Nicholas Shaub

Lebo Baseball 13|Lebo '17|PSU' 21

[PSU Pulse @OaktownO]

My takeaway from tonight’s 31–23 loss to USC:

I’m disappointed, but I’m not walking away from this game feeling the same way I did after Northwestern.

Penn State competed tonight. They answered USC repeatedly, went into halftime tied 17–17 and took a 20–17 lead in the third quarter. Rocco Becht threw for 285 yards, Chase Sowell gave us some explosive plays, and overall the offense showed more life.

But there are still some glaring problems.

The tackling has to get better. USC finished with 430 yards and averaged 6.8 yards per play. Jayden Maiava threw for 301 yards and three touchdowns. Too many times Penn State defenders were in position to make a play and simply didn’t finish the tackle.

And the timeout management in the second half was terrible. Penn State burned through all three timeouts far too early, including allowing USC to bait them into using the final one with a fourth-down formation deep in USC territory. There was absolutely no reason to leave yourself without a timeout in a one-score game. When Penn State desperately needed those timeouts late, they were gone.

That’s coaching. And in a close game against a ranked opponent, those little things matter.

The frustrating part is that Penn State still had an opportunity. Down 31–23 with just over four minutes remaining, Becht hit Brett Eskildsen for 21 yards and Penn State was moving… then the fumble ended any realistic chance of completing the comeback. USC recovered and never gave the ball back.

Penn State and USC each ran exactly 63 plays and possessed the ball for essentially 30 minutes apiece. This wasn’t a mismatch. USC simply did more with its opportunities: 430 yards to 353, 6.8 yards per play to 5.6, and most importantly, USC didn’t turn the ball over while Penn State did.

So yes, Penn State is 3–3 and this season has gone nowhere close to what any of us expected.

Franklin needed to go, and I still believe that. But this is clearly a rebuilding year now. I’m looking for improvement, young players developing, better fundamentals and better coaching decisions as the season progresses.

Tonight wasn’t good enough.

But it was better.

Now build on it. 🔵⚪️

#WeAre #PennStateFootball

[Dear Old State @_DearOldState]

No pressure on the QB all game is a very big issue

[Onward Sports @OnwardStSports]

BEAVER STADIUM BREAKS ITS ALL-TIME ATTENDANCE RECORD:

114,419

[LandonTengwall @LandonTengwall]

Please stop only rushing 3

[Joe Smeltzer @joesmeltzer775]

Tonight’s Penn State attendance.

A new record.

[Penn State Football @PennStateFball]

There's nothing like it.

Beaver Stadium Attendance Record ☑️

#WeAre

[Mike Poorman @PSUPoorman]

Penn State team entrance
2026 WhiteOut vs. USC
Beaver Stadium

[Barstool Sports @barstoolsports]

Dave Portnoy reduced a pizza store owner slash cancer survivor to TEARS after revealing how high his One Bite score was gonna be

[Penn State Football @PennStateFball]

⚪️🔊

[Beaver Stadium @beaver_stadium]

WAKE UP, IT’S GAME DAY ❕

[Górski Lion @gorski_lion]

110 THOUSAND ROCKING BEAVER STADIUM!

LION UP NITTANY NATION!!

LETS TAKE DOWN THE TROJANS!

WE ARE PENN STATE!!!

[Penn State Football @PennStateFball]

Something new for the White Out.

Look up at halftime for a special drone show.

#WeAre /// @adidas

[Andrew @AndrewDahDude]

The entire fanbase needs to watch this video.

[Pittsburgh Penguins @penguins]

Legend, icon, hero.

Happy birthday to the one and only, Le Magnifique!

[Sportsnet @Sportsnet]

A HUGE ovation for Mario Lemieux as he's introduced ahead of the Penguins' home opener 🔊💛

[Pittsburgh Penguins @penguins]

A puck drop 60 seasons in the making 🏒

[SportsNet Pittsburgh @SNPittsburgh]

THE BIG 3 IS BACK FOR SEASON 21 🔥

SIDNEY CROSBY
EVGENI MALKIN
KRIS LETANG

[Barstool Sports @barstoolsports]

105 year old WWII veteran Dominick Critelli played the National Anthem on the Sax before the Islanders game

American Hero 🇺🇸

[Spittin' Chiclets @spittinchiclets]

THE CROWD ERUPTED FOR SUPER MARIO 🗣️

[Pittsburgh Penguins @penguins]

Le Magnifique is in the building 🙌