How Lincoln Riley Earned His First Big Road Win at USC

USC football coach Lincoln Riley stood inside Beaver Stadium on Saturday night with a huge smile on his face. His team, the Trojans, had just beaten Penn State 31–23 in one of the loudest stadiums in college football. It was a win many people did not think USC could pull off. For Riley, it felt like one of the best moments of his coaching career.

Penn State's stadium holds more than 114,000 fans, and for this game almost all of them wore white. This is called a 'White Out,' and it makes visiting teams feel very small. USC had never won a game at Penn State before, and most people outside the team expected that streak to continue. Riley said almost nobody believed his team would break through — but his players never stopped believing in themselves.

The Trojans won because they played better than expected in areas where people thought they were weak. Quarterback Jayden Maiava had struggled in recent weeks, but he looked sharp against Penn State. He completed 21 of 33 passes for 301 yards and three touchdowns without giving the ball away once. Maiava's success had a lot to do with two key receivers who were healthy and ready to play.

Wide receiver Trent Mosley had missed two games with an injury, and his return made a big difference. He caught nine passes for 111 yards and a touchdown. Tanook Hines added four catches for 82 yards and a score. With those two players on the field, the passing game opened up room for running back King Miller, who rushed for 102 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries.

USC's defense also stepped up in a major way. Coordinator Gary Patterson recently moved from the sideline to the press box to help speed up communication with his players. Linebacker Desman Stephens II returned from a one-game suspension and led the team with nine tackles. Players like Luke Wafle and Kennedy Urlacher also recorded sacks, putting pressure on Penn State's offense.

Coach Riley also made some very smart decisions during the game. He started the second half with an onside kick, sending a clear message that USC was willing to take risks to win. Late in the fourth quarter, Riley kept his offense on the field on a fourth-down play near his own end zone. Penn State coach Matt Campbell used his last timeout hoping to get the ball back, but it backfired on him.

After USC's defense forced a turnover, Riley's offense ran down the clock. Penn State then jumped offside on a fourth-down play, giving USC a free first down. The Trojans took a knee to end the game. USC also only had three penalties the whole game, which was a big improvement for a team that had been hurting itself with too many flags all season.

After the game, Riley talked about hearing fans chant for him to be fired earlier in the season. He said his team blocked out all the outside noise and focused on the work. 'Our team knows how good of a team we have in that locker room and didn't flinch,' he said. Riley has now coached at two famous football programs, and he believes dealing with high expectations is part of the job.

In other USC sports news, the women's volleyball team earned a win over No. 15 Indiana on Sunday. Assistant coach Megan Moenoa has been serving as interim head coach while head coach Brad Keller takes personal leave. Sophomore Abigail Mullen led the team with 11 kills, four blocks, and nine digs. Freshman Milly McGee added 31 assists to help the Trojans pick up the road victory.