State defense held tough.
USC and standout tailback Woody Marks couldn’t go anywhere. They settled for a 45-yard field goal by Michael Lantz to extend the surprising lead.
The 5-0 Lions have not trailed by this much at any point in a game this season.
Quienton Joyner is the one on fire now in this glitzy showdown in the L.A. Coliseum.
The USC wideout took his first play 75 yards for a touchdown on a reverse handoff.
Just now, he scores again. This time, it’s a 9-yard pass play from quarterback extraordinaire Miller Moss. Good play design with an easy pass, catch and job into the end zone.
The Trojans already have put up 179 total yards on Penn State’s elite defense.
It took the Trojans all of one play to answer Penn State’s long field goal drive.
Quinten Joyner took a reverse handoff going left and sprinted through an open lane and would not be caught. He took it 75 yards for the go-ahead touchdown, just like that.
Penn State plowed down the field on its first possession, leaning hard on tight end Tyler Warren (5 catches, 46 yards).
But his fourth-down touchdown was wiped off the board by offensive pass interference penalty by receiver Julian Fleming.
Ryan Barker converted the 34-yard field goal to save the drive.
The Trojans already are missing their top defensive player to injury, 6-foot-6 linebacker Eric Gentry.
They also apparently will be without the services of two other key players today against the Nittany Lions: tight end Lake McRee and cornerback Jacobe Covington.
McRee has caught 12 passes for 134 yards this season. Covington has registered 18 tackles and two pass breakups so far.
The Nittany Lions will welcome the return of star tailback Nick Singleton and starting offensive tackle Anthony Donkoh, today vs. USC, according to the Big Ten’s weekly availability report.
Both missed nearly all of the last week’s victory over UCLA with undisclosed injuries. Both had been trending to play earlier in the week, according to coach James Franklin. The Big Ten report confirmed it.
The Lions will not miss any new starters against the Trojans. The only addition to the report is backup receiver and punt returner Jake Spencer, who is listed as “out.”
Penn State vs. USC will be broadcast nationally on CBS. Brad Nessler and Gary Danielson will call the game from the booth at the L.A. Coliseum, with Jenny Dell reporting from the sidelines. Streaming options for the game include Paramount+ and FUBO, which offer free trials to new subscribers.
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Saturday, Oct. 12
A mix of sun and clouds with temperatures reaching into the low-80s by halftime. Winds light and variable.
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