No. 5 Penn State and No. 9 USC meet in this year’s Rose Bowl, which is celebrating its 103rd anniversary. The game was a classic that we’ll be talking about for a long time.
Rose Bowl 2017 Scores, highlights, and news from USC’s epic win over Penn State
The Grandaddy of ‘Em All certainly lived up to the billing.
Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
Below are notes and highlights of scores and big plays from the game.
FINAL: USC 52, Penn State 49.
Penn State 49, USC 49 (1:50, 4Q).
Tie. Ball. Game.
Deonta Burnett, again.
Penn State 49, USC 42 (1:50, 4Q).
80 yards to go. USC ball. For the Grandaddy Of ‘Em All.
Penn State 49, USC 42 (8:15, 4Q).
Ronald Jones’ TD from 3-yards out was fine. But JuJu Smith-Schuster’s circus grab was special, after being review it was ruled a catch.
Penn State 49, USC 35 (13:55, 4Q).
It’s a fumble! But after review, Penn State is given the ball back after it was determined a player on the ground retained possession.
Penn State 49, USC 35 (1:43, 3Q).
Horrible situation for the Trojans. All-world athlete Adoree’ Jackson get hurt on a kick return, his status is unclear. He was helped off of the field by the trainers. ESPN’s Samantha Ponder said it was a right ankle injury, and after Jackson took his shoe off he was unable to put it back on. Jackson could be seen on the sideline trying out a different size cleat.
Penn State 49, USC 35 (1:55, 3Q).
Trace McSorley scores with a 7-yard TD pass to Saquon Barkley, but should it have stood?
Penn State 42, USC 35 (2:36, 3Q).
USC’s Cameron Smith gets ejected for targeting. It was the right call.
Penn State 42, USC 35 (6:40, 3Q).
BREAKING NEWS: Penn State does not score on an offensive play.
Penn State 42, USC 35 (6:47, 3Q).
If the TDs have mostly been wild, why should the 2-point conversions be any different? The Trojans get back on track offensively with a methodical 10-play, 65-yard drive. The 13-yard TD pass to JuJu Smith-Schuster was a normal play. The PAT was not. Neither the setup ...
ESPN
... nor the execution.
Penn State 42, USC 27 (10:26, 3Q).
Six straight drives, six straight TD. That’s how a 20-7 deficit becomes a 15 point lead. Penn State has scored on four straight offensive plays after Trace McSorley pounds in a 3-yard run.
Penn State 35, USC 27 (11:27, 3Q).
Lol.
It’s Chris Godwin, again, for 72 yards.
Penn State 28, USC 27 (13:05, 3Q).
Oh, you thought this thing was gonna chill out in the second half? Oh no. Saquon Barkley wouldn’t let that happens. Barkley opens with this 79-yard TD run, and we’ve picked up right where we left off.
HALFTIME.
You could say that McSorley’s turned things around.
USC 27, Penn State 21 (:54, 2Q).
Tight end Mike Gesicki has some heroics for you too as he uses every single inch of his body length to bring this ball in.
Penn State’s Chris Godwin essentially uses the force to catch this ball. This ended up being arguably the second-best catch of the drive because of the TD because of the one above.
USC 27, Penn State 14 (6:16, 2Q).
Alright, now this game’s just silly. Sam Darnold cracks back for the Trojans.
At least our dueling blogs are in agreement about something today.
USC 20, Penn State 14 (8:39, 2Q).
30-yard TD that was just pure beauty from Trace McSorley, and the Nittany Lions have “answered the answer,” as ESPN’s Chris Fowler said.
USC 20, Penn State 7 (10:15, 2Q).
It took a review, but this Miles Sanders 4-yard TD would stand. And USC answers.
Quarterback Sam Darnold’s pass to Burnett doesn’t cross the neutral zone at all. Burnett catches the ball just behind the line of scrimmage, which means Smith-Schuster can’t be pass-interfering. And because Smith-Schuster isn’t otherwise holding or illegally roughing up Campbell, he’s OK. This is clearly not a penalty, and officials eventually made the right call.
USC 13, Penn State 7 (11:44, 2Q).
Saquon Barkley does it again. He’s an unreal running back, and it’s easy to see why on his 24-yard score.
USC 13, Penn State 0 (:21, 1Q).
The Trojans extend their lead. Matt Boermeester is true from 44 yards this time.
USC 10, Penn State 0 (3:21, 1Q).
Adoree’ Jackson allllmost takes a punt back to the house, but it gets called back after a flag.
USC 10, Penn State 0 (4:42, 1Q).
USC’s Matt Boermeester isn’t missing this time. His 22-yarder gives the Trojans a two-score lead.
USC 7, Penn State 0 (10:31, 1Q).
After Trace McSorley’s second interception of the day (on his third throw) ...
... the Trojans are able to make the Nittany Lions pay with a 26-yard Deonta Burnett TD reception.
USC 0, Penn State 0 (13:49, 1Q).
USC is unable to capitalize, after missing a 51-yard field goal.
5:13 ET
Ok, now we actually do have disaster on the first play of the game for Penn State. QB Trace McSorley
5:12 ET
We have kickoff! And, almost disaster after Penn State’s Miles Sanders flubs it on the return.
Here’s a stream with constant updates all game long.
Penn State ended its 2016 season as the Big Ten champion. The Nittany Lions’ win over Ohio State earlier in the season keyed a brilliant late-year run, and while they came up short of a Playoff bid, the Rose Bowl isn’t such a bad place to land.
USC struggled out of the gates this year, starting 1-3. But the Trojans have rattled off eight victories in a row behind redshirt freshman quarterback Sam Darnold, including one against Playoff participant Washington. Combined, the Lions and Trojans have won their last 17 games. Something has to give on Monday.
Needless to say, the rematch of the 2009 Rose Bowl between these two teams (USC won that one 38-24) should be a good one. USC is a 6.5-point favorite over Penn State. The Nittany Lions have a 42 percent chance to win, per S&P+ projections.
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