‘Jayden Maiava Cooked Big Time’ — USC Quarterback Throws for 301 Yards Without an Interception as Trojans Hand Penn State Another Loss

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

No. 19 USC beat Penn State 31-23 on Saturday night in the White Out at Beaver Stadium, and the Trojans wasted little time celebrating the Big Ten road win.

The win sent USC (6-1, 3-1 Big Ten) into its bye week and handed Penn State (3-3) a third straight loss under first-year coach Matt Campbell.

Quarterback Jayden Maiava threw three touchdown passes, the last a 10-yard strike to Kayden Dixon-Wyatt early in the fourth quarter that made it 31-23.

Jayden Maiava and King Miller Lead USC Past Penn State

“B1G road W,” the USC Trojans posted after the game, celebrating a sixth win that made them bowl eligible.

USC scored on its opening drive, when Maiava hit freshman receiver Trent Mosley for a 19-yard touchdown, and finished with 430 total yards while converting both of its fourth-down tries.

“Jayden Maiava cooked big time and King Miller did really well in the rushing game,” one fan wrote, answering USC’s post.

The box score backs both points. Maiava completed 21 passes for 301 yards with no interceptions, and running back King Miller carried 19 times for 102 yards and a touchdown.

BEST OFFENSES, RANKED:PFN’s CFB Offense Impact Rankings

Those numbers fit what Pro Football Network’s grades showed coming into the game. Maiava’s PFN Impact grade of 83.6 through Week 5 ranks 28th of 165 graded and qualified quarterbacks in the FBS, and the senior’s PFN Impact pass grade is 91.1.

Miller’s PFN Impact grade of 86.8 through Week 5 ranks 11th of 369 graded and qualified running backs in the FBS.

“USC is a completely different offense with Trent Mosley,” another fan wrote. “Will be next level with Bowman back.”

Back from a knee injury that had him listed as out or doubtful in each of the previous three weeks, Mosley caught nine passes for 111 yards. USC played without tight end Mark Bowman and starting left tackle Elijah Paige, both ruled out before kickoff.

Mosley’s PFN Impact grade of 88.9 through Week 5 ranks tied for 25th of 718 graded and qualified wide receivers in the FBS. As a unit, USC’s PFN Impact grade of 90.1 through Week 5 ranks seventh of 138 graded team offenses in the FBS, with a PFN Impact pass-game grade of 91.4.

USC Survives White Out Test to Beat Penn State

“Walked into a White Out and walked out 6-1,” another fan wrote of the Penn State tradition, which began in 2007 and dresses the Beaver Stadium crowd in white.

With the game tied 17-17 at halftime, USC opened the third quarter with a surprise onside kick that Penn State recovered, and Ryan Barker’s 35-yard field goal gave the Nittany Lions their first lead of the night, 20-17.

Miller’s 13-yard touchdown run put USC back in front for good, and Penn State’s only other points came on a 26-yard Barker field goal early in the fourth quarter. The Nittany Lions finished with 68 rushing yards on 31 carries. Safety Christian Pierce forced a fumble that Chasen Johnson recovered with under four minutes left before USC ran down the clock.

EVERY QB, GRADED:PFN’s CFB QB Impact Rankings

Another fan addressed USC coach Lincoln Riley directly. “An East Coast win in the White Out!? You survive another week, Linc!”

Before the game, Onward State’s preview described Riley as “firmly on the hot seat,” and CBS Sports’ Tom Fornelli wrote that USC had struggled on the road under Riley. Fornelli added that a second loss, on top of the Trojans’ 41-27 home defeat against Oregon on September 26, could badly damage their playoff hopes.

Looking Ahead in Week 8 to Wisconsin

USC is off in Week 7, then returns October 24 for a Week 8 trip to Wisconsin before hosting Ohio State on October 31.

“6-1. We control our destiny,” another wrote.

As of October 10, 2026, PFN’s College Football Playoff Meter gave USC a 10.4% chance to make the playoff entering the Penn State game and projected that a win would raise it to 14.5%, along with a 7.1% chance to reach the Big Ten title game.

PFN’s College Football Playoff Meter also gave USC a 64.0% chance to win at Wisconsin and a 23.8% chance to beat Ohio State, and it projected that a win over the Buckeyes would push the Trojans’ playoff odds to 30.2%.

This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos