Victory Bell Rings
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Penn State vs USC Grades

By Shane Lunnen

Jan 2, 2017; Pasadena, CA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Shane Simmons (34) and cornerback Zech McPhearson (14) enter the field before the 2017 Rose Bowl game against the USC Trojans at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 2, 2017; Pasadena, CA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Shane Simmons (34) and cornerback Zech McPhearson (14) enter the field before the 2017 Rose Bowl game against the USC Trojans at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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January 2, 2017; Pasadena, CA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions safety Malik Golden (6) reacts following the 52-49 loss against the Southern California in the 2017 Rose Bowl game at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
January 2, 2017; Pasadena, CA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions safety Malik Golden (6) reacts following the 52-49 loss against the Southern California in the 2017 Rose Bowl game at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

Secondary

Malik Golden’s look above sums up what we all felt after the game, and the secondary was a big part of the reason why Penn State lost.

The secondary was completely overmatched at times by USC’s speedy receivers and Sam Darnold threw for over 450 yards and five scores.

You can’t win games like that.

To the players credit, there were times where the coverage was right there but Darnold thread the needle and put it just where his guy could get it.  The two pass interference penalties on USC’s game tying drive were killer.

Grade: D

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