Penn State has opened as an underdog for the first time in the 2026 season. Following back-to-back loses to begin Big Ten play, the Nittany Lions will be a 1.5-point home underdog when they face USC on Saturday.

Despite the game being the annual White Out, the oddsmakers are still not confident in Penn State’s chances to win at home. The concerns continue to grow for Penn State after losses to Wisconsin and Northwestern, dropping them to 3-2 and 0-2 in the Big Ten.

Advertisement

The Nittany Lions lost 24-20 to Wisconsin in week four, despite starting the game with a 17-0 lead. A stagnant offense left the door open for the Badgers, who were able to complete the comeback in the final minutes for a 24-20 victory following a stunning collapse by Penn State.

The Nittany Lions offensive woes continued on Friday, as they were dismantled 34-13 by Northwestern. This time around, the defense also performed poorly as they allowed over 400 rushing yards against a Wildcats team that outplayed the Nittany Lions from start to finish.

The team is seeking answer as they prepare to host USC on Friday night, before a road trip to Michigan the following week.

USC stands at 5-1 after defeating former PAC-12 foe Washington on Saturday night, 25-21. The Trojans lost their first game of the season the previous week, a 41-27 loss to Oregon. Penn State and USC will meet for the first time since 2024, when Penn State won a dramatic 33-30 overtime victory in The Coliseum.

Penn State and USC kickoff Saturday at 7:30 p.m. from Beaver Stadium, with coverage provided by NBC.