That's not how you start: Penn State 33, USC 30 (OT)

After an unorthodox 2,300-mile trip to Los Angeles, it was another slow start for Penn State. The Nittany Lions forced a quick USC punt on their first possession and drove the entire field on their first offensive series. A questionable offensive pass interference call on a touchdown pass to Tyler Warren forced the Lions to settle for a field goal and a 3-0 lead. And that was the highlight of the first half.

The Trojans executed a perfect reverse on the first play of the ensuing drive, scoring on a 75-yard touchdown run by Quinton Joyner. Penn State's next drive stalled, and once again USC drove down the field with little resistance for a second straight touchdown drive, capped by a touchdown pass from Miller Moss to Joyner.

With Penn State on the move, Drew Allar threw his second interception of the season to USC's Desman Stephens, who returned it to Penn State's 26-yard line. The defense held on for three plays to limit the Trojans to a field goal, extending USC's lead to 17-3. The two teams traded punts and field goals on their final two drives of the half to send the game to the locker room while the Nittany Lions faced a 20-6 deficit.

Penn State received the kickoff in the second half and wasted no time driving down the field. A beautifully executed trick play allowed Tyler Warren to both snap the ball and make an incredible touchdown catch to cut the deficit to 20-13:

On the ensuing possession, USC moved into Penn State territory, but an offensive holding penalty and false start stalled the drive and the Nittany Lions took over the offense inside their own 10.

Allar continued to find gaps in USC's pass defense and pushed the Lions downfield inside USC's five-yard line. Kaytron Allen capped the drive with his third touchdown run of the season, tying the game at 20.

The Nittany Lions' defense got another stop, and with all the momentum, Allar threw his second interception of the game – the first multi-interception game of his career. With their backs against the wall, the defense held the Trojans to 3, and USC retook the lead at 23-20.

For the first time this season, Penn State trailed early in the fourth quarter. Aided by a rough passer penalty, Allar and Warren drove Penn State down the field but, for the third time in the red zone, could not find the end zone for a touchdown. A field goal by Ryan Barker made the score 23.

USC immediately responded with a touchdown drive to little resistance from the Penn State defense and took a 30-23 lead with just under six minutes to play.

After being invisible for most of the game, Julian Fleming made a pair of 4th-down catches to extend Penn State's ensuing drive. Two plays later, Drew Allar found Nick Singleton in the flat and the check-down pass turned into a 14-yard touchdown catch for Singleton. Barker's extra point evened the score at 30 apiece with 2:53 left.

Jaylen Reed intercepted a pass from Miller Moss on USC's final possession of regulation, but at the end of regulation the Lions did not have enough time to position themselves for a game-winning field goal. For the first time since 2021, Penn State went to overtime.

In overtime, USC missed a field goal on its own possession, setting up Ryan Barker for a game-winning field goal. And he didn't disappoint:

With the win, Penn State moves to 6-0 on the season and will certainly maintain its spot in the top four of the AP Poll. It was a battle but winning away games against strong teams is never easy.

Tyler Warren caught a program-record 17 passes in the game for 224 yards and a touchdown in the win.

The Nittany Lions will have a hard-earned bye next week before another tough showdown on the road against Wisconsin in two weeks.