Struggling Penn State offense braces for USC's visit in White Out game

Penn State will host No. 19 USC in the annual White Out game at Beaver Stadium on Saturday night, a matchup between a Nittany Lions team that has lost its way on offense and a Trojans defense that has not stopped anyone. A game projected as a clash of top-25 schools in the preseason now pits an unranked Penn State (3-2 overall, 0-2 Big Ten) against a USC team (5-1, 2-1) clinging to its ranking after a closer-than-expected finish last Saturday.

The numbers on both sides are stark. Penn State has scored just 16 points over its last seven quarters, while USC has allowed 32.3 points per game across its past three weeks. The Trojans held Washington to 1-of-12 on third down in last week's 25-21 win, a troubling sign for a Nittany Lions offense that has converted just 14-of-43 third downs over the last three games. USC also recorded five sacks against the Huskies and is coming off one of its best pass-rushing performances of the season, a concern for an offensive line that has been shoddy lately and a quarterback, Rocco Becht, who has faced mounting pressure each week.

Nittany Lions coach Matt Campbell addressed the slide Tuesday, pointing to a failure of consistency rather than a single position group. He said the run game suffers from breakdowns everywhere, from offensive line play to receiver blocking to tailbacks, and that the team lacks an identity.

The reality of it is we lack an identity. We lack who we want to be and where we need to be. ... Really for the last six quarters, we failed to do that really in all three phases of the game.

— Matt Campbell

Campbell credited Northwestern for its plan in Friday night's loss, saying Penn State was fundamentally off in too many areas and paid for it quickly. He added that the inconsistency around Becht has put an outsized spotlight on the quarterback, noting that the other ten players around him need to play better so Becht can get into a rhythm. He also expressed confidence in the roster and coaching staff, saying the fix requires a relentless approach on the practice field.

Riley addresses tackling lapses, Lynn subplot

Trojans coach Lincoln Riley, also speaking with reporters on Tuesday, was blunt about the tackling breakdown on Washington tight end Decker DeGraaf's 42-yard touchdown, in which safety Kennedy Urlacher and cornerback Rock Hill IV both failed to push DeGraaf out of bounds. Riley called it two poor attempts and said there is zero excuse, while insisting it was out of character for both players and adding that he bets it will not happen again. The play nearly proved costly before a 48-yard fumble return touchdown by defensive tackle Jahkeem Stewart helped USC escape, and Riley noted that linebacker Ta'Mere Robinson's strong play while subbing for the suspended Desman Stephens II will create more opportunities and rotation in that room going forward.

Saturday also brings a familiar test for USC's offense: Penn State defensive coordinator D'Anton Lynn, who ran the Trojans' defense the previous two seasons before leaving for Happy Valley this offseason. Riley praised Lynn as a really good coach who is always very multiple, and quarterback Jayden Maiava, who played his first two seasons under Lynn, said the familiarity does not fully favor USC. Trojans players spent the week preparing for the Beaver Stadium crowd noise, with loud sound pumped into practice, as USC seeks its first-ever win in Happy Valley. Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. Pacific on NBC and Peacock.