USC Football Hosts No. 4 Penn State At L.A. Memorial Coliseum For Battle Of Blue Bloods - USC Athletics (2025)

Football | October 07, 2024

THE pLAce TO BE FOR B1G GAMES

*USC. Penn State. Blue bloods. Nationally recognized brands. These epic match ups on the biggest of stages in the Coliseum are one of the many reasons why USC is the pLAce to be.

*The Trojans take on the No. 4 ranked Nittany Lions on Saturday, Oct. 12 at 12:30 p.m. PT.

GRIDIRON POWERS

*USC and Penn State are among the nation's traditional college football powerhouses.

*USC has won 11 national championships, Penn State 2.

*Both teams rank among the Top 10 in career wins (Penn State is seventh with 935, USC is 10th with 878) and winning percentage (USC is eighth at .695, Penn State is nineth at .690). (USC not including 14 wins and 1 loss vacated due to NCAA penalty; original record: 892, .698.)

*Both schools have produced Heisman Trophy winners (USC has 8 [the most of any college football program], Penn State 1).

*The Trojans claim 176 All-American first teamers, while the Nittany Lions have 102.

*USC has 55 bowl appearances (with 35 wins), while Penn State has made it to 53 bowls (with 31 victories). (USC not including 2 appearances and 1 win vacated due to NCAA penalty; original record: 57 appearances, 36 wins.)

*USC has appeared in an unprecedented 33 Rose Bowls where it has a 25-8 mark (.758) (not including 1 appearance and 1 loss later vacated due to NCAA penalty; original record: 34 Rose Bowls, 25-9, .735). That is not only the most Rose Bowl wins of any team, but also the most wins by a school in a single bowl. Penn State has been in the Rose Bowl 5 times and is 2-3, .400.

*USC leads its series with Penn State 6-4.

*The schools have been guided by legendary coaches, including USC's Howard Jones, John McKay, John Robinson and Pete Carroll and Penn State's Hugo Bezdek, Rip Engle and Joe Paterno.

*Both programs have distinctive uniforms (USC's cardinal and gold, PSU's blue and white), with namefree jerseys.

*USC has been known as "Tailback U." and Penn State as "Linebacker U."

MINNESOTA GAME RECAP

*USC fell 17-24 in a heartbreaking loss at Minnesota on Saturday, Oct. 5.

*It was the warmest October game ever recorded at Huntington Bank Stadium with a kick time temperature of 71 degrees.

*QB Miller Moss went 23-of 38 (.605) for 200 yards with 1 TD and 2 INTs.

*RB Woody Marks recorded his fifth career 100-yard rushing game collecting 20 carries for 134 yards( 6.7 avg.) and 1 TD. He also had 4 receptions for 30 yards.

*WR Kyron Hudson led the Trojans with 5 receptions for 54 yards (10.8 avg.).

*WR Duce Robinson scored the only aerial TD of the night with a 3-yard pass from Moss in the second quarter. He had 4 receptions for 39 yards (9.8 avg.) and 1 TD.

*K Michael Lantz went 1-for-2 on FGs, missing a 47-yarder, but making a career-long 54-yarder.

*LB Easton Mascarenas-Arnold led the team with 14 tackles, including 1 for loss of 4 yards.

*On a clutch play at the end of the second quarter, S Kamari Ramsey forced a fumble which was recovered by DT Nate Clifton. This play resulted in USC scoring a FG on its next offensive drive to close out the first half.

MAKING HIS MARK

*With his 4 receptions against Minnesota, RB Woody Marks extended his streak of consecutive games with a catch to 50, which is the longest active streak in the nation.

*Per PFF, Marks is tied for No. 6 in the nation in receiving first downs for running backs (8) with a minimum of 100 snaps

*Marks is No. 8 in the nation for receiving yards after contact (181) for all running backs with a minimum of 100 snaps.

*Marks has been targeted 8 times in the fourth quarter this season which is T-3rd-most among FBS running backs.

*Marks has also been targeted 4 times in the Red Zone this season which is T-4th-most among Power Conference running backs.

*Marks has been targeted 24 times this season which is 4th-most among Power Conference running backs.

*Marks' 19 receptions this season are 4th-most among Power Conference running backs.

MILLER TIME

*QB Miller Moss ranks sixth in the nation (and No. 2 in the Big Ten) in completions per game with 25.80.

*Moss also ranks No. 4 in the Big Ten in passing yards per game (279.6).

*Per PFF, Moss is tied for No. 3 among Big Ten QBs in big time throws with 8.

*Moss is ranked third among Big Ten QBs for first downs (79).

*The Trojans are ranked No. 4 in the Big Ten for third down conversion percentage (.515).

*Moss has thrown 4 TD passes in the third quarter this season, which is T-5th-most among FBS quarterbacks.

