The Pate State / The Wire
Updated OCT 8, 2026Penn State hosts USC with skid threatening playoff path
What Happened
Penn State will try to stop a two-game losing streak when it hosts No. 19 USC at Beaver Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 10, at 7:30 p.m. ET, a ranked Big Ten test that follows the Nittany Lions’ sharp turn from 3-0 to 3-2. The teams arrive on different footing. Penn State followed three comfortable nonconference wins with a 24-20 home loss to Wisconsin on Sept. 26 and a 34-13 loss at Northwestern on Oct. 2. USC has won five of six, losing 41-27 to Oregon on Sept. 26 before beating Washington 25-21 on Oct. 3. The matchup information does not include injury or availability updates, a favorite or specific personnel advantages. That keeps the focus on the result rather than an unverified matchup edge. Penn State needs its first win since beating Buffalo 55-13 on Sept. 19. Penn State plays at Michigan on Oct. 17 and then gets an open date before hosting Purdue on Oct. 31. First, the Nittany Lions’ players must answer two losses with their most demanding home result of the season.
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Sources: On3
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