<body><div>USCFootball.com publisher Ryan Abraham gives Nittany Lion fans an insider's takes on the program heading into the big matchup with the No. 4 Nittany LionsNo. 4 <a href="https://247sports.com/college/penn-state/">Penn State</a> (5-0, 2-0) faces new Big Ten member <a href="https://247sports.com/college/usc/">USC</a> (3-2, 1-2) at LA Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles Saturday (<a href="https://247sports.com/college/penn-state/longformarticle/how-to-watch-no-4-penn-state-football-at-usc-on-cbs-paramount-237592227/">3:30 p.m. Eastern, CBS &amp; Paramount+</a>). In an effort to give you as much information about Lincoln Riley's Trojans ahead of the game, we asked longtime beat writer and <a href="https://247sports.com/college/usc/">USCFootball.com</a> publisher Ryan Abraham to answer five questions about the squad.Abraham and I go way back, to when we both appeared in-studio in Los Angeles on a no-longer produced college football show on NFL Network to preview the 2008 Rose Bowl featuring Penn State and USC. At the time, the two of us worked for competing online networks.But we eventually both landed at Scout.com and later 247Sports. And, as fate would have it, all of these years later we are covering two teams that somehow landed in the same conference.Here our my questions for Abraham. Be sure to check out the work he and the rest of the staff at <a href="https://247sports.com/college/usc/">USCFootball.com</a> do. <a href="https://247sports.com/college/penn-state/longformarticle/penn-state-usc-football-game-preview-know-the-foe-lincoln-riley-miller-moss-eric-gentry-237690679/#2510694">That includes reporter R.J. Abeytia answering questions from our own Tyler Donohue.</a><h2>Question 1</h2>This game was THIS close to being a matchup of Top 10 teams. Now it is No. 4 <a href="https://247sports.com/college/penn-state/">Penn State</a> versus the unranked Trojans. What is your take on where <a href="https://247sports.com/college/usc/">USC</a> is emotionally now that making the College Football Playoff appears to be a real long shot?I think for year one in the Big Ten, a spot in the newly expanded College Football Playoff was a realistic goal for USC. After beating <a href="https://247sports.com/college/lsu/">LSU</a> in <a href="https://247sports.com/nfl/las-vegas-raiders/">Las Vegas</a> to open the season it seemed even more realistic. The loss to <a href="https://247sports.com/college/michigan/">Michigan</a> was far more acceptable and understandable, the loss to <a href="https://247sports.com/college/minnesota/">Minnesota</a> was not. The Trojans only shot to make their first CFP would be to win out, which seems highly unlikely at this juncture.The current emotional state of the program is hard to tell, and I could see this team coming out and playing inspired football or laying an egg and getting rolled by a top-5 team. I feel it's more important for USC to figure out a way to get back to playing good football in all three phases and the wins will come. In other games I felt USC just needed to play B+ football and they would be fine, but they couldn't do that for half of the <a href="https://247sports.com/college/wisconsin/">Wisconsin</a> game and any of the Minnesota game. Now with the Nittany Lions coming to town, 60 minutes of B+ football probably isn't even going to be enough.________________<h2>Question 2</h2>What were the primary issues for <a href="https://247sports.com/college/usc/">USC</a> in the tight losses at <a href="https://247sports.com/college/michigan/">Michigan</a> and <a href="https://247sports.com/college/minnesota/">Minnesota</a>? And in the previous two seasons, how have you seen the program respond after dropping close games?On the offensive side it is the play of the offensive line, especially the tackles, dropped balls by the wide receivers and questionable situational play-calling late in games.USC's offensive line play has dropped off, especially in pass blocking, forcing <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/miller-moss-46051144/">Miller Moss</a> to get rid of the ball quickly and make instant reactions to the pressure. He's done a nice job on that front, getting the ball out and in the direction of his playmakers. The receivers have had some spectacular catches this season, but there have also been several critical drops, making matters worse. And late in games <a href="https://247sports.com/Coach/lincoln-riley-592/">Lincoln Riley</a> has had some calls he would have liked to have back, usually getting away from the run when it was working.As far as responding to close losses, that has been a mixed bag. Most recently USC played poorly in the first half against <a href="https://247sports.com/college/wisconsin/">Wisconsin</a> after the Michigan loss before blowing out the Badgers in the second half.