There was a feeling in this one, for most of the first half and a few parts of the second, that the chickens had again come home to roost. Or at least been packed in the luggage compartment for the flight from—ahem—Harrisburg.

Penn State was, once again, crapping the figurative bed against a marquee opponent on a marquee stage after weeks of gobbling up cupcakes. USC looked faster, sharper, better-coached, and more ready for the moment, even if the talent discrepancy between the teams was almost invisible. No, this wasn’t a game against Ohio State or Michigan but it was a game against a dangerous and desperate group led by a coach who knows a thing or two about scoring points. It was 20-6 at halftime but it felt like it could have been worse as easily as it could have been better, and the Nittany Lions knew they had to battle the southern California heat as well as a team that was gaining confidence with each drive after some disappointments of its own the last few weeks.

Instead of letting the moment take them, though, as they had so many times the last few seasons, this group of Nittany Lions took the moment and held on, emerging with an overtime win that maintained the trajectory of the season and arguably changed the direction of the program.

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Even absent much of the anticipated luster, Penn State’s trip out West to battle the Trojans offers a rare opportunity to flip the script on the program’s fortunes under James Franklin.

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The moment has arrived.

Among the many alluring qualities that draw us unceasingly back into sports fandom no matter how much or how often it inflicts nearly unbearable anguish, maybe the most satisfying is that sports offer us closure. A final score. An ultimate champion. No matter the length of the season or intensity of the build-up, in the end, there is always the denouement. A cold, uncaring universe offers little of the certainty our brains so desperately crave, but sports will always give us an answer, even if it is often the one we didn’t want. Wait long enough, and the moment – the answer – will always come.

For James Franklin and the Penn State football program, one such verdict is now merely hours away from declaration. No matter the outcome on a Sun-splashed afternoon in the Los Angeles Coliseum, a judgement on the Nittany Lions’ 2024 season, and perhaps a whole lot more, will be rendered. Many questions, some newly formed and others long-simmering, will finally get resolved when Penn State’s game at USC goes final.

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Penn State WR Liam Clifford’s breakout Saturday performance was aided by a  pair of chunk receptions featuring a route concept that’s popular on Sundays.

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An NFL-level QB calls for NFL-level concepts.

Aside from exotic formations, shifts, motions, option schemes and more…it’s important to recognize the portion of the Penn State offense that includes well-executed, sound passing concepts that quarterback 15-Drew Allar thrives in.

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Penn State’s afternoon started like an old man trying to get the blood circulating after waking up—slowly, deliberately, with a few creaks and groans along the way.

It ended ignominiously, with a touchdown surrendered in the final minute on a semi-busted coverage by a freshman safety.

And yet, once again, in the middle, the Nittany Lions did the things they needed to do against an opponent they needed to beat, headlocking a sloppy UCLA squad for a 27-11 win and staying on track for the games that will determine their season.

And although another slow start and that rare late score allowed by the defense will probably be enough on their own to keep some grumbling, isn’t it about time we start celebrating these Nittany Lions for what they are rather than gripe about what they are not?

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