No. 4 Penn State goes on the road to the West Coast for a date Saturday with USC in a Big Ten showdown on CBS. This weekend's showdown will mark the 11th meeting between the proud programs and the first since USC's 52-49 win in the Rose Bowl over Penn State in 2017. The Trojans lead the all-time series 6-4.
The Trojans are coming off a disappointing 24-17 loss to Minnesota. USC had dropped two of its first three games as a member of the Big Ten, and a loss to Penn State would make the climb to an at-large bid to the 12-team College Football Playoff a steep one. USC had scored at least 20 points in 27 consecutive games -- the second-longest streak in program history -- before a 17-point output in the loss to the Golden Gophers,
The Nittany Lions are coming off a a 27-11 win over UCLA at home and are the only FBS program to start 5-0 in each of the last four seasons. With a win over USC, Penn State would be 6-0 in back-to-back years for the first time since starting 11-0 in 1985 and having a perfect 12-0 campaign in 1986.
Here is everything you need to know before USC's first matchup against Penn State in the regular season since 2000.
Follow along with LIVE UPDATES as Penn State clashes with USC on Saturday.
How to watch Penn State vs. USC live
Date: Saturday, Oct. 12 | Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Location: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Stadium -- Los Angeles
TV: CBS | Live stream: CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App (Free)
Streaming on Paramount+ with Showtime (Try It Free)
Penn State vs. USC: Need to know
Penn State needs more explosive plays: Penn State quarterback Drew Allar has completed 8 of 12 passes on attempts of more than 20 yards, according to Pro Football Focus. Those explosive plays have accounted for only 11.7% of Allar's total attempts, but the sample size is big enough for Penn State Andy Kotelnicki to dial up more home run shots down the field. Allar has completed 70.9% of his total attempts for 1,101 yards and nine touchdowns, but Penn State's receiving leader is TE Tyler Warren, who has 23 catches for 289 yards. Only three wide receivers (Harrison Wallace lll, Omari Evans and Liam Clifford) have more than 180 receiving yards.
Penn State will face its biggest test against a stout USC secondary that has allowed only 157.6 passing yards per game -- 13th-best in the FBS. If Penn State can find success in the passing game against the best pass defense they have faced so far this season, it will good omen for what Allar and company can do going forward.
Lincoln Riley needs a big win to change the narrative: Riley has struggled against college football's best teams since he got to USC. Riley is 0-2 against AP top-10 opponents and 4-8 against ranked opponents at USC. When Riley was at Oklahoma, the Sooners went 16-6 against ranked foes and 7-4 vs. top-10 opponents. Riley has lost last four games against top-five teams and have allowed more than 45 points in all of those matchups. With USC's CFP hopes on life support, a win over Penn State would help start to change the narrative and get USC back on track.
Penn State's College Football Playoff outlook: Penn State is in a prime position to make its first appearance in the CFP. The Nittany Lions have one ranked opponent left on the schedule (No. 2 Ohio State on Nov. 2) and an 11-1 finish would almost certainly get them into the field. Penn State already has wins over West Virginia and Illinois on its résumé, and USC might be the second-best team it faces in conference play. Securing a win over the Trojans on the road would go a long way toward getting into the CFP and potentially the Big Ten title game.
Penn State vs. USC prediction, picks
The biggest question coming into the season was how USC's defense would perform. At the midway point, there are more questions around Riley's offense than a group that has shown flashes under first-year defensive coordinator D'Anton Lynn. Penn State and USC have been two of the best passing defenses in the country, so this game may come down to who can control the trenches and who can run the football better. Penn State has a dynamic one-two punch in the backfield with Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen, so the advantage in that department should go to the road team. Pick: Penn State -5.5
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