USC vs Penn State head-to-head: position-by-position star ratings, experience, and composite grades on CFB Matchup. They meet Week 6, Saturday, October 10, 2026.
The Breakdown
Penn State 68, USC 61 — Rocco Becht's 4★ arm and a 4★ backfield carry it.
When USC has the ball: 3.2★ O-line meets Penn State's 3.5★ D-line; 3.7★ receivers, 1.7 years, face a 3.8★ secondary.
When Penn State has the ball: Carson Hansen, 4★, runs at USC's 3★ linebackers averaging 2.3 years — the game's biggest cross-unit gap.
Swing factor: QB duel tilts it: Becht 4★, four years; Jayden Maiava 3★, four years. Penn State starts 12 portal additions.
X-factor: October Saturday in Beaver Stadium, Week 6, and Vegas still lists Penn State by only 1.5.