Southern California shocked No. 5 Penn State during a first half filled with impressive plays, marking a comeback from their recent loss to Minnesota and demonstrating their potential as a contender in the College Football Playoff race.

However, after halftime, the Nittany Lions found their rhythm. Trailing 20-6 at the break, they tied the game with less than five minutes left in the third quarter and looked ready to take control in the fourth to stay unbeaten.

This comeback also reflects USC’s challenges in their first season in the Big Ten.

Penn State handed USC a favorable position late in the third quarter following a Drew Allar interception, one of three interceptions thrown by a player typically reliable at avoiding mistakes. The Trojans could only manage a field goal, settling for a 23-20 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Leading 30-23 with six minutes remaining, USC allowed two fourth-down conversions, enabling PSU to equalize with nearly three minutes on the clock. On the last drive of regulation, USC opted to seek overtime instead of advancing the ball for a possible game-winning field goal.

After USC missed a field goal on the first overtime possession, the Nittany Lions sealed a 33-30 victory with a successful 36-yard field goal.

Close but not close enough for USC.

Despite the disappointment of a third loss in four games during Big Ten play, there are encouraging signs for the Trojans. Along with a competitive showing against Penn State, they nearly secured victory against Michigan with a last-minute defensive effort. Prior to their defeat by the Golden Gophers, USC displayed strength with a victory over Wisconsin, a team that outplayed Rutgers 42-7 on Saturday.

Looking at the bigger picture, USC seems to be on the verge of becoming a solid Big Ten contender. The key will be to transform their flashes of brilliance—little glimpses of excellence—into a consistent performance necessary for success in the Big Ten.

Penn State’s comeback win boosts their playoff aspirations and prevents any slip-ups ahead of the key matchup against No. 2 Ohio State next month. By overcoming the Trojans, the Nittany Lions are still favorably positioned for an at-large playoff spot, even if they lose to the Buckeyes.

This weekend, the Trojans and Nittany Lions were prominent among the highlights of winners and losers:

Winners

Texas

While not flawless, particularly after a shaky start, No. 1 Texas handled their rivalry game against No. 16 Oklahoma, securing a 34-3 victory to remain the only unbeaten team in the SEC. Quarterback Quinn Ewers, after missing two games, threw for 199 yards and contributed a passing and rushing touchdown. The Longhorns’ defense, already ranked second nationally for fewest yards allowed per play, restricted the Sooners to only 237 yards on 3.4 yards per play, much of which came when the game was well under control.

Iowa

Iowa put on quite the show, scoring 40 points in a decisive win over Washington. This marks a significant achievement, as Iowa hadn’t topped 40 points against a Big Ten opponent since putting up 51 on Maryland on October 1, 2021. Last season, they managed only 131 points across ten league games, including a shutout loss to Michigan in the Big Ten championship. While aided by advantageous field position in the fourth quarter, the Hawkeyes showcased a notable improvement on offense, making them a competitive threat moving forward.

Buffalo

Buffalo is turning heads under new coach Pete Lembo. Following a few weeks after their upset of Northern Illinois, the Bulls pulled off another shocker by defeating MAC powerhouse Toledo 30-15. The victory was driven by a two-point edge in turnovers and a strong performance on both sides of the ball. Buffalo rushed for 230 yards on 52 carries, keeping the Rockets to a mere 46 yards at just 1.8 yards per carry. Lembo’s past successes at Ball State are clearly being replicated at Buffalo.

Losers

Alabama

Concerns are escalating regarding No. 7 Alabama, especially after another surprising outcome under head coach Kalen DeBoer. They managed a narrow escape against South Carolina, winning 27-25, which is an improvement from last week’s loss to Vanderbilt. However, various issues remain, particularly an offensive strategy that has struggled to adapt from DeBoer’s successful tactics at Washington to the tougher SEC environment. While the win keeps Alabama in contention for the SEC championship and a playoff spot, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to envision them finishing the regular season without at least two more losses.

North Carolina

North Carolina’s current losing streak is troubling, marked by successive defeats that are increasingly worse than the last. The team’s recent four-game losing streak raises serious questions about their performance.

The losing streak started with a disappointing 70-50 home defeat against James Madison. Unfortunately, the most recent defeat was even more disheartening. After managing to tie Georgia Tech at 34-34 with just 44 seconds left on a 26-yard field goal, the Tar Heels quickly gave up a 68-yard touchdown run to Tech’s Jamal Haynes on the second play of the following drive, resulting in a 41-34 loss. UNC’s record now stands at 3-4, with no wins in ACC play.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma has too many weaknesses to remain in the Top 25 rankings. The primary concern for the Sooners is their offense, which is struggling due to a lack of a quarterback and missing talent among their receivers, heavily affected by injuries. This appears to be a long-term issue. The coaching staff, led by Brent Venables, seems to have missed the mark on former starter Jackson Arnold and is unable to create effective plays with Michael Hawkins Jr., who has limitations as a passer. Looking ahead, the Sooners still need to play against tough opponents like No. 8 Mississippi, No. 18 Missouri, Alabama, and No. 10 LSU, making it a challenge to secure six wins this season.