Lincoln Riley has to solve Big Ten road game problem at Penn State

Lincoln Riley, the head coach of the USC Trojans, has been struggling with his team's performance in Big Ten road games. Despite occasional victories, USC has never displayed a dominant, complete, or strong performance away from home. Riley's teams have lost at Maryland, Minnesota, and Illinois in recent seasons. Even when they managed a win, such as last year's seven-point victory over Rutgers, it was an unsightly and sloppy display.

Riley's challenges in the Big Ten are further highlighted by his failure to win at Penn State. This year's game against the Nittany Lions offered no indication that any change may be forthcoming in USC's third year in the conference. USC's advantage over Penn State lies in their superior talent, with players like Jayden Maiava, Elijah Paige, Mosley, and Bowman potentially making a significant impact.

However, USC's track record in Big Ten road games suggests that this numerical edge alone may not be enough to secure victories.

Penn State's season started off on shaky grounds, with the departure of Jon Heacock, a crucial part of the Cyclones' success as their defensive coordinator. With this loss in the department, it remains to be seen if Riley can prove himself capable of turning USC's fortunes around in the Big Ten.