USC Trojans put together just enough fourth-quarter offense to hold off Penn State Nittany Lions on the road, winning 31-23.
The final score: USC 31, Penn State 23. USC moves to 6-1 on the season, while Penn State falls to 3-3.
This one was tight for three quarters before USC pulled away with a touchdown drive in the fourth. For a Penn State team now sitting at .500, the loss stings in a game that was tied as late as the third quarter.
Box score
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USC Trojans | 7 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 31 |
| Penn State Nittany Lions | 7 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 23 |
See full player stats and game details
How it turned
The first quarter ended tied 7-7, with Jayden Maiava hitting Trent Mosley for a 19-yard score and Rocco Becht answering with a 13-yard touchdown pass to A. Rappleyea.
Both offenses kept trading punches in the second quarter. Maiava found Tanook Hines for an 11-yard touchdown, Carson Hansen punched one in from 3 yards out for Penn State, USC's C. Chittenden added a 37-yard field goal, and Penn State's R. Barker answered with a 48-yarder right before the half. That left the game tied 17-17 at the break.
Penn State actually grabbed the lead to start the third quarter on a 35-yard Barker field goal, but USC responded when King Miller broke off a 13-yard touchdown run. USC led 24-20 after three.
The fourth quarter belonged to USC. Penn State's Barker hit a 26-yard field goal to cut it to one score, but Maiava delivered the knockout blow with a 10-yard touchdown pass to K. Dixon-Wyatt, pushing the final margin to 31-23.
Scoring plays
- Q1 10:37 USC: J. Maiava pass to T. Mosley for 19 yds, for a TD (C. Chittenden KICK)
- Q1 7:26 PSU: R. Becht pass to A. Rappleyea for 13 yds, for a TD (R. Barker KICK)
- Q2 13:36 USC: J. Maiava pass to T. Hines for 11 yds, for a TD (C. Chittenden KICK)
- Q2 9:59 PSU: C. Hansen run for 3 yds, for a TD (R. Barker KICK)
- Q2 2:11 USC: C. Chittenden 37 yd FG GOOD
- Q2 0:03 PSU: R. Barker 48 yd FG GOOD
- Q3 11:23 PSU: R. Barker 35 yd FG GOOD
- Q3 5:38 USC: Ki. Miller run for 13 yds, for a TD (C. Chittenden KICK)
- Q4 14:52 PSU: R. Barker 26 yd FG GOOD
- Q4 11:11 USC: J. Maiava pass to K. Dixon-Wyatt for 10 yds, for a TD (C. Chittenden KICK)
Top performers
Maiava carried USC through the air, going 21-of-33 for 301 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. King Miller did the dirty work on the ground with 19 carries for 102 yards and a score, and Trent Mosley hauled in nine catches for 111 yards and a touchdown. Tanook Hines added four catches for 82 yards and a score of his own. On defense, Desman Stephens II led USC with nine tackles.
Penn State got a strong outing from Rocco Becht, who threw for 289 yards on 21-of-32 passing with a touchdown and no picks, and also ran for 20 yards on ten carries. Carson Hansen scored on the ground but was held to 28 yards on 14 carries. Chase Sowell and Brett Eskildsen each caught four passes, going for 95 and 70 yards respectively. Tony Rojas paced the Penn State defense with 10 tackles and a sack.
Top performers
USC Trojans
- Jayden Maiava (QB) — 21/33, 301 yds, 3 TD, 0 INT
- King Miller (RB) — 19 car, 102 yds, 1 TD
- Waymond Jordan (RB) — 6 car, 22 yds, 0 TD
- Trent Mosley (WR) — 9 rec, 111 yds, 1 TD
- Tanook Hines (WR) — 4 rec, 82 yds, 1 TD
- Desman Stephens II (LB) — 9 tkl, 0 sck, 0 INT
Penn State Nittany Lions
- Rocco Becht (QB) — 21/32, 289 yds, 1 TD, 0 INT
- Carson Hansen (RB) — 14 car, 28 yds, 1 TD
- Rocco Becht (QB) — 10 car, 20 yds, 0 TD
- Chase Sowell (WR) — 4 rec, 95 yds, 0 TD
- Brett Eskildsen (WR) — 4 rec, 70 yds, 0 TD
- Tony Rojas (LB) — 10 tkl, 1 sck, 0 INT
Team stats
| Stat | USC Trojans | Penn State Nittany Lions |
|---|---|---|
| Total yards | 430 | 357 |
| Passing | 21/33, 301 yds | 21/32, 289 yds |
| Rushing | 30 att, 129 yds | 31 att, 68 yds |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Sacks | 2 | 1 |
What's next
USC Trojans head to Wisconsin Badgers in Week 8, set for Saturday, October 24, 2026.
Penn State Nittany Lions travel to Michigan Wolverines in Week 7, set for Saturday, October 17, 2026.
What's next
- USC Trojans (6-1) — at Wisconsin Badgers, Saturday, October 24, 2026
- Penn State Nittany Lions (3-3) — at Michigan Wolverines, Saturday, October 17, 2026
In this story
- USC Trojans at Penn State Nittany Lions
- Penn State Nittany Lions at Michigan Wolverines
- USC Trojans at Wisconsin Badgers
- Michigan Wolverines
- Penn State Nittany Lions
- USC Trojans
- Wisconsin Badgers
- Brett Eskildsen
- Carson Hansen
- Chase Sowell
- Desman Stephens II
- Jayden Maiava
- King Miller
- Rocco Becht
- Tanook Hines
- Tony Rojas
- Trent Mosley
- Waymond Jordan
Written by Cole Saturday, an AI analyst, from News Hub Fantasy data (schedule, scores and box scores), and checked against that data before it published automatically. Read how we use AI in our editorial standards.