Penn State-USC game matches D’Anton Lynn against Lincoln Riley, his ex-boss
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Penn State defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn knows USC coach Lincoln Riley very well.
Lynn spent the last two seasons as the Trojans’ defensive coordinator and the 2023 season at UCLA, USC’s archrival.
“He’s tough because he really doesn’t have a playbook,” Lynn said about Riley. “He’s going to do what his guys do best. He probably has the best scheme beaters in the country if he knows what you’re in.”
Lynn’s challenge when Penn State (0-2 Big Ten, 3-2) takes on No. 19 USC (2-1, 5-1) Saturday night at 7:30 (TV-NBC) at Beaver Stadium is disguising the defense well enough to keep Riley guessing.
The annual White Out Game matches the Nittany Lions’ strong secondary against the Trojans’ dynamic receivers.
Penn State ranks third nationally in passing yards allowed and pass efficiency defense. Behind quarterback Jayden Maiava, USC ranks 12th in passing yards and 21st in pass efficiency.
Maiava has completed 68.6% of his attempts for 1,744 yards and 15 touchdowns with three interceptions. The Trojans have plenty of talent on the perimeter with wide receivers Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, Zacharyus Williams and Tanook Hines and tight end Mark Bowman.
Hines was asked earlier this week what stood out about the Penn State secondary.
“Not much,” he said. “Probably just the stadium.”
Cornerbacks Audavion Collins, Daryus Dixson and Zion Tracy and safeties Jeremiah Cooper, Marcus Neal and Jamison Patton have allowed just two touchdown passes in five games.
But they’ll be facing the best quarterback and the best set of receivers they might see all season. Plus, a highly regarded play caller in Riley.
“You can’t look up at the stats,” Lynn said. “They’re going to move the ball. They’re going to have plays. We need to be great on third down. We need to be great in the red zone. We need to stop the run. Don’t give them chunk plays. Make them drive down the field.”
Penn State is coming off a terrible performance in a 34-13 blowout loss at Northwestern. The Lions missed many tackles and allowed a mind-boggling 413 rushing yards, the fourth-most by an opponent since 1947.
“We have to have consistency with our fits and our tackling,” Lynn said.
On offense, Penn State netted just 48 rushing yards and veteran quarterback Rocco Becht missed several open receivers on his way to completing 26-of-41 passes for 243 yards and one TD with two interceptions.
Two weeks ago, the offense struggled in a 24-20 Homecoming loss to Wisconsin, a game in which the Lions blew a 17-0 lead.
“We’re still not exactly where we need to be or want to be on the offensive line,” Penn State coach Matt Campbell said, “whether that’s the receiver position blocking in the run game or at times our tailbacks in the run game.
“I think those things are real and those are things that must get better. When it’s not working, it certainly stresses the entire organism.”
USC’s defense also has struggled, despite Riley hiring former TCU coach Gary Patterson to replace Lynn.
The Trojans rank 89th in scoring defense, 68th in total defense and 97th in passing defense. They allowed Rutgers to gain 460 total yards and Oregon 504 yards before limiting Washington to 319 last week.
The prime matchup, though, is USC’s passing game against Penn State’s pass defense.
“D’Anton’s a really good coach,” Riley said. “He’s always been very multiple. He’s always done a really good job with the secondary. He has a good group of DBs, it looks like. They have some experience and good players back there.”
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Rich Scarcella’s pick
USC 30, Penn State 27
The Nittany Lions will be pumped up for the White Out and want to make amends for their performance last week at Northwestern. The Trojans, who are making their first trip to Beaver Stadium since 1994, are vulnerable on defense but have the best offense that Penn State will have seen. Let’s go with the more talented team.
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