No. 4 Penn State rallies back to beat USC in overtime on TE Tyler Warren's record day
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Penn State quarterback Drew Allar (15) is tackled out of bounds by two Southern California defenders during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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Southern California quarterback Miller Moss (7), left, celebrates after throwing a touchdown pass to running back Quinten Joyner (0) during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Penn State, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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Southern California running back Quinten Joyner (0) celebrate after scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Penn State, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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Southern California quarterback Miller Moss (7) throws a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Penn State, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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Penn State quarterback Drew Allar (15) lunges past Southern California linebacker Easton Mascarenas-Arnold (4) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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Penn State running back Kaytron Allen (13) is tackled by Southern California cornerback John Humphrey (19), defensive end Anthony Lucas (6) and safety Anthony Beavers Jr. (15) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
LOS ANGELES — Tyler Warren caught 17 passes to tie the FBS single-game record for tight ends, Ryan Barker hit a 36-yard field goal in overtime and No. 4 Penn State rallied from a 14-point deficit in the second half for a 33-30 victory Saturday over Southern California.
Drew Allar passed for a career-high 391 yards and two touchdowns despite three interceptions for Penn State (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten), which didn't lead in the final 49 minutes of regulation. The Nittany Lions came back three times to tie it in the final 20 minutes, including Nicholas Singleton's 14-yard TD reception with 2:53 left.
Quentin Joyner scored two early TDs for the Trojans (3-3, 1-3), who have lost three of four. USC hasn’t beaten a Top 5 team since the Trojans held off No. 5 Penn State in a 52-49 thriller of a Rose Bowl in January 2017.
Warren racked up 224 yards and a touchdown, although his only catch after the third quarter was a 3-yarder in overtime. The senior set a record for the most receptions by an opponent in USC’s 137-year football history.
The Nittany Lions, which has a bye week next week, started slowly on their long road trip, but finished impressively. After going up 3-0 on its first drive, Penn State didn’t lead again in regulation and trailed 20-6 at halftime before its offense got moving.
USC’s Kyron Hudson caught a go-ahead touchdown pass from Miller Moss with 5 minutes, 56 seconds left, but Allar converted two fourth downs with desperate passes for Penn State before Singleton was left all alone for his tying catch.
USC drove to midfield in the final seconds, but Lincoln Riley curiously used no timeouts to extend the Trojans' drive before Jaylen Reed picked off Moss with 5 seconds left.
USC went 3 yards backward on its first three plays of overtime before Michael Lantz missed a 45-yard field goal attempt. Penn State advanced to the 19, and Barker buried the winner.
Moss passed for 220 yards and two scores, while Joyner rushed for a 75-yard TD in the first quarter and caught a 9-yard TD pass in the second quarter for the Trojans. Woody Marks rushed for 111 yards for USC.
Penn State had a healthy contingent of fans at the Coliseum for its first lengthy road trip in the new Big Ten and its longest trip for any regular-season game since 1991.
But USC's defense kept Penn State out of the end zone in the first half despite playing without injured linebacker Eric Gentry, its sacks leader and second-leading tackler, and starting cornerback Jacobe Covington.
Joyner put the Trojans ahead early when he faked a reverse and rumbled 75 yards through the heart of Penn State's defense. He added his first career TD catch moments later.
Penn State responded to its 14-point halftime deficit with Allar's TD throw to Warren on a double pass. The Nittany Lions made a 90-yard march to tie it moments later, with Kaytron Allen taking it in.
Easton Mascarenas-Arnold's interception led to USC's third field goal late in the third, but Penn State tied it again with 10:50 to play after its next drive stalled at the 3.
Penn State: The Nittany Lions celebrated vehemently after a victory that was thrilling, but not stunning. Their slow start and rough overall defensive performance don't bode well for Ohio State or other opponents with less inconsistency than mercurial USC.