________________<h2>Question 3</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3KqrTH_0w210Mrf00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3KqrTH_0w210Mrf00" width="620" height="320" ><figcaption>(Photo: Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)</figcaption></figure>Give us the lowdown on Miller Moss at quarterback. Penn State has been very good at getting to the passer but has been burned at times by QBs who can get rid of the ball quickly. Where is he on the spectrum of quarterbacks who need time to make decisions and quick-thinkers?I am not sure if getting rid of the ball quickly was Miller Moss' plan coming into the season, but he has been forced to do that because of the pressure he has been under. He is nowhere near as mobile as Caleb Williams was, but he has moved around the pocket really well and had a nice touchdown run on an RPO keeper against Wisconsin where he put a nasty spin move on a would-be tackler.Riley praised Moss' football IQ and from what we have seen, he manages that aspect of the game well. We've seen him make some amazing plays when he has time and some good ones when he doesn't. His first interception against Minnesota wasn't his fault, as his arm was hit almost immediately on a Golden Gophers 3-man rush. The combination of PSU's rush ends and USC's issues at tackle could make this a long afternoon for Moss, so he will be put to the test for sure.________________<h2>Question 4</h2>What does former <a href="https://247sports.com/college/penn-state/">Penn State</a> defensive back <a href="https://247sports.com/coach/DAnton-Lynn-5090">D'Anton Lynn</a> bring to the table as a defensive coordinator? It seems like yesterday that the 34-year-old was playing for the Nittany Lions. I'm sure PSU fans would love to know what a <a href="https://247sports.com/college/usc/">USC</a> beat writer thinks of him as a coach and when it comes to dealing with the media.Without D'Anton Lynn, USC doesn't beat <a href="https://247sports.com/college/lsu/">LSU</a> or Wisconsin. He has brought a legitimacy to that side of the ball, and it is night and day compared to the first two seasons under Riley. Maybe the most remarkable stretch for his defense came in a loss, where <a href="https://247sports.com/college/michigan/">Michigan</a> started the second half with three 3-and-outs, a one-play fumble, followed by another 3-and-out. The Wolverines didn't get a second-half first down until two minutes left in the game. That defense gave the Trojans a shot in a game they had no business winning.He has also been great to deal with and we usually get to interview him once a week after practice. He came on my Tunnel Vision show in the off-season as well. I was most impressed that an NFL guy was able to adjust to the college game so quickly.________________<h2>Question 5</h2>What is the perception of Penn State from the USC world? These two blue blood programs have had some GREAT (and not-so-great) matchups in the past. They've played a lot, relatively speaking, as non-conference foes from opposite sides of the country. Now that both teams are in the same conference, what's the vibe on the Nittany Lions in general and this matchup?This was one of the games that USC fans circled heading into the season. Everyone loves Las Vegas and the Trojans haven't played LSU in a long while, so that opener was one everyone wanted to check out. Of course, a trip to the Big House was a big one as well. But when it comes to the home games, Penn State and Notre Dame were the hot tickets.There was a lot of hope that both teams would be ranked in the top-10, but there is still a great opportunity for USC to get the upset win and get its season back on track. Most of the dialogue goes back to that classic Rose Bowl, but some fans have brought up the 1991 game where the Trojans lost to Memphis State the week before and then upset No. 4 PSU in the Coliseum.________________<h2>Bonus Question</h2>How do you see this game playing out and what are the keys for <a href="https://247sports.com/college/usc/">USC</a> to win as an underdog? Hit us with a score prediction, too, please.I do buy into the travel aspect playing a role and find it interesting that Big Ten teams traveling two or more time zones are just 1-8 this season. But I think that USC is going to miss <a href="https://247sports.com/Player/eric-gentry-46079326/">Eric Gentry</a> on defense, won't be able to block Penn State's pass rush and won't be able to get it done on Saturday.For USC to get the win it can't turn the ball over like they have in previous games and need to figure out a way to slow down the Lions edge rushers.These Big Ten games have been way lower scoring than I am used to, so I will go with PSU 31, USC 20.________________SAVE MONEY ON LIONS247 VIP: 30% OFF AN ANNUAL PASS!</div></body>

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Longtime USC expert answers five questions on Trojans ahead of Penn State game

USCFootball.com publisher Ryan Abraham gives Nittany Lion fans an insider's takes on the program heading into the big matchup with the No. 4 Nittany Lions. No. 4 Penn State (5-0, 2-0) faces new Big Ten member USC (3-2, 1-2) at LA Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles Saturday (3:30 p.m. Eastern, CBS & Paramount+). In an effort to give you as much information about Lincoln Riley's Trojans ahead of the game, we asked longtime beat writer and USCFootball.com publisher Ryan Abraham to answer five questions about the squad.

Longtime USC expert answers five questions on Trojans ahead of Penn State game

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