*Moss has thrown for first downs on 46% of his pass attempts on third-and-10+ yards to go, which is T-6th-best among FBS quarterbacks. P

OWERFUL PUNTING

*P Eddie Czaplicki continues to be a game-changer for the Trojans.

*USC leads the nation in net punting (46.25 yards).

*Czaplicki ranks No. 2 in the nation with a 50.1-yard punting average among punters with a minimum of 15 attempts.

*10 of his 16 punts have been over 50 yards, including a season-long of 62 yards this weekend against Minnesota .

*6 of his punts have pinned opponents inside the 20.

NATIONAL DEFENSIVE STATS

*USC ranks No. 1 in the Big Ten (and No. 6 in the nation) in third down conversion percentage defense.

*USC only allowed 2 of Minnesota's 8 third down attempts to be converted.

*USC has allowed just 2.5 yards per attempt (47 yards / 19 attempts) on third-and-long this season, which is the best among Power Conference teams.

RANKINGS

*USC is not ranked in either poll.

*Penn State is ranked No. 4 in the latest AP Poll and in 5th the USA Today Coaches Poll.

*The last time USC beat an AP Top 4 team was when USC upset No. 4 Washington in Seattle in 2016. The Trojans won 26-13 snapping the Huskies' 12-game winning streak.

*The last time USC hosted and defeated an AP Top 4 team in the Coliseum was in 2015. The unranked Trojans upset No. 3 ranked Utah 42-24. Freshman LB Cameron Smith notably recorded 3 INTs, including 1 pick-6.

BIG TEN COMPETITION

*USC has won 36 of its last 49 games (.735) against Big Ten foes.

IN OCTOBER

*USC has a 318-128-19 (.704) record while playing in the month of October (not including 5 wins vacated due to NCAA penalty; revised record: 323-128-19, .707).

HIGH NOON

*The last time USC had 2 home games begin in the 12 p.m. hour was in 2013 when USC played Boston College at 12 p.m. PT (a 35-7 win) and Utah State at 12:30 p.m. PT (a 17-14 win).

SUPER BOWL SITES

*Just 3 teams in the nation are scheduled to play at 3 different Super Bowl sites:

*USC – All home games are at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum; USC defeated LSU 27-20 at Allegiant Stadium on Sept. 1; USC will play UCLA at the Rose Bowl on Nov. 23

*Notre Dame – The Irish will play Georgia Tech at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Oct. 19; Notre Dame will face Navy at MetLife Stadium on Oct. 26; The Irish will challenge the Trojans in the greatest intersectional rivalry in college football at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Nov. 30

*Navy – The Midshipmen will play Notre Dame at MetLife Stadium on Oct. 26; Navy will face Rice at Rice Stadium on Nov. 2; The Midshipmen will challenge South Florida at Raymond James Stadium on Nov. 9.

OLYMPIC RECORD

*USC is 206-72-10 (.733) in seasons that the Summer Olympics have been held (including this season). The Trojans won 4 national titles (1928, 1932, 1972, 2004) and played in 11 bowls (winning 8) during those Olympic seasons. (Does not include 2 wins--including 1 bowl appearance and 1 bowl win--vacated by NCAA penalty; original record: 208-72-10, .735.)

PRESIDENTIAL RECORD

*USC is 224-72-14 (.745) during presidential election years (including this season). (Does not include 1 win vacated due to NCAA penalty; original record: 225-72-14, .746)

*To be determined later this season, but the Trojans are 127-29-5 (.804) in years when Republicans won the White House and 94-41-9 (.684) when Democrats won. (Does not include 1 win vacated due to NCAA penalty; original record: 128-29-5, .806 with Republicans.)

*USC has won 4 national championships (1928-32-72-2004) during presidential election years.

TURNAROUNDS

*In USC's 135 seasons, the Trojans have lost 4 or more games 45 times. Following 9 of those 4-plus loss seasons, USC "turned it around" to win the Rose Bowl the next year (1938-43-62-67-72-76-78-84-16).

TV OUTLETS

*USC has appeared live on 35 different television broadcasting outlets. The Trojans have won on the air of all but 3 of those outlets (KTLA, Innovative and a local Memphis station).

*USC has appeared on live national, regional or local telecasts 584 times.

HOME SWEET HOME

*Just 13 players across the nation returned to their previous school after spending one or more seasons at another NCAA institution.

SELLOUT

*This weekend's game versus Penn State is a sellout.

*USC's home game versus Wisconsin on Sept. 28 was also a sellout.

*It was also announced that the Nebraska game on Nov. 16 is sold out.

*USC boasted stellar attendance numbers in its home opener on Sept. 7 versus Utah State. With 68,110 fans in the Coliseum, it was the largest crowd for a home opener since 2015.

