- No new injuries. However, the MRI came back on freshman OT Nathan Smith, and he suffered a torn ACL, said head coach Clay Helton. They will try to surgically repair the ligament as soon as possible in hopes that Smith can rehab in time for next season.
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Penn State's offense was the talk of the day led by sophomore QB Trace McSorley (pictured). "He kind of reminds me of Sam [Darnold] because he has great pocket presence," said Helton about McSorley, who is the Nittany Lions' second leading rusher. "We've got to do a wonderful job of keeping him hemmed up in the pocket."
- While McSorley is mobile, he can make big plays with his arm as well. Penn State's offense is known for its explosiveness, ranking fourth in the nation in plays gaining 40+ yards. "They are a lot different than some of the teams that we've played," said defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast about the Nittany Lions. "They take a lot of shots down the field. They have a lot of deep threats."
- Pendergast has a month to put together this game plan, so he "spent a lot of time looking at us and seeing where we need to get better" before breaking down Penn State's tendencies.
- Sophomore OLB Porter Gustin is a great example of a player who has taken to coaching this season and grown by "leaps and bounds," said the Trojans' sack leader. He comes into the Rose Bowl with six tackles-for-loss over his last four games, accounting for half his season's total.
- While Gustin and the Trojans have experience playing in the Rose Bowl Stadium, they know that the Rose Bowl Game is a different animal. "We bring the intensity every game and we plan on doing the same thing," Gustin said. "I do think it will be a little more exciting to be playing in the Rose Bowl and be a part of the history here at USC."
- USC has a few juniors with important decisions to make, most notably CB Adoree' Jackson and WR JuJu Smith-Schuster. "I treat them just like I would my own son," said Helton about the process of staying in college or going to the NFL. "I try to provide them as much information as possible, so [they] and their families can make the best decisions possible."
- In assessing whether or not a player is ready for the league, Helton pointed out that the NFL likes "finished products," and they are not particularly patient with draft picks.
- Here is Helton's press conference on a chilly Wednesday evening:
