UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. (Interstat) — Southern California rode a productive passing game and timely defense to a 31-23 victory over Penn State in an NCAA Football Bowl Division game Saturday at Beaver Stadium. The Trojans improved to 6-1, while the Nittany Lions fell to 3-3.

Jayden Maiava, a 6-foot-4, 220-pound quarterback from Las Vegas, was Southern California’s top star. He completed 21 of 33 passes for 301 yards and three touchdowns. Maiava repeatedly attacked Penn State’s secondary and made key throws throughout the afternoon. Trent Mosley, a 5-foot-10, 180-pound receiver, was his leading target, catching nine passes for 111 yards and a touchdown while adding a 9-yard run. Tanook Hines, a 6-foot, 195-pound receiver, caught four passes for 82 yards and a touchdown. Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound receiver, had two receptions for 28 yards and a touchdown. Zacharyus Williams, a 6-foot-2, 191-pound receiver, added four catches for 57 yards. Tucker Ashcraft, a 6-foot-5, 245-pound tight end, made one reception for 12 yards. Ethan Feaster, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound receiver, had one catch for 11 yards and a 25-yard kick return.

Rocco Becht, a 6-foot-1, 199-pound quarterback, kept Penn State close, completing 21 of 32 passes for 289 yards and one touchdown while rushing 10 times for 20 yards. Andrew Rappleyea, a 6-foot-4, 250-pound tight end, caught seven passes for 63 yards and a touchdown. Chase Sowell, a 6-foot-3, 185-pound receiver, had four receptions for 95 yards. Brett Eskildsen, a 6-foot-1, 195-pound receiver, added four catches for 70 yards. Gabe Burkle, a 6-foot-5, 260-pound tight end, made three receptions for 29 yards. Zay Robinson, a 5-foot-11, 185-pound receiver, had one catch for 18 yards and returned two punts for 10 yards. Benjamin Brahmer, a 6-foot-7, 240-pound tight end, finished with one reception for 4 yards. Carson Hansen, a 6-foot-2, 210-pound running back, rushed 14 times for 28 yards and a touchdown, and he caught one pass for 10 yards. James Peoples, a 5-foot-10, 203-pound running back, carried seven times for 20 yards.

Southern California scored 10 points in the first quarter, seven in the second, seven in the third and seven in the fourth. Penn State scored 10 in the first, three in the second, three in the third and seven in the fourth. Southern California opened the scoring in the first quarter when Maiava connected with Mosley for a 19-yard touchdown. Penn State answered later in the period when Becht found Rappleyea for a 13-yard score, and Ryan Barker’s extra point followed. In the second quarter, Maiava hit Hines for an 11-yard touchdown. Penn State responded with Hansen’s 3-yard touchdown run following a review. Southern California’s Ryon Sayeri missed a 56-yard field goal, but Caden Chittenden made a 37-yard field goal later in the quarter. In the third quarter, Barker made a 35-yard field goal for Penn State. Southern California answered when K. Miller rushed left for a 13-yard touchdown, and Chittenden added the extra point. In the fourth quarter, Barker connected on a 26-yard field goal, and Maiava found Dixon-Wyatt for a 10-yard touchdown. Chittenden’s kick capped the Trojans’ scoring.

Desman Stephens II, a 6-foot-3, 233-pound linebacker, led Southern California with nine tackles. Deven Bryant, a 5-foot-11, 216-pound linebacker, added six stops. Luke Wafle, a 6-foot-6, 265-pound defensive end, recorded five tackles and one sack. Christian Pierce, a 6-foot-1, 195-pound safety, also had five tackles. Alex Graham, a 6-foot, 200-pound cornerback, and Kameryn Crawford, a 6-foot-6, 265-pound defensive end, each made four tackles, with Crawford adding two quarterback hurries. Kennedy Urlacher, a 5-foot-11, 196-pound safety, finished with three tackles and one sack. Jahkeem Stewart, a 6-foot-5, 290-pound defensive end, had three tackles and one quarterback hurry. Zuriah Fisher, a 6-foot-3, 246-pound defensive end, and Jontez Williams, a 5-foot-11, 200-pound defensive back, each recorded three tackles. Chasen Johnson had two tackles. RJ Sermons and Alex VanSumeren each made two tackles. Jaimeon Winfield, Ryan O’Connell, Marcelles Williams, Jamaal Jarrett, Jadyn Walker, Elijah Newby, Ta’Mere Robinson, Braylan Shelby, Prophet Brown and Jadyn Ramos each had one tackle. Ramos also returned one kickoff for 2 yards.

Tony Rojas, a 6-foot-2, 225-pound linebacker, led Penn State with 10 tackles and one sack. Zion Tracy, a 5-foot-11, 182-pound cornerback, and Jamison Patton each made five stops. Kooper Ebel, a 6-foot-4, 225-pound linebacker, and Dallas Vakalahi, a 6-foot-2, 305-pound tackle, each recorded four tackles. Siale Taupaki, a 6-foot-4, 310-pound defensive lineman, and Daryus Dixson, a 6-foot, 191-pound cornerback, each finished with three tackles. Josiah Zayas had three tackles and one quarterback hurry.

Southern California’s Lachlan Carrigan punted twice for 105 yards. Chittenden made a 37-yard field goal and handled extra points, while Sayeri missed from 56 yards. Penn State’s Barker made field goals of 35 and 26 yards and converted extra points. Robinson returned two punts for 10 yards for Penn State, and Feaster had a 25-yard kick return for the Trojans.

An announced crowd of 114,419 watched Southern California improve to 6-1 and Penn State fall to 3-3. The Trojans entered after a win over Washington and a loss to Oregon, and they also had wins over Rutgers, Louisiana, Fresno State and San Jose State. Penn State had recently dropped games to Northwestern and Wisconsin, and the Nittany Lions had beaten Buffalo, Temple and Marshall. The Trojans’ defense limited Penn State to field goals on several key possessions, while the Nittany Lions’ defense kept the game within reach until the fourth quarter. Southern California next plays at Wisconsin. Penn State next plays at Michigan.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Penn State 41, Southern California 32. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Penn State with a 61.3 percent probability to win. Penn State had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus 1.5. The total score of 54 went over the over-under line of 54.5.