It may not be the College Football Playoff opportunity that the Nittany Lions were hoping for after beating Wisconsin in the Big Ten title game, but Penn State will get the chance to play a powerful USC team in the Rose Bowl on January 2.
The "granddaddy of them all" is a fitting reward for James Franklin's Lions (11-2), a team that handed Ohio State its only defeat and has made a habit of rallying in the second half to record many of its victories this season.
Both teams have been red-hot down the stretch. Penn State has won nine straight games to earn its spot in the Rose Bowl, while USC (9-3) has reeled off eight straight victories after losing three of its first four games.
USC head coach Clay Helton said that the meeting with Penn State could be one of the top matchups of the bowl season.
“I think you’re dealing with two of the hotter teams in the country right now if you look at Penn State on a nine-game win streak, us on an eight-game win streak,” Helton told John McGonigal of the Centre Daily Times. “I think it makes for fabulous TV, that’s for sure."
USC features a balanced offense led by quarterback Sam Darnold, who came off the bench to become the Trojans' first-teamer. He has thrown for 2,497 yards and 24 touchdowns in the nine games he has started.
Running back Ronald Jones II has given the Trojans the running game they have needed. He has become a key player in the second half of the season by rushing for 1,027 yards on 157 carries.
Darnold and Jones will have to be at their best, because the Penn State duo of Trace McSorley and Saquon Barkley can be formidable.
McSorley has not gotten the publicity that previous quarterback Christian Hackenberg received when he was running the Penn State offense, but he may be the better and more effective leader. McSorley has thrown for 3,360 yards this season and has a 25-5 TD-to-interception ratio.
Barkley is a hard-nosed running back who combines power and speed. He has rushed for 1,302 yards and 16 touchdowns this season, and he seems to thrive on work and hard contact.
The time off between the Big Ten title game and the Rose Bowl should help Barkley quite a bit. He was playing with an ankle problem at the end of the season, and he could be much quicker by the time the Rose Bowl kicks off.
Adoree' Jackson is an X-factor and a special player for the Trojans. He is a sharp defensive back (four interceptions) and an even better return specialist. He has returned two punts and two kickoffs for touchdowns this season, and like Michigan's Jabrill Peppers, he can play offense in addition to his other duties.
One of the key factors in this game will be Penn State's ability to put pressure on Darnold. After a slow start, the Nittany Lions pass rush has improved in the second half of the season. They have registered at least three sacks in six of their final seven games.
However, that unit will be tested severely by USC's stellar offensive line. The Trojans led the Pac-12 by allowing 11 sacks in 12 games. If Darnold is allowed to set up and throw the ball without significant pressure, it could give the Trojans the edge they need to outlast Penn State in the Rose Bowl.
Prediction
These teams have both redeemed themselves after slow starts this year. Critics were howling about the jobs that Franklin and Helton were doing in September, but both coaches found a way to turn awful starts into spectacular rallies.
Penn State has made a name for itself with its ability to come from behind in the second half of games. That has been the team's signature throughout the second half of the season, and that was the case in its 38-31 victory over Wisconsin in the Big Ten title game. Penn State trailed by a 28-7 margin in the second quarter before turning the game around.
USC is a fast-starting team, and it hopes to use that technique to get a leg up on the Nittany Lions.
Look for Darnold, Jones and Jackson to get the jump on the Nittany Lions. While Penn State may rally, we don't see them catching the Trojans. USC comes away with a 34-24 victory in the Rose Bowl.
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