Penn State traveled about 2,500 miles for its first road game in the new Big Ten, spending most of Saturday trailing Southern California.
Thanks to some key throws by Drew Allar, important defensive plays, and one of the best performances by a tight end in FBS history, the Nittany Lions returned home with their unbeaten record and hopes for a national championship still alive.
Tyler Warren caught 17 passes, tying the FBS single-game record for tight ends. Ryan Barker kicked a 36-yard field goal in overtime, allowing No. 4 Penn State to come back from a 14-point deficit in the second half to win 33-30 against USC.
Allar threw for a career-high 391 yards and two touchdowns, despite having three interceptions for Penn State (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten). The Nittany Lions did not lead for the last 49 minutes of regulation.
They managed to tie the game three times in the final 20 minutes, with the last tie coming from Nicholas Singleton’s 14-yard touchdown catch with 2:53 remaining.
In overtime, USC lost 3 yards on its first three plays, and Michael Lantz missed a 45-yard field goal attempt. Penn State then advanced to the 19-yard line, and Barker’s teammates celebrated as he made the game-winning kick.
“I think the word ‘resilient’ was probably the best word to define our team today,” Penn State coach James Franklin said. “And it’s good to be able to go in and say, ‘Hey guys, we’re a second-half team.’ But I’d prefer not to say that anymore. I’d prefer to be a four-quarter team, a start-fast team, all of it.”
Quentin Joyner scored two early touchdowns for the Trojans (3-3, 1-3), who have lost three of their last four games. USC hasn’t beaten a top-five team since they edged No. 5 Penn State 52-49 in a thrilling Rose Bowl in January 2017.
“It’s a gut punch, no doubt about it,” said Lincoln Riley, who has lost eight of his last 13 games.
Penn State heavily depended on Warren, who gained 224 yards and scored a touchdown, even though his only catch after the third quarter was a 3-yarder in overtime.
He matched the record for catches by a tight end set by New Mexico’s Emilio Vallez in 1967 and tied by Jon Harvey for Northwestern in 1982.
