LOS ANGELES – Walk-on kicker Ryan Barker drilled a 36-yard field goal in overtime to give fourth-ranked Penn State a thrilling 33-30 victory over USC Saturday at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
The Nittany Lions (3-0 Big Ten, 6-0) never led until Barker’s game-winner and trailed by as much as 17-3 in the second quarter. It was his fourth field goal of the afternoon.
Penn State beat the Trojans (1-3, 3-3) for the first time in California after five losses, including a 52-49 decision in the 2017 Rose Bowl.
After Michael Lantz’s 45-yard field goal try was wide to the left for USC, the Lions played it close to the vest to set up Barker’s kick. He was mobbed by teammates, who celebrated wildly.
Penn State tight end Tyler Warren set a school record with 17 catches for 224 yards and one touchdown. Quarterback Drew Allar completed 30-of-43 passes for 391 yards and two TDs with three interceptions, including a Hail Mary at the end of regulation.
Woody Marks carried 20 times for 111 yards for USC, which dropped to 5-8 in its last 13 games. Miller Moss was 20-for-34 for 220 yards and two scores and an interception late in the fourth quarter.
USC took a 30-23 lead behind Marks and Moss, who connected with Kyran Hudson for a 5-yard TD with 5:56 left.
The Lions quickly answered with a 75-yard drive of their own behind two fourth-down completions from Allar to Julian Fleming. On second-and-1 from the USC 15, Allar found Nick Singleton all alone for the tying TD with 2:53 to go.
Penn State safety Jaylen Reed stopped USC’s final possession in regulation when he intercepted Moss’ pass at the Lions’ 29. He returned it to the USC 49 with five seconds to go, but Allar’s Hail Mary pass was intercepted as time expired.
USC put together its first sustained drive of the second half after Penn State tied it 23-23 on Barker’s third field goal. Moss found Duce Robinson for a 25-yard completion to the Lions’ 9 and then hit Kyron Hudson, who beat A.J. Harris on an inside move for a 5-yard score with 5:56 to go.
.After trailing 17-6 at halftime, Penn State marched down the field on its opening series of the third quarter. Allar completed his first three passes for 42 yards, giving the Lions a first down at the USC 32.
With Beau Pribula taking a snap from none other than Warren, Pribula threw a backward pass to Allar, who lobbed a strike to Warren in the end zone to cut it to 20-13.
Later in the third, Penn State drove 90 yards behind Allar, who found Harrison Wallace III for 25 yards and then Warren for 34 yards. Moments later, Kaytron Allen scored from the 1 to tie it.
In the first half, Penn State began the game with an impressive drive from its 11 to the USC 2, using some creativity and a lot of Warren.
Warren was part of two conversions on third down, catching a slant pass and then rushing with a direct snap when Allar looked to the sideline pretending there was confusion. He finished the half with nine receptions for 98 yards.
With the Lions spreading the field after a first down at the Trojans’ 25, Allar rolled left and threw back to the right to the wide-open Warren. A missed block by Anthony Donkoh allowed a defender to tackle Warren at the 4.
On fourth-and-goal from the 2, Allar lobbed a pass to Warren for an apparent touchdown. But Fleming was flagged for offensive pass interference. Penn State had to settle for Barker’s 34-yard field goal.
USC wasted no time in answering. Quinten Joyner took a handoff, faked a reverse and then sprinted 75 yards for a touchdown and a 7-3 lead.
On their next series, the Trojans started from their 11 and had four chunk plays of at least 12 yards, including runs of 21 and 28 yards by Marks. Joyner finished the drive with a 9-yard TD catch for a 14-3 lead.
USC’s defense gave the ball back to the offense when linebacker Desman Stephens II dropped into coverage, intercepted Allar’s pass for Liam Clifford and returned it 42 yards. Penn State’s defense held, though, and the Trojans settled for Lantz’s 45-yard field goal.
Penn State threatened later in the second quarter after Warren had catches of 20 and 18 yards. Allar scrambled 19 yards to the USC 15, but the Lions stalled there and watched Barker drill a 33-yard field goal to make it 17-6.
The Trojans used the quickness of Penn State’s defensive line to take advantage again. Marks caught a 33-yard screen pass to set up Lantz’s 47-yard field goal and a 20-6 halftime advantage.
