USC Trojans Overcome Penn State and White Out Game

The USC Trojans needed a signature win. What better way to do it than on the road against the Penn State Nittany Lions in a White Out Game?

Coming off a close home win against the Washington Huskies last time out, Jayden Maiava led the No. 19 ranked Trojans to a 31-23 win over Penn State in one of the most intimidating atmospheres in College Football. 

Maiava set the tone early, utilizing his receivers to record big gains down the hashes. 

Trent Mosley, the freshman wide out that missed the previous four games, made his presence felt with 111 receiving yards on nine receptions and one touchdown.

The wide receiver room took a big hit before Saturday's contest as CBS Sports reported that Terrell Anderson, battling a nagging injury since the beginning of the season, will miss the rest of the season. 

With the news about Anderson, USC has now lost two receivers in the first seven weeks of the season. Corey Simms suffered a season-ending injury in the win against Rutgers earlier this season.

That didn't stop head coach Lincoln Riley to trust his senior quarterback to throw the football.

By the time the clock hit triple zeroes, Maiava went 21-for-33 on pass completions with 301 yards and three touchdown passes. Tanook Hines was also a part of the Trojans' passing game, recording 82 receiving yards on four receptions and one touchdown. 

True freshman wide receiver Kayden Dixon-Wyatt had 28 yards on two receptions and one touchdown. 

USC leaned on King Miller to control the run game, and he did so to the fullest extent. Miller ran for 105 yards on 19 rushing attempts, picking up a touchdown for his efforts. 

In a difficult environment, the Trojans' defense did not falter one bit, with Gary Patterson's signature defensive scheme working to destabilize the Nittany Lions. 

From Kennedy Urlacher to true freshman Luke Wafle — who both picked up a sack against Penn State quarterback Rocco Becht — the Trojans' defense allowed just six points in the second half. 

Desman Stephens II led the defense with nine total tackles recorded and spearheaded third-down defensive stops, as Penn State was 1-for-7 on third-down conversions. 

With the win, Riley has the long-awaited Big Ten road win that has clouded him throughout his fifth year at USC. 

Looking ahead, the Trojans enter their bye week with a record of 6-1 — the third time in five years Riley has had six wins at the bye as the Trojans head coach — as they prep for another Big Ten game on the road against the Wisconsin Badgers.