USC defeated Penn State in the Nittany Lions’ White Out game on Oct. 11, a result that intensified scrutiny of Penn State’s transition following James Franklin’s firing. The game drew 114,419 fans, which Penn State announced as the largest crowd in Beaver Stadium history, according to the licensed report.
The loss was Penn State’s third in a row under first-year coach Matt Campbell. The report said the Nittany Lions struggled to run the ball, gaining 68 yards on 31 attempts, and failed to convert several second-half drives into touchdowns. Late mistakes, including a fumble and a delay-of-game penalty on Penn State’s defense, helped USC close out the win.
USC quarterback Jayden Maiava completed 21 of 33 passes for three touchdowns, the report said. Receiver Trent Mosley, returning from an injury, had nine catches for 111 yards and a touchdown. The victory provided relief for USC coach Lincoln Riley, whose team had faced pressure after uneven results earlier in the season.
The source characterizes Penn State as rebuilding after Franklin’s departure and notes that the team had also lost to Northwestern the previous week. It argues that the early-season results may prompt fans and boosters to question the coaching change, while acknowledging that the season is still underway. That judgment is commentary, not a settled conclusion about the program’s prospects or the merits of the decision to fire Franklin.
The teams’ next games were reported as USC visiting Wisconsin after a bye and Penn State traveling to Michigan. Those matchups were framed as opportunities to assess each team’s direction; the source does not provide results for them.