*Additionally, the Utah State game recorded the best attendance numbers for a non-conference / nonNotre Dame game since the Trojans hosted Texas in front of a sold-out crowd in 2017.

*USC's combined attendance numbers from its first two home games this season (142,228) are the highest numbers recorded for USC's first two home games since the 2015 season (152,231).

*In 2006, USC's 6 home sellouts, 10 regular-season sellouts and 11 season (including bowls) are all school records. USC's 10 consecutive home sellouts in 2005-06 (last 4 home games of 2005 and all 6 in 2006) is a school record.

USC-PENN STATE CONNECTIONS

*USC has 1 player from the state of Pennsylvania (LB Eric Gentry), while Penn State has 1 player from the state of California (K Chase Meyer).

*USC Defensive Coordinator D'Anton Lynn was a three-time All-Big Ten honorable mention cornerback for Penn State while playing for the Nittany Lions from 2008-11. He recorded 162 total tackles, including 7 for loss, 4 INTs and 1 fumble recovery, while starting 37 of his last 38 games played.

*USC LB Eric Gentry, Penn State DE Abdul Carter, Penn State WR Tyseer Denmark, Penn State S Tyrece Mills, Penn State CB Kenny Woseley and Penn State LB Keon Wylie are from Philadelphia, Pa.

*USC DE Sam Greene and Penn State DT De'Andrew Cook are both from Washington, D.C.

*USC RB Woody Marks and Penn State DT T.A. Cunningham are both from Atlanta, Ga.

*USC QB Miller Moss, USC WR Xavier Jordan, USC QB Dylan Gebbia, USC LB Ryan Quintanar and Penn State K Chase Meyer are all from Los Angeles, Calif.

*USC S Bryson Shaw and Penn State WR Julian Fleming were teammates at Ohio State in 2020 and 2021.

*USC LB Raesjon Davis, USC WR Kyron Hudson, USC WR Josiah Zamora, USC WR Seth Zamora and Penn State Chase Meyer prepped at Mater Dei together in 2020.

*USC Assistant Director of Football Sports Performance Adam Thackery and Penn State CB Audavion Collins were at Mississippi State together in 2022.

*USC Men's Volleyball Director of Operations / Women's & Men's Volleyball Technical Coordinator Virginia Pham held a similar role at Penn State in 2018-19.

*Penn State Swimming and Diving Associate Head Coach Sean Schimmel swam for USC and earned his degree in communications in 1992.

*USC Women's Volleyball Associate Head Coach Spencer McLachlin held a similar position at Indiana, while Penn State's Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers Coach, Tom Allen, was the head coach at Indiana in 2022.

*USC Assistant Track and Field Coach for the Throws Martin Maric held a similar position at Virginia while Penn State Offensive Recruiting Coordinator / Wide Receivers Coach Marques Hagans served as Associate Head Coach / Wide Receivers at Virginia in 2022.

*USC Executive Director of Football Marketing and Branding Radmen Niven served as a player personnel / video coordinator graduate assistant at Western Illinois while Penn State Co-Defensive Coordinator / Tight Ends coach Ty Howle served as Assistant Head Coach / CoOffensive Coordinator / Offensive Line Coach at Western Illinois in 2018.

*USC Lacrosse Assistant Coach Lauren Gunning served in a similar role at Connecticut while Penn State Co-Defensive Coordinator / Safeties Coach Anthony Poindexter served as Defensive Coordinator / Safeties coach at Connecticut in 2015-16.

*Former Trojan TB Silas Redd played at both Penn State (2010-11) and USC (2012-13).

PENNSYLVANIA TROJANS

*In USC's history, 16 football lettermen claim Pennsylvania as their hometown and attended school in the state before coming to Troy: FL Gene Arrington (Steelton/Harrisburg HS); S Gerald Bowman (Philadelphia/ Imhotep HS); RT Mike Bundra (Catasaugua/Catasaugua HS); RG Tom Chantilles (York/Penn HS); QB Ben Charles (Lancaster/Catholic HS); C Joe Chuha (Johnstown/Johnstown HS); LHB Angelo Coia (Philadelphia/ North East Philadelphia HS); LT Dan Ficca (Atlas/Mt. Carmel HS); OT-OG Michael Gaytan (Malvern/Great Valley HS); LB Eric Gentry (Philadelphia/ Saints Neumann Goretti); QB Jim Jones (Harrisburg/Harris HS); QB Ellsworth Kissinger (York/Penn HS); LG Jim Samuel (Quakertown/ Quakertown HS); DT Delvon Simmons (McKeesport/McKeesport HS); C Jack Trier (Lancaster/ Catholic HS); and FB Patrick West (Burgettstown HS and U. of Pittsburgh).

PENN STATE SCOUTING REPORT

*This is head coach James Franklin's 11th season at Penn State with a 93-39 record. He is the second longest tenured coach in the Big Ten behind Iowa's Kirk Ferentz.

*Penn State won 4 consecutive victories at home in Beaver Stadium during the last month en route to 5-0.

*The Nittany Lions most recently defeated UCLA 27-11 at home on Saturday (Oct. 5).

*This will be Penn State's first road game at one of the four new Big Ten Conference members who migrated from the Pac-12 in time for the 2024 season.

*It is also the Nittany Lions' first regular-season football road game in California since 1991.

*Franklin's regular-season road games record is 29-20 (.591 winning percentage), while his conference road games record is 25-18 (.581).

*Penn State is the only FBS team to start each of the last four seasons with a 5-0 record, however after those first 5 games in the last 3 seasons, the Nittany Lions have dropped at least 1 of their next 2 games.

*Records of Penn State's 3 games following their 5-0 starts: 2023, 2-1; 2022, 1-2; 2021, 0-3.

*The Nittany Lions tend to start slow as the first quarter has been Penn State's lowest-scoring (21 points in 5 games).

*Through the 5-0 start, QB Drew Allar is 73-for-103 on passing attempts for 1,101 yards with 9 TDs and 1 INT. He also has 89 rushing yards and 3 TDs.

*Aller has yet to throw more than 24 passes in a game this season.

*The Nittany Lions played UCLA without star RB Nick Singleton, who was surprisingly determined unavailable shortly before kickoff. Franklin said he found out right before the game that Singleton would not be able to play. This was Singleton's first missed matchup after playing in each of his first 30 college games.

*On the season, Singleton has gained 408 rushing yards (7.7 average) with 3 TDs and an additional 2 receiving TDs.

*The Nittany Lions rushed for 85 yards against the Bruins, their first game under 200 yards this season.

*Against the Bruins, RB Kaytron Allen tied a career-high with 21 carries. He gained 78 yards (3.7 average) and scored a TD.

*Penn State has a four-player WR group with Harrison Wallace III (14-230, 2 TDs), Julian Fleming (7-99), Liam Clifford (8-180, 1 TD) and Omari Evans (10-220, 2 TDs).

*TE Tyler Warren passed former Nittany Lion TE and current Pittsburgh Steeler Pat Freiermuth for the most receiving touchdowns by a tight end in program history with his 17th TD against UCLA.

*He leads Penn State with 23 receptions for 289 yards and 3 TDs on the season.

*Defensively, S Jaylen Reed leads the Nittany Lions with 33 tackles, while DE Abdul Carter holds a team-high 8 TFLs (for minus 34 yards) and 3 sacks (for minus 12 yards).

*Four Nittany Lions have recorded an INT (LB Tony Rojas, S Zakee Wheatley, CB Elliot Washington II and CB A.J. Harris).

*Penn State ranks No. 4 in the nation and No. 2 in the Big Ten in total defense (233.2).

*Penn State ranks second in the Big Ten, and fourth nationally, in run defense (76.2). It also has not allowed a third quarter point.

*Penn State is No. 7 nationally and No. 2 in the Big Ten in third down conversion percentage.

*The Nittany Lions are No. 8 nationally and third in the Big Ten in scoring defense (11.4).

*They rank No. 6 nationally and No. 2 in the Big Ten in tackles for loss allowed (3.20).

*They also rank No. 4 in the nation and No. 1 in the Big Ten in team passing efficiency (192.18).

OTHER PENN STATE STATS

*Penn State TEs have caught 4 TD passes in the Red Zone this season which is the most among Big Ten teams.

*Penn State has not been sacked on any of 15 pass attempts in the 4th quarter this season, which is tied for the best among Big Ten offenses.

*Penn State WRs have averaged 25.0 yards per reception (100 yards / 4 catches) in the 4th quarter this season, which is the best among Big Ten teams.

*QB Drew Allar has thrown for first downs on 46% of his pass attempts with 7-10 yards to go this season, which is 3rd-best among FBS QBs.

*RB Kaytron Allen has picked up first downs on 40% of his rush attempts in short yardage situations this season, which is T-3rd-worst among Big Ten running backs.

*Allen has averaged just 2.9 yards per carry (32 yards / 11 carries) in the 4th quarter this season, which is 2nd-worst among Big Ten running backs.

*RB Nicholas Singleton has rushed for 10 or more yards on 11 of his 34 carries (32%) on 1st down this season, which is 2nd-best among FBS running backs and has averaged 10.4 yards from scrimmage per touch (261 yards / 25 touches) in the second half this season, which is 3rd-best among FBS running backs.

*WR Liam Clifford has 123 receiving yards on third down this season, which is 4th-most among Big Ten receivers.

*TE Tyler Warren has 8 first down receptions on first down this season, which is T-2nd-most among FBS TEs.