12 For 12:
In spite of Christmas this year, we are going forth with a 12 for 12 series. For each day counting down until Christmas, we will provide you with our list for the best college football games of the last 12 years, ranging from 2006-2018. We continue our list with #9, enjoy our list and leave your feedback in the comments below!
Date: January, 1st, 2017
Location: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Background Information:
USC. Penn State. 2 highly respected blue bloods on each side of the country. Penn State started out the season rocky with a loss to Pitt and getting blown out by 39 in the big house in Ann Arbor. After the Michigan game, Penn State would go on a roll winning 9 in a row including wins over #2 Ohio State and #6 Wisconsin in the Big 10 Championship Game. With a monster duo in the backfield with young Trace McSorely and Sophomore Saquon Barkley, Penn State had a dynamic offense on the brink of a very successful season with a win. For the Trojans, it was similar start to the season, although USC’s competition was a lot tougher. USC dropped 3 of their first four to #1 Alabama, #7 Stanford and #24 Utah. With Sam Darnold having the keys to the offense, USC would proceed to win 8 straight, including a 13 point win on the road to Jake Browning and John Ross-led Washington. Two red hot teams with two of the best offenses in the nation on one of the biggest stages in college football in the biggest environment. This was match made in heaven and looked to be an instant classic from the get go.
How the Instant Classic went down:
Penn State would came out of the gates struggling. They muffed the opening kick off and started from the 3 yard line. After Trace McSorely had been so efficient in the previous 8 games throwing for only 2 interceptions, would throw 2 interceptions in just the first quarter. Both interceptions were on the receivers, but CB Iman Marshall and Adoree Jackson would make McSorely pay as USC would cash in on 13 points as they were up through 1. Both offenses would come alive in the 2nd quarter as the teams combined for 35 points in just the quarter alone. Chris Godwin would make 2 fantastic catches with one in the corner of the end zone and one to convert on 3rd and long with a one handed catch on a ball thrown behind him. Although Penn State’s offense started getting going, it was still USC with the lead heading into halftime, up 27-21. Penn State would come out of the second half, coming out in flames scoring 3 touchdowns on 3 offensive plays. Starting with a 79 yard run by Saquon Barkley. On the next play, McSorely would throw a deep ball to Chris Godwin which would be tipped, caught by Godwin, and he would take it to the end zone. After an interception, McSorely would run it in from 3 yards out, building the lead to 15 points. USC would score with JuJu, but Penn State would strike back with Saquon as the Nittany Lions, up 15 had the momentum. USC would gain that momentum right back with a 10 play drive finishing off with Ronald Jones in the end zone. Deontay Burnett would catch a big time 27 yard strike from Darnold for his 3rd touchdown of the day. Trace McSorely’s final mistake would come with less than a minute to go when he heaved a deep ball, looking for his favorite target, Godwin. But instead it was caught by the player in white as Leon McQuay would return it with 27 seconds and a chance to win the Rose Bowl for the Kicker Matt Boermeester. And the rest is history as Boermeester boomed the 46 yarder thrugh the uprights and USC would win a instant classic on their own home turf.
Key players from USC:
QB Sam Darnold (33/53, 453 Yards, 5 Touchdowns, 1 Interception), RB Ronald Jones (20 Carries, 55 Yards, 1 Touchdown), WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (7 Catches, 133 Yards, 1 Touchdown), WR/DB Adoree Jackson (1 Catch, 24 Yards; 4 tackles, 1 Interception), WR Deontay Burnett (13 catches, 164 Yards, 3 Touchdowns).
Key players from Penn State:
QB Trace McSorley (18/29 254 Yards, 4 Touchdowns, 3 Interceptions), RB Saquon Barkley (25 Carries, 194 Yards, 2 Rushing Touchdowns; 5 Catches, 55 Yards, 1 Touchdown), WR Chris Godwin (9 Catches, 187 Yards, 2 Touchdowns), TE Mike Gesicki (1 Catch, 11 Yards, 1 Touchdown), DE Garrett Sickels
How both teams next season went:
USC:
Sam Darnold would turn into a star his Sophomore season as he threw for 4,000 passing yards and led USC to a Pac 12 championship and a 11-2 season before dropping their final game in the Cotton Bowl against #5 Ohio State. Although they lost, Darnold left behind a legacy and why USC is considered to be QBU. Sam would end up declaring and become the #3 overall pick in the draft behind the guy that was on the other side on January, 1st, Saquon Barkley.
Penn State:
Penn State would shoot into national title contention for most of 2017 with the Heisman like season with Saquon Barkley tearing it up after his 1,500 yard 2016 with 18 rushing touchdowns. Penn State would finish 2017 11-2 with a Fiesta Bowl win over #9 Washington with Saquon leaving his legacy similar to Sam. Saquon would end declaring for the Pro’s and selected number 2 overall by New York.
12 Best games in the past 12 Years:
Image Credit: https://www.baltimoresun.com/la-sp-2017-rose-bowl-game-usc-vs-penn-state-photos-photogallery.html https://www.mcall.com/sports/college/psu/mc-penn-state-football-saquon-barkley-future-20170120-story.htmlhttps://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2017/1/25/14382458/usc-adoree-jackson-going-to-class-2017-nfl-draft
